What’s the best waffle mix for restaurant-quality waffles at home? We cooked up a bunch of the top waffle mix brands to find the best Belgian waffle mix and beyond.
A wise woman once said, “We need to remember what’s important in life. Friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, and work.” Nevermind that the wise woman was a fictional Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation, the sentiment holds true: Waffles are great. But I can’t afford to take myself to my local diner whenever I find myself with a hankering for syrup-drenched trenches, so I set out to find the best waffle mix that would provide me what I wanted from the waffle-eating experience, without the “having to leave my home and speak to humans” experience.
To test the waffle mixes, I made them according to the simplest given package instructions. So, if there was an option to add water and an option to add water, butter, milk, and a blessing from Jacques Torres, I just added water. I also tasted all of these waffles dry—that’s right, without maple syrup. I wanted the waffles to speak for themselves, which they promptly did by crying out, “Why would you leave me like this, naked and vulnerable?” I did it for science, waffles. I did find that a lot were saltier than I expected, in the best way possible. It’s a wonder what you can discover when you don’t drench things in syrup. What other discoveries have I been smothering under sugar? That’s a question for another day.
Equipped with an empty stomach, an open mind, and fully in my jammies and slippers, I mixed, cooked, and tasted all the waffle mixes I could get my hands on to find the best waffle mix (including the best Belgian waffle mix) for all preferences.
- Maple Grove Farms Belgian Waffle Mix
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If you need to crank out a bunch of waffles to feed a fleet of kids or sweet-toothed friends, this is the best Belgian waffle mix for you. The batter was a little concerningly thin and the waffle ended up the tiniest bit chewy, but it has the crispiness that I love in a waffle—especially Belgian-style waffles. And, most notably, it’s pretty packed with built-in sweetness. It’s heavy on the vanilla, and would be a hit as a dessert. I’m not going to go so far as to say you won’t ever need to add maple syrup, but you’d survive without it.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Stonewall Kitchen Farmhouse Pancake & Waffle Mix
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Off the bat, this is one of the best mix for waffles because it comes in a can, which just makes it so much easier to scoop and measure than those in a bag. But past that, the waffle I made with it had the best texture of all of the mixes. That said, I was underwhelmed by the flavor—it’s a bit plain. But that can be a bit plus if you’re really into toppings. This crispy waffle will hold whatever you throw at it. The outside is a perfect golden brown while the inside is light, and the characteristic waffle divots are just begging to be filled with warm syrup and whipped cream. For those who love a crunch, this is the best waffle mix brand for you.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Bob’s Red Mill 10 Grain Pancake and Waffle Mix
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These waffles cooked up light and airy, with a taste that was more complex than any of the other waffles I tried. It’s earthy without being bitter. I don’t see this as being the best waffle mix to make waffles for a waffle sundae, but man, could you crush an elevated fried chicken and waffle brunch special with these leading the charge. While young kiddos may not be fighting over who gets the last of these, I enjoyed them, because I am a mature grown-up, gosh darn it.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Classique Faire Belgian Waffle Mix
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From the sweet, vanilla taste to the packaging that practically screams “Grandma had this in her cabinet,” Classique Faire’s Belgian waffle mix provided an express ticket to a ‘90s kid-style Saturday morning where dessert is unapologetically breakfast. The taste is vanilla forward, but the texture intrigued me the most. This is, by far, the bounciest waffle I had. I know that “chewy” may not be a universally sought-after waffle characteristic, but hear me out: This is springy and spongy in a way that somehow isn’t at all off-putting, but actually kept me coming back bite after bite. The aromatic vanilla and baseline sweetness, even without syrup, combined with the aforementioned grandmotherly packaging is extremely nostalgic. Even if you didn’t have a sweet grandmother who made you waffles, this is still some of the best store bought waffle mix available.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Birch Benders Organic Classic Pancake & Waffle Mix
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Before I start critiquing it, let me just say that, yes, this is the best mix for waffles. (Birch Benders also makes the best pancake mix.) The waffles I made from it were so delicious. They were sweet enough to be satisfying, but subtle enough to offer potential for anything you could possibly think to use waffles for. Straight off the iron with minimal toppings? Sure. Drenched in syrup? Absolutely. Used as bread in a revolutionary breakfast sandwich? I don’t see why not.
They were a little on the chewy side, though. And they weren’t that wonderful golden brown that I look for in a waffle. Perhaps it was user error. Birch Benders’ instructions are pretty sparse and they give you a range of how much water you can choose to add. A range? What, am I supposed to use my judgment? All that being said, this waffle mix still produced the best tasting waffles and that makes it the best waffle mix brand. This bag of mix has earned a place in my heart and my cabinet.
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best Sweet
Best Crispy
Best Grown-Up Flavor
Best Nostalgic
Best of the Best
Other waffle mixes we tried: Krusteaz Light & Crispy Belgian Waffle Mix, Kodiak Power Cakes Flapjack and Waffle Mix, Pamela’s Pancake and Baking Mix, Arrowhead Mills Buckwheat Pancake and Waffle Mix, New Hope Mills Buckwheat Pancake Mix
