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This waffle recipe for one makes a single golden, crispy waffle from scratch in 15 minutes. Just simple ingredients and no leftovers.
Featured Comment
“I just made this for the second day in a row. It was the perfect amount and was absolutely delicious! Crispy and brown on the outside and nice and fluffy inside. I will make this again and again!”
– Stacy
One Waffle, Crispy Outside, Fluffy Inside
When my kids were little, I made waffles for the whole family on weekend mornings. This is that same recipe, scaled down for one. A single Belgian waffle with crispy edges, done in 15 minutes.
I almost always top it with homemade pancake syrup or fresh fruit and whipped cream.
Looking for more small batch breakfast ideas? Try my fluffy pancakes for one, small batch French toast, and small batch blueberry scones.
Watch How To Make A Waffle for One
Ingredient Notes
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single waffle recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
All-purpose flour is the base of the batter. Measure it by spooning flour into your dry measuring cup and leveling it off with a straight edge. Scooping straight from the bag packs in too much flour and makes the waffle dense.
Baking powder gives the waffle its lift. Check the date on yours before you start. Old baking powder won’t do much, and you’ll end up with a flat, heavy waffle. To test it, drop half a teaspoon into a quarter cup of hot water. If it bubbles immediately, it’s good.
Sugar adds a small amount of sweetness and helps the outside of the waffle brown and crisp up. Granulated sugar works best here.
Salt keeps the batter from tasting flat.
One large egg gives the waffle structure. Beat it well before adding the other wet ingredients.
Milk brings the batter together. Whole or 2% milk gives you the best results, but almond, soy, or oat milk all work if that’s what you have on hand. Use room temperature milk if you can; cold milk can cause the melted butter to seize up.
Vanilla extract gives the waffle a warm, homemade flavor.
Salted butter goes into the batter and onto the waffle iron. The butter in the batter adds flavor and helps with browning. Unsalted butter works fine if that’s what you have. For a dairy-free version, coconut oil is a good substitute.
Recipe Variations
This waffle recipe from scratch is easy to build on. Change or add one ingredient to get the waffle you want.
Blueberry waffle for one: Fold a small handful of fresh or frozen blueberries into the batter before pouring it into the iron.
Chocolate waffle for one: Whisk half a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder into the dry ingredients.
Cinnamon waffle for one: Add a quarter teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients.
Banana waffle for one: Mash half a ripe banana and stir it into the wet ingredients. The batter will thicken, so add a small splash of milk to loosen it before pouring.
How To Make A Waffle For One
These steps and photos walk you through the process. For ingredient amounts and full instructions, see the recipe card below.
- Preheat your waffle iron and lightly grease it with non-stick spray or a small amount of melted butter.
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg until fluffy. Add the milk, vanilla, melted butter, and sugar. Whisk until combined.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir just until you don’t see dry flour. A few small lumps are fine.
- Pour enough batter into the waffle iron to cover the surface without overflowing.
- Close the iron and cook until the steam stops rising, about 3 to 4 minutes. The waffle should be golden and crisp.
- Use tongs to carefully lift the waffle out. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
Read your waffle maker’s manual. Cooking times vary by model.
Preheat fully. A properly heated iron is what gives you crispy edges.
Don’t overmix. Stir just until the flour disappears. Overmixing makes the waffle tough.
Watch the steam. The waffle is done when the steam stops rising. Opening it too early tears the waffle.
Use room temperature milk. Cold milk can cause the melted butter to clump in the batter.
Waffle maker size matters. This recipe is sized for a Belgian waffle maker. If yours is smaller, you may get 2 waffles from the batter.
Serving Suggestions
Top this single serving waffle with:
Small batch pancake syrup or butter pecan syrup
Small batch apple butter or small batch lemon curd
Homemade whipped cream and fresh fruit
Frequently Asked Questions
The two most common reasons are a waffle iron that wasn’t fully preheated and opening the iron too soon. Preheat until the iron is fully hot before adding batter, and wait until the steam stops rising before lifting the lid.
You can mix the batter a few hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Give it a stir before pouring. If it thickened up, add a small splash of milk to thin it out.
Yes. Double every ingredient and cook the waffles one at a time. Keep finished waffles warm on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest.
Yes. Let it cool completely, then freeze in an airtight bag. Reheat in a toaster for a crispy result, or in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes. The microwave works but softens the edges.
Watch the steam. When it stops rising from the sides of the iron, the waffle is ready. Most waffle makers also have an indicator light, but I go by the steam.
This recipe is sized for a standard Belgian waffle maker. If your iron is smaller, you’ll likely get 2 waffles from the batter, which is fine.
RELATED: 20 Single Serving Breakfast Ideas Worth Waking Up For
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serve waffle recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Waffle Recipe For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk -room temperature (Any milk works here, including almond, soy, or oat milk.)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon salted butter -melted
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron and lightly grease it with non-stick spray or a small amount of melted butter.
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg until fluffy. Add the milk, vanilla, melted butter, and sugar. Whisk until combined.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir just until you don't see dry flour. A few small lumps are fine.
- Pour enough batter into the waffle iron to cover the surface without overflowing. If your iron is smaller than a Belgian waffle maker, you may have batter left for a second waffle.
- Close the iron and cook until the steam stops rising, about 3 to 4 minutes. The waffle should be golden and crisp.
- Use tongs to carefully lift the waffle out. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Can’t wait to try this. Boxed mixes make too many waffles and most homemade waffle recipes INSIST on buttermilk, which I never have. I have a thin waffle maker so this will probably make 2-3 waffles. Perfect for the 2 of us 🧇 🧇
I think you’re going to love this one! No buttermilk needed, and it’s just the right amount without ending up with a stack of extra waffles. With a thinner waffle maker, 2 to 3 waffles sounds just right for two. I hope you enjoy them!
Loved this, made exactly as directed and the waffle turned out great. My husband (who said he wasn’t hungry) ate this waffle and really enjoyed it. Real maple syrup is a must, we started using Whistlepig with Runamok maple syrup. Definitely worth the money.
I’m so happy you both enjoyed the waffles.
The best recipe ever!!!!!!!!!!
Completely forgot to add eggs and they turned out beautifully
Today I made your recipe for a one-serving waffle. It was delicious! I found it very freeing to not have to deal with leftovers. I will continue to peruse your website and look forward to trying some new tasty single-serving dishes.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the waffle! It really is nice not having to worry about leftovers. I look forward to hearing which recipe you try next.
So good!! So easy!!
I did add some protein powder and a tablespoon of flaxseed turned out great !!
Thank you!!
I made this yesterday and it was delicious!! 😋
Do you have a recommendation for a waffle maker? It’s just me, a 71 year old retired woman. Don’t need a big one. And hopefully you can recommend one that you can receive compensation for. Love your website. Thanks.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes! For a smaller option, I recommend the waffle maker we use in our kitchen, it’s a great size for one or two servings. Here’s the link to it: https://amzn.to/4noTv8l
What did I do wrong? My mixture was runny! It overflowed the waffle iron.
A runny batter and overflow usually means there may have been too much liquid or not enough flour in the mix, or that the batter wasn’t fully combined. It’s also possible the waffle iron was slightly overfilled, this small batch batter makes just the right amount for one or two waffles, so a little goes a long way. I’d recommend double-checking the ingredient amounts and using a light hand when spooning the batter into the waffle maker. I hope you’ll give it another try, it’s a favorite around here!
This is an excellent recipe, it made 2 1/4 waffles! I’ll be using it again. Thanks so much.