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This easy single serving waffle recipe 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
Quick Look
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Equipment: Waffle maker
- Cook Method: Waffle iron
- Servings: 1 waffle
- Difficulty: Easy
- Flavor Profile: A crisp, golden waffle with a light vanilla sweetness and an airy, tender center.
A small batch waffle recipe made with one egg, simple pantry ingredients, and enough batter for one Belgian waffle with no leftovers.
Why I Love This Single Serving Waffle Recipe
When my kids were little, I made waffles for the whole family on weekend mornings. When I started developing single serving recipes, I wanted that same waffle without the leftovers. This version makes one waffle with crispy edges and a soft, airy center, done in 15 minutes.
The batter is simple: one egg, flour, milk, melted butter, and a few pantry staples. I tested different ratios until the waffle came out crisp on the outside without being dense in the middle. Don’t overmix once the flour goes in and you’ll get a light, airy center every time.
This recipe is sized for a standard Belgian waffle maker. If your iron is smaller, you’ll get two waffles from the batter, which is fine. If you’re making waffles for two, double everything and cook one at a time.
I almost always top it with homemade pancake syrup or fresh fruit and whipped cream.
After over a decade of developing single serving and small batch recipes, this is the one waffle recipe I keep coming back to.
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
Table of Contents
- Quick Look
- Why I Love This Single Serving Waffle Recipe
- Watch How To Make A Waffle for One
- Ingredients For One Waffle
- Recipe Variations
- How To Make A Waffle For One
- Expert Tips
- Troubleshooting
- What To Serve With This Waffle
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
- Waffle Recipe For One Recipe
Ingredients For One Waffle
Here’s what goes into this single waffle recipe and why each ingredient matters. If you have any ingredients leftover, 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 your container before you start. To test it, stir ¼ teaspoon into ½ cup of hot water. If it bubbles immediately, it’s good. Use aluminum-free baking powder if your waffles have ever had a metallic or bitter aftertaste.
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 into small chunks.
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 ¼ cup of fresh or frozen blueberries into the batter before pouring it into the iron. If using frozen, thaw them first.
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.
Buttermilk waffle for one: Swap the milk for buttermilk for a tangier flavor and a slightly thicker, fluffier waffle. The batter will be denser than the original, which is normal.
Waffles for two: Double every ingredient and cook one waffle at a time. Keep finished waffle warm on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you cook the second.
How To Make A Waffle For One
This single waffle recipe comes together in about 15 minutes from preheating the iron to serving. 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
Preheat fully. A properly heated iron is what gives you crispy edges. Most waffle irons take 3 to 5 minutes to fully heat up.
Don’t overmix. Stir just until the flour disappears. Overmixing develops gluten and makes the waffle tough.
Watch the steam. The waffle is done when the steam stops rising from the sides of the iron. Opening it too early tears the waffle.
Let the milk warm up. Pull the milk out of the refrigerator 15 minutes before you start. Cold milk seizes the melted butter into small chunks that won’t mix evenly into 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.
Grease between waffles if you’re making two. Even on a non-stick iron, a quick coating of cooking spray or melted butter between waffles keeps the second one from sticking.
Troubleshooting
If your waffle isn’t turning out quite right, here is how to fix common issues like soggy edges, dense texture, or a waffle that sticks to the iron.
Why is my waffle soggy?
The waffle iron wasn’t hot enough or you opened it too early. Preheat the iron fully before adding batter. Wait until the steam stops rising from the sides before lifting the lid. Opening too soon traps moisture in the waffle.
Why is my waffle dense and heavy?
There’s too much flour in the batter. Spoon flour into the dry measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge. Scooping directly from the bag packs in too much flour. Overmixing also makes waffles dense, so stir just until the flour disappears.
Why did my waffle stick to the waffle iron?
The iron wasn’t greased well enough. Coat the surface with non-stick spray or melted butter before adding batter, even on a non-stick iron. If you opened the lid too early, the waffle wasn’t done and the surface hadn’t set yet, which also causes sticking.
Why is my batter too thick?
Different flour brands absorb liquid differently. Add milk a small splash at a time until the batter pours easily but isn’t runny. Small adjustments are normal.
Why is my batter too thin?
Too little flour or too much liquid. Add flour half a tablespoon at a time, stirring gently until the batter thickens to a pourable consistency.
Why is my waffle pale and not golden?
The iron didn’t get hot enough or the cook time was too short. Most irons take 3 to 5 minutes to fully preheat. If the iron is hot and the waffle still looks pale after the steam stops, give it another 30 seconds with the lid closed.
What To Serve With This Waffle
Top this single serving waffle with any of these homemade options.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 the steam is the most reliable signal.
Enough for one standard Belgian waffle. If your iron is smaller, you’ll get 2 waffles from the batter.
Yes. Double every ingredient and cook the waffles one at a time. Keep finished waffle warm on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest.
The waffle iron wasn’t fully preheated or you opened the lid too soon. Let the iron heat for 3 to 5 minutes before adding batter. Wait until the steam stops rising before lifting the lid.
Yes. Let the waffle cool completely, then freeze in an airtight bag. Reheat in a toaster for the crispiest result, or in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes. The microwave works but softens the edges.
Yes, for a few hours. Mix the batter, cover, and refrigerate. Give it a stir before pouring. If it thickened up, add a small splash of milk to thin it out. Baking powder loses its lift over time, so use the batter the same day.
A standard Belgian waffle maker gives you one large waffle. If your iron is smaller, you’ll get 2 waffles from the batter.
Yes. A mini waffle maker (like a Dash) will give you 3 to 4 small waffles from the same batter. Cook each waffle until the steam stops rising, about 2 minutes per waffle.
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 to the egg. 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.
This was great! I have one of those dash mini waffle makers and made 5 perfect and delicious mini waffles! Thank you so much <3
This recipe was perfect for the Dash mini waffle maker! It made 8 mini waffles and my kid loved them.
Wonderful! I’m so happy he loved the waffles.
Hooray, picky eater approved. When you have a “select” eater in your home making things in smaller amounts is a good thing. Also, easier to teach someone to cook for himself.
I am giving this five stars even though I haven’t tried it yet. I am SO excited to find your website. I live alone and am so tired of sites and books that say ‘cooking for one’ that are anything but – unless you just want an egg. Currently, I have 4 waffles sitting in the freezer and even though I can pop them in the toaster, it really isn’t the same as one made fresh. I will definitely be trying this recipe soon!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!
I wanted a waffle and did not want to have a big batch of waffle mix since I was the only one that would be eating. I tried this recipe. It’s perfect I didn’t have a Belgian waffle maker but the one with sections made enough for four square waffles!! Perfectly portioned and delicious!!
Tried a few, this one is by far the best! Slightly different waffle maker than the images but spot on
Easy, delicious, crispy…. I used gluten free all purpose flour …… perfect
Do you have a recipe for a yeasted overnight waffle by any chance for one person? Thank you
Not at this time, Grace but stay tuned.
Thank you so much for replying. Looking forward to your recipe for one yeast raised waffle. Stay safe
So easy!! And perfect amount for 1-2 people. My kid helps me mix it altogether in 5 mins so we have breakfast ready in 10 mins! Great for lazy mornings. Also thanks for the sprinkles topping tip! My kid loves it. I reduce the sugar in the recipe to account for the sugar sprinkles.
This recipe is so good, but if I had waited until the steam stopped they would have burned for sure! Turned out very crispy however I definitely need to figure out the timing.
My first attempt at homemade waffles was a definite hit! According to my 6 year old grandson, “JiJi is the best waffle maker! Compliments to the chef’s”. He cracks me up. This simple recipe is a gem and I look forward to trying out the many other 1 person yummies linked to this page. Thank you so much.
I love it, I don’t change a thing about it. Perfect for quick and easy waffles.
Super delicious 😋
Made one substitution as I didn’t have milk. I used 2TB Saco powdered buttermilk and 1/2 cup water. Very flavorful and fluffy.
Great recipe! Easy to whip up and the kitchen smelled like a fairground. Yum!
Great recipe! I put in extra vanilla by accident and loved it, so if you love vanilla, a 1/2 t is great! Using melted butter on the iron is genius too. I have a traditional waffle maker and had enough batter for two full-size waffles. Thanks for the recipe. I love your pancakes for one too.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Rachel. Thank you for your feedback.
Great recipe for a mini waffle maker! I used just under a 1/4 cup and made 5-6 waffles (perfect for 2 servings). You definitely have to give the griddle enough time to reheat between each one or they’ll come out soggy but, keeping them warm in a toaster oven really helps. The other bonus? I have a very small kitchenette so counter and sink space is incredibly limited. This recipe really helped minimize the amount of space and dishes used.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the waffle recipe.
I didn’t change a thing. Meant to take a picture. Had strawberry preserves and a little dusting of confections sugar. No need to make a batch. Well done. Yes I pinned.
Sounds wonderful. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback.
I just bought a mini waffle maker for my 13 year old grandson for when he’s allowed back in school. I was buying the frozen one’s but half the time they were either soggy or over cooked around the edges. This recipe will be perfect for him. Seeing that my my little granddaughter won’t eat waffles, only eggs.
Thanks for all your one dish meals. They are a blessing for me
I’m so happy you are enjoying the recipes, Donna. I think you grandson will love making and eating homemade waffles. They are so much better than frozen.
So I made your waffles just for a test run.
The flavor was just right, but they weren’t fluffy they were flat. All my dry ingredients are fresh from my Christmas baking, so I figured maybe I didn’t beat the egg long enough. They weren’t crisp, they were soft and on the soggy side. I cooked them until the steam stopped.
Any ideas on what went wrong?
Hi Donna, it could be that the waffle iron wasn’t hot enough when the batter was poured in. Another possibility would be that the batter might have been overmixed.
Yummy but made way to many
Just bought a mini waffle maker and this recipe was perfect for it! My daughter asked for seconds 😁 we enjoyed our breakfast!
I’m so glad you both enjoyed the waffles. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
Thank you this is an awesome recipe my waffle came out perfect and it was fluffy and crispy my son loved it as well!! Best waffle I’ve ever made!! Thank you for portioning it out for us and sharing!!
I forgot to
Rate! it’s 5 star!
Thanks so much, Dani!
This recipe is very tasty and was perfect for our mini waffle iron! We got 6 mini waffles out of it.
I tried it at home before having my grade 12 Food & Healthy Living class try it. I found it to be crispy and light; a little sweeter than my usual recipe. My class will be trying it this week. Since Covid, each student must make and consume their own products in the lab, so this website is ideal and saves me from trying to portion-down my usual recipes.
Thanks Joanie!
I have made these waffles a few times, and I love them!
Yes, the batter seems a bit runny, but they always puff up when cooking. They are light, moist and tasty! It makes a perfect amount, for me at least.
The taste is good but it always comes out really doughy and not fluffy and crispy
I thought they were delicious and buttery, but if you like sweeter waffles I would suggest putting more sugar or more syrup but for me these are perfect and more of a savory waffle which are great for chicken and waffles.🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks so much for your feedback.
the batter was runny and it came out a little bit flat but i found if you added a bit more flour it gets fluffy but the taste was good:)
My 4 year old loves waffles but he’s really the only one who eats them- so this recipe for one waffle is perfect! He loves to help me make them and they are quite delicious! This is a staple in my house
Very good recipe for two waffles.
For those saying it came out flat, it might help to whip the egg white separately until it form peaks and fold it im gently at the very end. I got this tip from the regular Belgian waffles I make. Also, I added 1/4 tsp cinnamon and skipped the sugar because I was using maple syrup as a topping.
Thanks, Joanie!
Made for my daughter who complained it was too eggy. Since a regular batch of waffles calls for one egg and this recipe for one waffle called for one egg, I can see how that would be. It seemed rubbery. I would like to try it with a small amount of egg beaters and see if that helps.
I really liked the recipe! My only comment is that they came out flat. I will make these every time I have an early class.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Nikki. Thanks so much for your feedback.
Not very good. But easy to make.Is not as light and fluffy as a regular waffle.
Nice recipe. I think my mistake was using oat milk which didn’t give it the richness that I craved. Mine came out eggy and spongey I think because the oat milk was too watery. Syrup helped out though. Next time I’ll use real milk.
Delish, and easy to make, but the recipe tells you not to overfill it, but then there is too little mixture and the waffle is not cooked properly. But apart from that okay.
Yes I am reply to myself. I think that I was a bit inexperienced in my last review because I tried them again recently and they. Were. PERFECT!!!!!!!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the waffle – thanks so much for your feedback!
Just made my first batch and it came out delish! Made recipe just as you wrote only doubling. Next time will only make single serve as there was more batter for more than one. I had just bought a single serve waffle iron and I didn’t know how it would work for me! I now have a go to recipe and will be able to make waffles more often. Thanks for the great recipe!
Awesome! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe!!
Joanie
Liked the reasonable amount of butter; added cinnamon and substituted brown sugar.
My neighbor just gave me a brand new Belgian waffle maker so I tried this recipe, but doubled it. I came out with 3 (5.75″ x 5.75″) waffles, and followed the recipe to the nth degree. Had I used a round waffle maker, I may have gotten 5 waffles, I don’t know. They were very good but came out spotted (brown and gold). It may have been the temperature. There is no indicator light on it, but the manufacturer (Munsey, in Little Rock, AR) said 3 minutes so I took their word for it. The entire batch took 3 minutes each and it was well worth it for the first time!
Substituted for flax egg and almond milk and came out perfect for my waffle craving!
Awesome! Thank you for sharing your substitutions so others might try it.
Joanie
Hi, I’m gonna make the waffle batter tonight and have them in the morning😋is it ok to let the batter sit in the fridge overnight ?
Yes, but the batter will thicken up a bit so you may need to add a bit more milk when you are ready to use the batter.
Mine came out completely flat
Hi Kita,
It’s so disappointing that your waffle came out flat. I use this recipe to make waffles all the time and so many readers have made them with success. I’d love to try to see what might have happened. Did you make any ingredient substitutions? Has your baking powder expired? The most common reason that pancakes, waffles or other baked goods don’t properly rise is because the baking powder is expired. Expired baking powder loses its potency after its use by date and won’t allow muffins, cakes, pancakes or waffles to rise.
Joanie
Awesome recipe! One batch makes 4 waffles with my small waffle iron, and is too much for me but perfect for two of us!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the waffles, Lorna. Thank you so much for letting me know.
Joanie
I also tried making it with milk substitutes and it works amazing 🙂
Lorna,
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know that a milk substitute worked well in the recipe. I’m so happy you enjoyed the waffles!
Joanie
I would like to thank you for sharing this simple and quick recipe. I have tried it so many times for family and guests and they have really liked it.
So good! Tried it this morning and realized I will never eat another freezer burnt eggo again! Thank you 🙂 (husband and baby loved it too)
I’m so happy you all enjoyed the waffles!!
Have a great week.
Joanie
Thank you I just tried your recipe, it was awesome me n my family liked it.
Can we replace all purpose flour with wheat flour?
I haven’t tested this recipe with wheat flour so I can’t tell you how it would turn out.
Made this in a toastier maker because I do t have a waffle iron works just as well.
Wonderful. Thank you for letting me know.
Thank you so much for this small batch recipe. My husband loved these waffles! And he is NOT a fan of reheated waffles. This made the perfect amount and they were great!
MK
I’m so happy your husband enjoyed the waffles. Thank you so much for letting me know!! Have a wonderful weekend.
Joanie
If I want to make TWO of these – do I just double the recipe?
Yes, just double the recipe if you want to make two.
Great recipe for one. The waffle is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe, Elaine. Thank you so much for letting me know!
I’m going to save this recipe because there are so many mornings that I crave waffles but don’t want to make half a dozen of them! Thank you for this recipe!
PERFECT! This is such a great recipe – somedays I just want ONE waffle, but don’t want to make enough to feed an army. This makes the perfect waffle every time!