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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.
I had to make some modifications for dietary requirements, so I swapped the butter for macadamia oil, used oat milk and reduced the sugar to 1/2 tsp, but the recipe still worked great. I never thought to make myself a single serve of waffles before! Thank you for this recipe. I will definitely use this again.
My 4 year old granddaughter visits me Tuesdays at 9 AM and we made your recipe waffle. She has asked many times to make them again because she loves them so we are making them again today
What a sweet tradition! I’m so happy to hear that your granddaughter loves the waffles—that absolutely makes my day. Thank you for sharing this with me, and I hope your Tuesday mornings continue to be filled with lots of smiles and delicious waffles!
I have made several waffle recipes and this one have to be my favorite 😀 thank you 💞 i wish I can post a picture
Quick easy nothing exotic. 5m 1 bowl No mess YES
For 1 person yet made 4 lol
Glad you enjoyed the recipe! The batter makes one full-sized waffle, as shown in the video and photos, but if you used a mini waffle maker, it would definitely yield more—probably around four smaller ones.
Excellent waffle recipe! I use the dash mini waffle iron and for me this recipe makes 4 waffles so I eat two and save the other two for another time
It was truly wonderful and quick to make. Enjoyed so much.
Perfect amount for one person! I substitute GF flour with no problems. Great little recipe!
Excellent recipe! This is so much better than the pre made pancake mixes. You can really taste the vanilla. I was looking for a recipe that made just a few waffles, and this was perfect! Light and fluffy. Thank you for sharing. Ps, I added a few chocolate chips. YUM!
I’ve been using this recipe for the last few months. It is my go to weekend waffle recipe! I use a mini waffle maker and this is perfect for 3 small waffles which is just what we need for a family of 3. I’ve used it with variations too – added chopped frozen strawberries one time, and a heaping tablespoon of Nutella at another. It’s very versatile and works well as a base for different additions. Thank you so much for sharing this!
I’m so happy to hear that this waffle recipe has become your weekend go-to! I love the idea of using a mini waffle maker and those variations sound delicious—especially the Nutella! It’s great to know the recipe works well with different additions. Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
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!
Thank you! I’m so happy you love the recipe.
I love this recipe but I wonder if you have ever added protein powder. I’m wondering about how to adjust the measurements.
Delicious light waffle recipe. I made 5 dash waffle maker waffles ate 3 and froze the other 2.
You answered my question. I also have a dash mini waffle maker and was wondering how many waffles this recipe made. Thank you.
So happy to find this delicious recipe for one waffle. Turned out amazing
The perfect small batch! This is more like a 2 person batch, but that’d perfect. I only have a mini waffle maker these days which is perfect for left over “frozen” waffles.. Home made Lego my eggs!
I finally found the perfect one round waffle recipe. This one one is awesome.
This was delicious. I wanted something quick and it was just what I was looking for.
In case anyone is wondering, this makes three delicious waffles on a mini waffle maker! ❤️
I love this recipe! It tastes so good and now none goes to waste. Yummy!!
Thanks, this worked out great!
Excellent waffle recipe! No more storing 14 waffles. 😉
Great my toddler loves it
This waffle was definitely yummy and easy to prepare. I’m trying to figure out what I could’ve done to make it crispy as described. It was definitely fluffy, just not crispy. Next time I’ll use salted butter or increase the salt a tiny bit. I may also try buttermilk to change up flavor profile as well. Thanks.
For crispy waffles, it’s crucial that your waffle iron is preheated and hot before adding the batter. A hot iron ensures the batter sizzles upon contact and immediately starts crisping the outer crust. This also allows the moisture in the batter to quickly convert to steam and evaporate, leading to that desired crispiness. If the iron isn’t hot enough, you’ll end up with soggy, soft waffles instead.
Thanks for the advice you left me about making sure the griddle is piping hot. Wish I’d seen it before I just made these waffles again to share with my husband. Oh well, all the more reason to make them again. Eventually I’ll get it right 😉
I served your homemade syrup with them. OMG! We loved it. The way it complimented the pinch of mace I added to the waffle batter was incredible!
Thanks!!!! You are my inspiration to cook.
Thank you so much for the sweet words! Knowing that my small-batch recipes have made a difference in your kitchen is why I do what I do.
I wasn’t feeling well this evening and actually made this recipe for a light Friday tea. I added 2 tablespoons of blueberries to it and just used some maple syrup over the waffle it was just what I wanted. Thank you for your wonderful recipes.
These waffles came out awesome. I made 2 waffles soft & no scratchy throat when you swallow just soft and delicious
Love this recipe! But if I want to make it for 3-4 people, how much of each do I need?
I have only doubled this recipe with complete success. I have made it for 4 people but find that I need to add a bit more milk to get the batter to be the right consistency.
If using Self Rising flour how much would you use?
Use 1/2 cup of self-rising flour and leave out the baking powder and the salt.
Thank you for your fast reply
Tastes Really good (makes a big mess though) Really fluffy and tasty i advise to cook this in a bigger waffle maker though
If I substitute cooking oil for the melted butter, would it be the same amount? Thank you! Love, love your recipes! ❤️
Yes, use the same amount.
Makes some great waffles! If you’ve ever had egg waffles at your local Chinatown then this recipe makes a similar flavour to that. The only thing for me was that they didn’t stay as crisp as I would like despite using a cookie rack to rest them on after cooking. I did use my Dash mini waffle maker so that’s probably why but I couldn’t resist that baby blue waffle iron lol. Anyways I’m so glad I found this website as my family doesn’t always like the same foods I do and now I have a great website I can use to make one portion meals without doing the math myself or using some ridiculous ratios like using a third of an egg.
I’m so glad you are enjoying our recipes, especially the waffles! Thanks so much for your feedback.
Sitting here watching this one-serving batter ooze out of my waffle maker all over my counter. I followed the recipe exactly. Beware! 🤣
Sorry, but it sounds like too much batter was added to your waffle maker. Perhaps your waffle iron is smaller than the standard-sized ones.
best dang waffles I ever made and no waste, I used coconut milk and no one would ev er know if I did not tell them. but these are for one anyway. Thanks! looking forward to more of your recipes
Loved the flavor of the waffle. It was nice and fluffy. This will be my go to recipe for waffles from now on
I pinned this recipe a while back and it’s definitely a repeat one for me. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us!
This is a useful recipe. I enjoyed making just one waffle and it was very tasty!
Thank you for this awesome recipe. I recently bought the Nostalgia mini wake maker, but the recipe that came with it wasn’t the best. This was a good replacement recipe. I did use brown sugar instead of granulated sugar. Since, I love the taste of vanilla, I doubled the amount. Everything else I kept the same. They were delicious (made four mini waffles). Next time, I may add cocoa for a dessert waffle. 😋
5 stars
I used this recipe in my little Dash mini waffle maker and they were perfect! It produced four fluffy waffles that were slightly crispy and sturdy enough to eat with my hands, but still light and sweet enough that I didn’t even want a topping. This one’s a keeper. I used a whisk to combine dry and wet ingredients, but I was very careful to just combine them and leave the lumps alone.
I am so glad I stumbled across your site when searching for a one-serving,from-scratch waffle recipe. I never thought to see if there were food blogs out there that specialized in single-serving meals.
I look forward to exploring more recipes on your site. I generally only make multiple serving meals for lunch to feed off of during the workweek. It’ll be great to cook single-serving recipes without it being a math project at the same time.
Not very crispy. Needed a little more flour and sugar.
It’s disappointing that your waffle did not turn out crispy. The ingredient amounts have been tested and work.
If your waffle iron isn’t hot enough to sear the batter and help the moisture evaporate, you’ll end up with a soggy waffle, perhaps this was the problem. Your waffle shouldn’t sit on a warm iron; it needs to preheat first and hit a sizzling hot metal surface in order to get a good, crispy shell.
This is a great waffle recipe – just like my Aunt Peggy’s, but smaller ratios. I shared it with my friend who has celiac disease. She tried it using Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free Flour and it was equally delicious!
I’ve tried many recipes from the internet and this has been the BEST for my stove top waffle iron. I substituted sugar with stevia and used fresh goat milk. So so good! Slightly crisp on the outside and soft inside!
My Black and a Decker Belgian waffle maker is very temperamental. Thus recipe is one of the very few that makes decent waffles. Much thanks
I veganized this recipe, by simply using 1 flax equivalent to 1 egg, which is: 1/2 tbs flax + 2 tbs water [cooked for 30 sec., to 1 minute in a microwave, until goopy] & using plant based “milk”, & they came out great!
Maybe you can put the veganized version in the vegan section.
The vegan version, is also helpful to non vegans, who have egg, or dairy allergies.
I love this recipe! I added a little bit of chocolate chips and those added a perfect amount of flavor to the waffles!
Really enjoyed my waffle. I love the smell of them when they are cooking. Also in your tips section., I learned something new. I was wondering how to stop the batter from sticking to my waffle maker. It is called do not lift the lid too early!!
Haste makes waste.
This was really good. It did make a little more than needed for one waffle, but I’m okay with that. It wasn’t a lot more and I didn’t feel guilty just dumping the leftover. I discovered a long time ago that I really don’t like leftover waffles. Fresh is just so much better and this is a very tasty recipe.
This recipe made one perfect waffle (although I still ate half). Super easy, super yummy and comes together quickly. Thank you!
First time making these and they are great! My new go to waffle recipe
Can I substitute whole wheat flour in this recipe.
Hi Judy, we have not tested this recipe with whole wheat flour.
I used whole wheat flour from Jamie’s Mill. It was amazing.