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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 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.