How to Make Waffles With Pancake Mix (Quick & Easy Fix!)

You can use pancake mix for waffles with a few modifications to the pancake recipe. You’ll need to add extra oil or fat, and may need to leave out one of the eggs to give the waffle a crispy outer layer. We think a toss of sugar is a good idea too!

If you can’t find a waffle recipe for your mix, then use the pancake recipe but if it calls for 2 eggs, decrease it to 1 egg. Add 2 Tbsp or so of oil or butter, and increase the milk by maybe 1/3 of a cup. Add a teaspoon of sugar if desired.

Since every pancake mix differs, we can’t guarantee that it will make perfect waffles, but it’s a start.

Can you make waffles with a pancake mix? Absolutely. The difference between waffles and pancakes is pretty subtle recipe-wise.

A pancake mix usually has less fat and sugar than a waffle mix because the result has to be more cake-like and less crispy. So, by adding more fat (or oil) and sugar to the pancake mix you can get a nice crispy waffle mix instead.

Most waffle and pancake recipes differ by a tablespoon of oil, the number of eggs, and the amount of milk. Most pancake and waffle mixes will have a recipe on the back for both.

3 Mixes That Can Double as Pancake and Waffle Mix

1. Bisquick

If you are looking for a shortcut that can produce both waffles and pancakes, start with a simple mix such as Bisquick. The back of the box has a recipe for both pancakes and waffles.

Bisquick Pancake Recipe

This recipe originally comes from Betty Crocker.

• 2 cups Bisquick
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of milk

Steps:

1. Heat up and grease your griddle or skillet to 375 degrees. Check the readiness by sprinkling a few drops of water to see if they dance and disappear.
2. Mix all the ingredients until blended. Pour about ¼ cup of mix on the griddle for each pancake.
3. Cook until the edges are dry. Flip and cook until golden.

Bisquick Waffle Recipe

This recipe originally comes from Betty Crocker.

• 2 cups Bisquick mix
• 1 1/3 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Steps:

1. Heat the waffle iron per the manufacturer’s instructions. Grease as needed.
2. Stir ingredients until blended and pour onto hot waffle iron.
3. Cook until ready light comes on or until the steaming stops.

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2. Krusteaz Waffles from Pancake Mix

This recipe comes from Krusteaz.

• 2 cups Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
• 1 ½ cups cold water
• 1 egg
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Steps:

1. Grease and preheat the waffle iron.
2. Mix ingredients until blended. The batter will be slightly lumped.
3. Pour batter onto the waffle iron and cook until steaming stops.

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3. Aunt Jemima

Aunt Jemima Pancake Recipe

• 1 cup mix
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 Tablespoon oil
• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Heat skillet or electric griddle to 375 degrees.
2. Combine and stir all ingredients until large lumps disappear. Let rest for 3-4 minutes. The batter will thicken.
3. Pour about ¼ cup of batter for each pancake onto the griddle or skillet.
4. Turn when pancakes bubble and bottoms are golden brown.

Aunt Jemima Waffles Recipe

• 1 cup mix
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 TBS. oil

Instructions:

1. Heat waffle iron.
2. Combine all ingredients and stir until lumps disappear.
3. Allow batter to rest for 4-5 minutes.
4. Pour the desired amount of batter onto a lightly greased waffle iron. The waffle is done when the steaming stops.

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How to Cook the Perfect Pancake

The perfect pancake starts with a great mix or recipe. The three mixes above are simple tried and true mixes, but feel free to find one that suits your individual dietary needs and wants.

However, there are many from-scratch recipes out there if you are more adventurous that will have you never going back to a pre-mixed batter. Our favorite is a good buttermilk pancake.

You can find a fabulous recipe here from The Pioneer Woman.

1. Use Fresh Ingredients

Fresh ingredients make a difference! Especially fresh baking powder. If you notice you get flat pancakes instead of light and fluffy pancakes, an old baking powder may be the culprit.

When making buttermilk pancakes it is really better to use the real deal instead of the milk plus 1 tablespoon of vinegar. You can store dried buttermilk powder in the fridge and have it whenever you need it.

2. Whisk Your Dry Ingredients

The key to a good batter is to whisk the dry ingredients before adding the wet. This will break up any dry clumps and prevent your batter from being lumpy.

Just a few quick strokes with the whisk should do the job. We love using the GOMA universal whisk.

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3. Make a Well and Add Wet Ingredients

Using the backside of a spoon, make a well or indentation in your dry ingredients. Mix all of the wet ingredients separately and pour them into the well.

Using a few swift strokes to mix the wet and dry ingredients. Don’t over-mix! It’s okay to have a few lumps. Hopefully, since you whisked your dry ingredients it shouldn’t be too clumpy.

4. Let the Batter Rest

This is the key to a good, light, and fluffy pancake; let the batter rest. We like to mix up the batter before doing anything else in the morning.

Once you have mixed the batter, then heat up the skillet, cook the bacon, set the table, and make the coffee. Many recipes suggest 5 minutes, but we say let it rest for 15 or even 30 minutes.

You should notice that any of the small lumps have absorbed the liquid and disappeared. If you don’t have a good set of kitchen utensils, then now is the time to get one!

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5. Use Cold Butter to Grease the Hot Skillet or Use a Griddle

Melt cold butter in the hot skillet instead of oil. The butter will help to fry the pancakes a little giving them great flavor from the butter and just the right browning.

It’s best to use a good skillet that can keep even heat and is large enough to cook three small pancakes at once. Check out our favorite skillets in this article on the best omelets.

If you are cooking for more than a few people, we strongly encourage you to get an electric griddle. It is a game-changer!

Instead of only cooking three pancakes at once, you can cook six or more! We love the size of this 23-inch Tilt ‘n’ Drain Griddle.

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6. Pay Attention and Know When To Flip

As moms, we know how busy mornings can be and we can become quickly distracted from the task at hand. For the best pancakes, pay attention and know when it is time to flip.

Look for the bubbles in the middle of the pancake and see that they are popped. Notice when the edges begin to look dry. Now is the time to flip!

If the pancakes are cooking too fast, turn the stove or griddle down. If they are sticking, use more butter!

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How to Make the Perfect Waffle

Making the perfect waffle begins just like the perfect pancake. Can you make waffles from a pancake mix? Yes, if you add the extra milk and oil! These are key to getting the crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside waffle.

Mix the ingredients just as suggested for pancakes and remember to let the batter rest!

The second most important thing (after fat and oil) is to choose a good waffle iron! Your waffle iron will make or break the perfect waffle. There’s nothing quite as disappointing as waiting for a waffle to cook and then finding it’s soggy. Ick.

Our Top Three Waffle Makers

Cuisinart WAF-F20

We love the deep pockets of this Belgian waffle maker! You can also flip the waffle and cook another at the same time! Perfect if you are cooking a big batch of waffles!

The non-stick plates prevent a waffle mess and provide easy release.  There is also an indicator light and beep telling you when the waffle is finished.

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Dash Mini Waffle Maker

If you love mini waffle makers, we recommend the Original Dash Waffle Maker. This mini-maker won’t take up a lot of storage space and is great for apartments, RVs, and other small spaces.

We also use this one for making those paleo egg white and cheese waffles (on days we feel like dieting a bit.)

If you love mini waffles, check out this article that reviews all of the best mini waffle makers including mini waffles for a crowd!

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Black & Decker

Another good option is this classic Black and Decker Belgian waffle maker. We love the nonstick plates, cool touch handle, and indicator light. Storage is simple and easy with its vertical storage ability.

To be honest, we were skeptical about testing a Black & Decker waffle maker, because we didn’t think it would be any good, but we were pleasantly surprised! Considering the affordable price tag, this one’s a good option.

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Pancake and Waffle Topping Ideas

Another important thing to consider when making waffles or pancakes is to provide the perfect toppings. There are so many options from sweet to savory. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Strawberries and cream
• Nutella and bananas
• Buttermilk syrup and homemade whip cream
• Applesauce, cinnamon, and walnuts
• Yogurt and fruit
• Bacon and cheese
• Marshmallows, crushed graham crackers, and chocolate sauce
• Canadian bacon, poached egg, and hollandaise sauce
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Strawberry syrup
• Powdered sugar
• Granola
• Whipped cream and sprinkles
• Chopped nuts
• Espresso whipped cream (with or without chocolate sprinkles and cinnamon)
• Syrup, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice

FAQs

Q: Do you have to put eggs in waffles?

A: No, there are a few things you can use as a substitute for eggs in waffles to keep the texture approximate. 

• 1/4 cup of any type of fruit purees like applesauce, pumpkin, banana, or even soaked raisins, prunes, or dates. Fruit will add a lot of sweetness, so decrease the sugar if you’re making a from-scratch recipe. Add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder to the mix to offset the density from the fruit.
• Soak 1 Tbsp of chia seeds in 3 Tbsp of water for each egg you replace. Wait until it makes a thick gel then add all of it to the waffle recipe.
• Soak 1 Tbsp of ground flax seeds in 3 Tbsp of warm water for each egg you replace. After it makes a gel you can add it to the waffle mix. (You can easily grind flax seeds in a clean coffee grinder.)
• 1/4 cup of thick plain yogurt (ideally Greek yogurt) can be a good stand-in for an egg.

Q: How do I make waffles fluffy?

A: One of the best ways to do this is to separate your eggs before adding them to the batter. Whip the whites with a handheld or stand mixer until they’re nice and foamy. Mix the yolks into the batter then gently fold in the egg whites, being careful to not crush the added bubbles.

If you’re making from-scratch waffles you can add the sugar little by little into the beaten eggs as you continue beating to make a light meringue which you’ll mix into the waffle batter for restaurant-quality waffles.

Q: Is waffle mix just flour?

A: No, definitely not. It’s like a cake mix. It has the flour, sugar, salt, and leavening that you need to make waffles, but they’re pre-mixed so you only have to measure out the mix instead of the various ingredients.

Mixes that require only that you add water also have powdered oils, eggs, and milk included in the dry mix.

Wrap up

Can you make waffles with pancake mix? Absolutely. If the pancake recipe calls for 1 egg, leave it in. If the recipe calls for 2 eggs, decrease it to 1 egg. Add a couple of Tbsp of oil, and increase the amount of milk by a little – 1/3 cup or less.

Many pre-mixed batters will have a recipe for both waffles and pancakes on the back. Use that recipe to get the best results from your mix. We like to get mixes that have both recipes so we know they’ll turn out right.

Looking for other go-to breakfast ideas? Check out the best cereals for kids.