American breakfasts are predominantly sweet: yogurts with fruit sauces and overnight oats with more fruit sauces and lattes with caramel syrup and whipped cream and our secret household love, that flaky cereal with the dried strawberries, but most especially the baked goods, muffins and quickbreads and cinnamon buns. I love them all but more Saturdays than not, I wake up craving something savory I can plop a wobbly egg on top of and it’s for this reason that knew the second I saw cornbread waffles in Joy Wilson’s, aka Joy The Baker’s, new brunch cookbook that they’d be the first thing I was going to make.
Brunch has become a cultural punching bag over the last several years — “The meal brings out the worst in restaurants and their patrons. ‘Chefs bury the dregs of the week’s dinners under rich sauces, arranging them in curious combinations.'” “Less satisfying than the two things it purports to replace.” — but this, like most food things people like to complain about, are bothersome at restaurants. At home, brunch is everything: loosely scheduled and relaxed, exactly the way weekends should be, and pretty much anything you like to eat can be easily reformatted for a lazy midday meal.
Joy’s book is a ray of sunshine because it gets this — bright cocktails and smoothies, omelet wheels, banana bread granola, gooey buns and praline bacon — but I also love that it’s not entirely predictable, you know, like those derided brunch menus. There’s salad in there, something I wish more brunch menus included as an oasis from all the fried and smothered stuff, and in a nod to her adopted home of New Orleans, a Cajun Soufflé and a Muffaletta Brunch Salad and yes, stunning, pillowy overnight beignets that are going to happen next.
For this weekend though, these cornbread waffles are a no-brainer: they take 5 minutes to assemble, the batter briefly rests while you brew the coffee, and cook just as quickly. They go sweet or savory — finished with bananas and maple syrup or with hot honey and a piece of fried chicken teetering on top; you could add some cheddar, jalapeños and a salsa-topped egg if you’re inviting me over and you never want me to leave or you can do as we did, classic-style with crispy bacon, salt, pepper, chives and a poached egg.
Previously
One year ago: Sesame Soba and Ribboned Omelet Salad and Eggs in Purgatory, Puttanesca-Style
Two years ago: Potatoes with Soft Eggs and Bacon Vinaigrette and The Consolation Prize (A Mocktail)
Three years ago: Sizzling Chicken Fajitas
Four years ago: Chocolate Hazelnut Macaroon Torte
Six years ago: Soft Eggs with Buttery Herb-Gruyere Toasts
Five years ago: Oat and Maple Syrup Scones
Seven years ago: Spinach and Chickpeas and Bakewell Tart
Eight years ago: Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Cornbread and Cream Cheese Pound Cake + Strawberry Coulis
Nine years ago: Hazelnut Brown Butter Cake and Pasta with Cauliflower Walnuts and Feta
Ten! years ago: Lighter-Than-Air Chocolate Cake
And for the other side of the world:
Six Months Ago: Magic Apple-Plum Cobbler
1.5 Years Ago: Oat and Wheat Sandwich Bread
2.5 Years Ago: Cucumber Lemonade and Sunken Apple and Honey Cake
3.5 Years Ago: Frico Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Miso Sweet Potato and Broccoli Bowl
4.5 Years Ago: Homemade Wheat Thins
Cornbread Waffles
I made these in a Belgian-style waffle iron (I’m like a broken record, guys, but I’m still obsessed with this one because removable, dishwasher-safe plates) but I think they’d be just fine in a standard, shallower one.
Joy called for 2 tablespoons honey but I skipped it, wanting fully savory waffles. I did not skip the suggested tablespoon of molasses and hope you do not. It adds the faintest hint of sweetness and a real nuanced flavor.
- 3/4 cup (100 grams) coarse yellow cornmeal
- 3/4 cup (100 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) molasses
- 1 cup (235 ml) buttermilk, well-shaken
- 4 tablespoons (55 grams) melted unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
Brush waffle iron with melted butter or coat with nonstick spray. Ladle in waffle batter, 1/4 cup at a time. (It makes 4 or so -inch finished waffles, cute ones made for an egg on top.) Cook until lightly browned and carefully transfer to rack in oven. They’ll crisp as they set. Repeat with remaining batter. You should get 8 waffles out of this, ideal for 2 per person.
Waffles keep well for 4 days in fridge and longer in freezer. Waffles re-crisp and come back to life in a warm oven.
My two favorite bready things, together at last.
I really need these with avocado and salsa. This cookbook should be showing up at my house today and now I am even more excited!!
I was skeptical about this concept until I saw how you served it. Now it’s going to the top of my “to cook” list!
I love the crunch of cornmeal. I’ve made those cornmeal pancakes and really like them, but I’ll bet it gets extra crunchy in waffles because there is more surface area that comes in contact with the cooking surface. I have a waffle iron that sorely underused si this gives me a reason to bust it out. Thank you for this!
Yum! A keeper. Nice to step away from the sweet side of pancakes. Great texture. B, L or D!
Honestly I have been using your strawberry cornmeal pancake recipe for waffles, it turns out super yummy.
Good to know! Do you use a deep (Belgian-style) or shallow waffle iron for them?
I use a shallow waffle iron.
Can i use fine cornmeal…my husband doesn’t like the grittiness of coarse cornmeal.
Happy Swedish Waffle Day!
I tried these today with sausage, blueberry-lavender preserves, and a fried egg. AMAZING!
that. sounds. amazing.
These sound amazing! Just ordered your recommended waffle maker so I can make these!
Can I make these at home and drive 20 minutes to work? Recrisp in a toaster oven? Want to treat my team!
depending on the setup in your office, you could just bring the batter and the iron to work! i’ve done it – and had coworkers bring their irons so we could make them quickly. i did 3 sets of triple batches and it was amazing.
Recrisping in a toaster oven works great, just keep the temperature low.
Is there a difference in cooking methods between yellow and white cornmeal?
You should be fine with either.
Made these this morning as soon as I discovered their existence–so easy and with ingredients I always have kicking around my pantry/fridge. I added red pepper flakes to the batter, a la my favorite cornbread from this site: https://smittenkitchen.com/2011/04/sour-cream-cornbread-with-aleppo/
Topped with a poached egg and jack cheese, side of asparagus. Absolutely the perfect Saturday brunch. Thank you for sharing, Deb!!
These look delicious! They would probably be great with a little jalapeño salsa/relish on top!
This is the perfect underlayment for so many things! Poached eggs are my favorite, so this will be a “no-brainer” for me. Your delicious egg salad on top would not hit a wrong note either I expect. Yikes, the possibilities are really endless. Great idea. Cutest children in the universe too…that hair of Anna’s is delightfully highlighted in this shot, as is Jacob’s cute smile and tender heart. How do you tear yourself away from the camera, they are both so delightfully photogenic.
Just made a big pot of split pea and ham soup and wonder if this might be a nice change from cornbread for dipping? I just might have to try it and see!
I happen to love anything breakfast/brunch, but we usually go with the sort of savory thing we had this morning: cheese omelet, fried potatoes, and toast. I add hot cocoa for my sweet tooth. Thank you for a great savory idea with these waffles.
These look so good – I love the idea that you can put an egg on top!
Read this post this morning, and immediately ran to the kitchen to make them. Ended up adding a diced jalapeño and maybe half a cup of grated cheddar to the batter, and topping them with bacon, a poached egg, avocado, cilantro and thinly sliced radishes, because why not gild the lily on a Saturday morning?
That all sounds good! I’m gonna try that.
What kind of waffle iron has removable plates for dishwasher?
hi rosemary, this is the one deb has & recommends with the removable plates. i’ve had it on my wishlist for some time. i see now you can only get it via third party sellers, hopefully amazon will bring it back full time :)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007AHLIZC
ps, my middle name is hopkins :)
I recently bought this one: https://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-Adjustable-Temperature-Belgian-Removable/dp/B01FYIAQA6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1492713517&sr=8-6&keywords=waffle+iron+removable+plates
and I love it! Removable plates, nice big waffles, works great and very easy to clean.
I have this Cuisinart with removable plates and I love it: https://www.macys.com/shop/product/cuisinart-waf-300-belgian-waffle-maker-with-removable-plates?ID=1007421&pla_country=US&CAGPSPN=pla&CAWELAID=120156340000220195&CAAGID=15162050116&CATCI=pla-160056451756&catargetid=120156340005911019&cadevice=c&cm_mmc=Google_Home_Electrics_PLA-_-Electrics+-+Waffle+Makers+-+GS_Cuisinart-_-46608980116-_-pg69403_c_kclickid_037e5630-327c-42fd-a598-368a26d0a2d7&trackingid=439×69403&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkZHTBRCBARIsAMbXLhEtx1T8u5-BYLhTionsTOg91hHlA3I2ACuZY–LdoLoC5qYr4RPNAUaAuYAEALw_wcB
These look fantastic! I was just in Phoenix last week and had jalepeno cornbread waffles, quelle coincidence. Those were made to be served with BBQ pork and coleslaw, but I prefer the poached egg idea.
Could you re-recommend your waffle iron? I recall you mentioning it in a waffle post a while back. Thanks!
Yes, I am obsessed with it but was sad to see yesterday that Amazon no longer has it (or has it in stock). It’s worth finding, though. It’s such an easy cleanup and nice size. We used to make waffles, at most, once a year, now I find them easier than pancakes. #danger!
Since yours was no longer available, I ordered this one: https://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-Adjustable-Temperature-Belgian-Removable/dp/B01FYIAQA6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1492713517&sr=8-6&keywords=waffle+iron+removable+plates
and I love it. Bigger waffles, removeable plates, adjustable temperature, works great and not expensive.
Great tip! I hadn’t seen that one before but it totally fits the bill. Glad you’re enjoying it.
I made these tonight, with a regular 4 square waffle iron and got 3 waffles or 12 squares. They were easy to make, and I even used buttermilk powder and water rather than buttermilk because that is what I always have on hand. Mine were a bit darker than yours and quite crispy. As I wrote in a comment above, I served them with bowls of split pea and ham soup without any embellishments. The waffles made yummy dunkers and we both thought that they were a quick and different take on cornbread. The molasses did come through in a good way. I bet sorghum syrup would also be delicious too. Thanks again!
That sounds so good — I love the idea of using these instead of toast.
Can the molasses be omitted? What can be used in place of it? Perhaps a wee bit more buttermilk?
I live in New Mexico, where we do things like this with blue cornmeal (sacred to one of the local tribes and super yummy) and then stud it with roasted chopped green chile and maybe a sprinkle of cheese. Oh, now I’ve made myself hungry.
Deb, are you aware today happens to be International Waffle Day? I need to know whether this was intentional.
I had no idea! I had intended to post this earlier in the week and had run out of time, figured Saturday morning was as good of a time as any! Obviously, it was fated.
Really retro, but we love cornbread waffles with creamed chipped beef.
Culture punching bag indeed. It’s kind of ironic that you posted this, since it reflects my thoughts on brunch quite well. As an adult, I do not like sweets hardly, especially for morning eats. However my brunch drama over waffles no less was brought on by my mother in law, who created an epic fight between my husband and I, and tensions for years remaining between he and I. At any rate, all is better now once he was finally in a place to see what was going on with her, but she came over for brunch right before I left. I had been dreading it, and I think so had he, because we knew she’d pull her passive aggressive stunts again. At any rate I was thinking about just skipping food altogether, or trying to politely choke one down. Then something occurred to me.
Chili.
I had chili in the fridge. I also had cheese and avocadoes. AND eggs. So I did let him make me one of his sweet ones, but I slathered a boat load of chili on it with toppings and a fried egg. So funny, but it clammed her right the hell up. Waffles would not necessarily be my vehicle for mowing that kind of grub down, but I tell you, it was really super yummy. I got all of it down but a bite.
I’m really hoping that I can con my husband into making me savory waffles like these. I’m not one of those folks that will go out of my way to make waffles for my own intents, but something like this with some chili on it would be killer!
Anyway, a story for your Sunday morning.
~cheers
These were amazing! After reading some comments I made them and we ate them creamed chipped beef with an egg on top. The family loved them. They ate the leftovers plain also. A really great recipe. I will definitely make again and try with bean soup as dippers as another person suggested. Thank you! love it.
I’m in the savory breakfast fan club for sure! And waffles trump pancakes, it seems this recipe is something to be made later (or maybe sooner) this week…with poached eggs…yes!
I agree about savory breakfast. I always like the idea of sweet for breakfast – if I have plans to go to brunch in the morning, I’ll think to myself “mmm I’m going to get pancakes tomorrow!” And then literally every time I order eggs instead.
I’m the same! Drooling over the thought of blueberry pancakes slathered in syrup, and every single time when I’m at the table, I go for the savory option instead (eggs, burger, salad, etc.)
My husband lugged this waffle maker from Chicago back to Bermuda for me on Deb’s recommendation! So worth it – easy to clean and makes very appealing crisp round waffles.
Thanks so much for another great recipe. I just read this on a Monday morning after making Lemon Blueberry Waffles last night. Spring must be waffle season! My family and I want to thank you for doing all the research on waffle makers. Because of you I found my beloved Cuisinart Griddler with removable waffle plates. I use that machine all the time and the removable plates are wonderful. I used to avoid making waffles because cleaning the waffle iron was such a pain. That is definitely not the case anymore. I can’t wait to try this recipe out. Thanks!
yum! the comments are loaded with good ideas, too. i really should just flippin’ buy a waffle iron already.
also? that dried strawberries cereal is a total weakness of mine, too. i don’t even buy it (or any other cereal) anymore, it’s that bad haha! funny as i was just thinking about it yesterday – our favorite bubble tea place has a milk tea that tastes like cereal milk (supposedly taro & london fog tea combined), to which i added strawberry popping boba to and was in heaven.
Cornbread waffles are amazing. About 20 years ago, I first heard about chicken and waffles. I had no idea what it was and the idea that it was simply fried chicken and waffles was a bit too easy for me. But it sounded really good. I brainstormed and made cornbread waffles using a recipe in a Betty Crocker cookbook, sauteed chicken, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and peppers and made a pan luscious pan sauce. Served the chicken on top of the waffles and poured the sauce over all. It was so incredibly far from what chicken and waffles really is. But it was still mighty tasty.
There are multiple versions of chicken and waffles…..fried chicken and a waffle is the southern version. Roast or poached chicken on top of a waffle smothered in gravy is the PA Dutch version.
I was up early yesterday and decided to surprise my family with a full breakfast. These fit the bill and were fantastic! I followed the recipe with the exception of using 2 TBSP honey in place of the molasses. Topped with crispy bacon, a drizzle of maple, and a poached egg. absolutely delicous!
Do you think I could use whole wheat flour instead of AP? I have your clack bean ragout cooking away as we speak, and I’d love to have these waffles alongside!
I’d expect it to work just fine. Worst case scenario, it’s a little more sturdy but that’s not a bad thing for your purposes.
I sub’d buckwheat flour for all-purpose to make them for a gluten-free friend. They worked just fine though I (personally) missed the chew of the gluten. I reduced the leavening by 20% for altitude but the batter was still almost alarmingly puffy. Not sure if it’s GF related or that I usually make yeasted waffles and forgot how quick breads look. I’d probably decrease the leavening another 5-10% next time anyway.
I made these last night with chili and they were really tasty. They came together so quickly! I used 1/2 tbs honey and 1/2 tbs molasses as I was a bit nervous about using the whole tablespoon of molasses (I should have trusted you, 1/2 tbs really wasn’t even noticeable).
I got exactly 8 waffles that were all a bit bigger in diameter than yours from using a non-Belgian waffle maker. I’ll be remaking asap with fried chicken.
#breakfastgamestrong This looks so so good!
I am a huge fan of Joy the Baker. As a rule, however, I avoid anything sweet before around 4 p.m. or else I will be on a sugar rampage all day. I read someplace that in America (and frankly also in France) breakfast has become dessert. Not good. Sugar begets more sugar.
That said, a little excess on one day of one weekend is OK, especially if it involves friends and good conversation. So YES to cornbread waffles (or muffins or whatever) if it’s something exceptional.
I will make this soon but my daughter and I always cut back on the sugar in recipes. There always seems to be too much.
I keep regular cornmeal in my pantry, would this work ok? Any ideas about adjustments that might be needed due to using regular grind CM? Thanks, Deb
Wow! This looks absolutely amazing! Unfortunately I think molasses might be a little bit difficult to find here in Sweden, because I’ve never heard of it before but I will give it a try :D
The batter had a fascinating texture! I don’t cook a lot, so I found the stiff foaminess intriguing and a little worrisome…But they turned out so delicious!
Never in my life have I made cornbread waffles. Life as I know it has changed! The over-easy egg on top? YES. I have a bottle of molasses & buttermilk to use up and a waffle maker just itching to be used again (because, you know, it’s been like 5 minutes)!
I look forward to making this and checking back with you!
I served these tonight with some chicken tenders (plus ketchup on the side for the kids and Frank’s Red Hot Sauce for my husband and me). The waffles tasted just like hush puppies! A great, quick dinner – thank you!
Cornbread and waffles have a perfect love child: the cornbread waffle. I followed the recipe exactly, except mom-brain ensued at the store and I forgot the molasses (D’oh!) but substituted honey (still delicious). Served with chicken strips for the kids/hubby and vegetarian sausage for myself, and we all had a little maple syrup but next time I want to go all-in savory…thinking they would an awesome side with white beans and ham. Go Deb, 99.9% of the time you never disappoint.
Tasty and great for dipping in bean soup! Love having a new quick easy waffle.
Wow, these sound great for a brunch! I can’t do the jalapeños, however I was thinking several options for the family. Have a brunch bar with eggs, fruit, chicken tenders, bacon, sausage for the granddaughter who doesn’t eat bacon, etc. Love it.
Made as directed (no honey) and served with refried beans, guacamole, salsa, cheese and sour cream. Yum!
Can I used soured milk instead of buttermilk? It’s super late and I don’t want to have to go out into the dark and cold to find buttermilk…
Absolultely.
I served these at dinner with roasted chicken and a green salad. They were a hit.
These are great! I made these last night and they were a big hit. I made them gluten free by using King Arthur gluten free flour and adding 1/2 tsp of xantham gum. They were delicious! Thanks to you and Joy for a great post and recipe!
Made these for breakfast today. I sweetened with just the molasses and topped with poached eggs. Delicious!! This recipe is a keeper.
I made this and the family loved it! Crisp on the outside and lovely soft texture in the inside. Wondering if I can make these a bit healthier by cutting down on the amount of butter? Thoughts Deb?
I used fine cornmeal as that was what I had in the cupboard and they turned out not so great, kind of dry. But I loved the flavour so will definitely make these with coarse cornmeal. Maybe if you use fine cornmeal you need more liquid?
Unfortunately, my mama would rise from her grave and smack me if I ever, ever dared to put something sweet in my cornbread!
Made these waffles and put buttermilk fried chicken on top. Some honey and hot sauce…. they were great!
ooo I’m definitely trying this!
I made these as written and loved them. My kindergartener thought they were just ok. Recommend you freeze them though because they got tough in the fridge.
I made these last week, and they were great! I used greek yogurt with milk instead of buttermilk because that’s what we had and it worked out really well. I loved the texture and crunch of the waffles. They reheated really well, and could be dressed up as sweet or savory. I actually had these as a weeknight dinner with your great pot of chickpeas and a side salad.
Can I make the batter ahead of time and sit in the fridge until ready for use?
A nice, well-textured variation on tradition waffles. Good sweet or savory. We served some of ours with fried eggs, and some with frozen cherries defrosted with some maple syrup. Really good.
Hi Deb
I’ve had to go gluten free since six months and was wondering whether I could skip the wheat flour? Do you have suggestions on how to substitute it? Perhaps oat flour?
Thank you!
I would use a gluten-free flour mix instead.
These were the first waffles I’ve ever made and it was so simple! I’m not typically a fan of breakfast breads, so anything I can do to avoid the maple syrup makes me happy! Thanks for a delicious recipe!
These were great. I used dark maple syrup instead of molasses. I also added about half a cup of water as my mix ended very thick. Will definitely use this recipe again.
Just made these with polenta style cornmeal. A bit chewy but not unpleasant. I had to put the waffles in a low oven to get them crisp. I wanted waffles with syrup so I added two tbsp honey and the one tbsp molasses. Griddled with blueberries was an excellent variation!
What would be a good alternative to the buttermilk if there is a dairy allergy in the family? Thanks!
Can i use fine cornmeal…my husband doesn’t like the grittiness of coarse cornmeal.
Mine came out a little bland
These turned out fine, just not to my taste. Despite using fancy molasses (not blackstrap) I found the flavour came out rather bitter. The texture also didn’t work for me. They were gritty with the cornmeal, while I was expecting them to be crispy instead. I’ll try another one of your waffle recipes for next time. Thanks for offering so many variations!
This is easily the recipe I have made the most amount of times from your website. They are dead easy to make and keep for ages in the freezer. I generally make a double or triple batch and freeze them and they are perfect when you toast them from frozen. I use honey instead of molasses and they are delicious.
So I’ve made these a bunch of times as an accompaniment to chili, and they are delicious. We eat them plain or dip them in the chili. Today I had one in a more traditional breakfast style with maple syrup and holy cow! They soak up the syrup without the flavor disappearing and without getting soggy and they are so good! With some sliced strawberries as well I think it would go next level.
I made this with a salsa of tomatoes, black beans, tomatillo, cilantro and green onions. And some avocado. Yum! Might add an egg and call it dinner. So good!
I also made it with Bob’s Red Mill egg substitute and a butter substitute for my vegan sister and it turned out just fine.
This looks so good, I’m one of those weird people that prefer savory waffles over sweet waffles. I can’t wait to give try this recipe over the weekend!
I made these with a few changes for personal preference and they were delicious. I skipped the molasses (didn’t have any), used 4 Tbsp sugar instead of honey for a sweet cornbread flavor, and added 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp nutmeg. Also because I can’t help myself, I replaced 1/4 cup of AP flour with whole wheat flour, and used canola oil in place of melted butter. Wish I had doubled the recipe to have leftovers – next time!
We have been enjoying this recipe for years now.
Today I used these substitutions as we didn’t have some ingredients on hand, and they worked for us:
Soured heavy cream (1 Tablespoon lemon juice plus heavy cream)
No molasses
Whole milk to thin the batter
2 Tablespoons coconut oil
This cornmeal waffle recipe is great. I am undergoing chemo which has changed how food tastes and mouth feel. I make this recipe regularly as it tastes so good.
I do wonder what the saturated fat content is as the recipe is posted. I am on a low fat diet and am not supposed to eat baked goods with eggs, fat and milk. I have changed some ingredients as to make this recipe better for me. Thank you
Made these again yesterday and added a can of sweet corn for a waffle-fritter hybrid. Left out the honey and used black treacle. Even with double quantities only two left to go in the freezer (brilliant emergency meal: in the toaster from frozen in the time it takes to fry an egg), might have to go triple next time….
I had been wondering about adding canned corn as well but we didn’t have any this time. Will for sure try it next time.
These were so good and easy! Light but also crispy with the right amount of grit. I didn’t have buttermilk, so I had to improvise with greek yogurt diluted with milk and added some white vinegar just to be sure. I did want the honey, but used 2 tablespoons of maple syrup in its place for a small touch of sweetness. We ate them both sweet and savoury together, topped with poached eggs, bacon, shredded cheese AND maple syrup. YUM! Will be adding these to the regular rotation.
Thanks for all the waffle recipes, I am working my way through them, a very enjoyable endeavour. I made these for a late Sunday breakfast, with a few substitutions. Its great to have a really robust recipe that can be adjusted to suit. I had around 2 cups of cooked porridge to use up, so added that in. 1/3 cornmeal 1/3 plain flour and 1/3 YQ wholewheat flour. 1 dessert spoon of molasses. I used 2tsp of spreadable butter and 1tbsp of rapeseed oil. This made 12 waffles using a four square waffle iron. They were delicious, with a lovely soft interior and a great flavour. Definitely making these again.
These are fabulous! I made them yesterday, ate two and froze the rest. I put them in the toaster oven on “toast” and the result was crispy and delicious. Thank you!