My breakfast at home. We ran out of blueberries coz I almost finished them last night.
“Nice. I haven’t eaten Belgian waffles for a while.”
“They are not Belgian waffles. They are German waffles,” said my German lover.
“What the hell does that even mean?”
“German waffles are different from Belgian waffles.”
“Eh? What makes them different?”
“We use quark to prepare German waffles. They use milk. And German waffles are usually heart-shaped.”
“Okay. Why is it heart-shaped?”
“That’s just how Germans normally make it. We also add a bit of sparkling water.”
“Huh? WHAT? Why?”
“The gas makes the waffle fluffier.”
“It is literally the most important thing you have ever told me, ever. I should blog about this.”
So here you go.
Get sick
of heart-shaped
German waffles.
Here’s how Belgian waffles look like in case you still don’t know.
Oh, I mean that’s how Brussels waffles look like.
Wait, what?!? you might ask.
Well, apparently there are different kinds of Belgian waffles too (I know! Too many options in this postmodern world!). I learned about this on my trip to Antwerp in 2013, although I’ve been visiting Belgium since 2010. It’s all waffles to me!
So there’s the Brussels waffle and then there’s the Liege waffle.
What’s the difference?
Brussels waffle is made with a thin, yeast-leavened batter which makes them lighter. They look more rectangular with deeper holes and smooth edges.
Liege waffle, on the other hand, is the most popular contemporary Belgian waffle variety. It is made with a a thick and sticky batter that is more like bread dough. The dough has chunks of sugar which caramelize and form a crispy, crunchy, golden coating. It also has uneven edges and a more dense and chewier waffle. See photos above.
I also learned that they used to throw waffle parties, known as wafel frolics, in 1744. I wish people are still throwing this kind of party. If you get an invite, please let me know! Or heck, maybe I’ll just throw one myself. Wanna come?
And there you have it. The most important piece of information to have ever appeared on my blog. Bon appetit!
All of me,
DJ
Pssssst! Follow me on Instagram! I post lots of food porn there not available on the blog.
Well I’m German but I live in Belgium. At home we usually make heart shaped waffels but without sparkling water or quark. In Brussels we eat the rectangular ones 🙂
I guess different people do it all differently 😀 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this, lovely and must be tasty waffles.
Yep they are!
German and sad to agree that we don’t use quark in waffles but sparkling water!
And Gent has def some of the best belgium waffles
Haha I’ve also heard this from another German friend. I guess people do their own waffles their way? I have yet to try waffles in Genf!
I love them all. Yum! Yum!
Love how German waffles appear … but I bet each kind is equally delicious!
Yep. All nomnomnom!
You should really check out the waffles in Ghent. Something extraordinary, party-worthy, kind of 🙂
By the way: the good people of Ghent actually claim to be the source of the real “waffle-thing”, just to throw in a further twist into this intrigue… Always good to know, I’m sure!
I’ve been to Ghent and I may or may not have eaten ’em Ghent waffles. I can’t remember.
But OMG don’t let my head explode. A German friend just told me they don’t use quark in making waffles in their neck of the German woods. EEEEEK. So much intrigue surrounding these waffles!
Mindblowwwnnn!!! Great info!
Always happy to share 😛
Thanks for sharing. Now Im having a mouthgasm at 4am just looking at these pictures lol
You’re welcome! So are you up for a waffle party?