Valentine's Day Waffles

These festive Valentine's Day waffles have been a cherished tradition in my home for years, and they're hands down one of my favorite ways to make February 14th feel extra special. I've perfected this recipe over countless Valentine's Day mornings, tweaking the ratios until I achieved that ideal balance of crispy exterior and fluffy interior with just the right amount of festive pink color.

What I love most about these waffles is how versatile they are, I set out a topping bar with strawberries, whipped cream, chocolate, and sprinkles, and let everyone customize their own creation. After making these year after year, I can confidently say they're foolproof, delicious, and guaranteed to bring smiles to the breakfast table.

Whether you're celebrating with your little valentines or treating your partner to a romantic brunch at home, these easy homemade waffles are ready in less than 20 minutes and taste absolutely incredible.

This themed breakfast is such an easy and fun way to enjoy a festive valentine breakfast. I love serving this with all the possible toppings and letting everyone customise their waffles as they wish

Why you'll love this delicious breakfast

• Easy valentine’s day breakfast.
• Perfect recipe to celebrate with your little valentines on valentine’s day morning.
• Family friendly and perfect for kids.
• Easy Recipe with simple ingredients.
• Perfect way to celebrate valentine's day morning.
• This great breakfast is ready in less than 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• AP Flour
• Cornstarch
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Vanilla Extract
• Salt
• Unsalted Butter
• Buttermilk
• Egg
• Red or pink food color

Topping ideas for your Valentine's Day breakfast

• Whipped Cream
• Fresh strawberries
• Fresh berries
• red sprinkles
• maple syrup
• honey
• strawberry syrup
• peanut butter
• cream cheese icing
• dark chocolate
• heart-shaped fruit
• Nutella

Instructions for this cute valentine’s day breakfast

• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, butter, food coloring, egg and vanilla extract.
• Whisk the milk mixture into the dry ingredients until no lumps are left.

• Heat the waffle iron to the highest heat setting and spray with nonstick spray.
• Cook waffles until crisp, adding enough batter to the waffle iron to fill the entire lower grid.
• Serve the waffles immediately.

Variations/Substitutions for this fun valentine's day breakfast

Here are variations and substitutions for Valentine's Day waffles:

Substitutions:

Buttermilk:

• Use regular whole milk mixed with 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice (let sit 5 minutes before using)
• Substitute with plain yogurt thinned with a little milk for extra tang
• Try sour cream mixed with milk for richness
• Use dairy-free milk (almond, oat, soy) with 1 tablespoon vinegar for a dairy-free version

All-Purpose Flour:

• Use whole wheat flour for added fiber and nuttier flavor (waffles will be slightly denser)
• Try gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for a gluten-free version
• Use half all-purpose and half cake flour for extra-light, tender waffles

Butter:

• Use melted coconut oil for a dairy-free option
• Substitute with vegetable oil or canola oil (though you'll lose some buttery flavor)
• Try melted ghee for a richer, nuttier taste

Eggs:

• Use flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water per egg, let sit 5 minutes) for a vegan version
• Substitute with commercial egg replacer following package directions
• Try chia eggs (1 tablespoon chia seeds + 3 tablespoons water per egg)

Sugar:

• Use brown sugar for a deeper caramel flavor
• Substitute with honey or maple syrup (reduce liquid by 1-2 tablespoons)
• Try coconut sugar for a less refined option

Food Coloring:

• Omit entirely for natural-colored waffles
• Use beet juice or strawberry puree for natural pink color (add 2-3 tablespoons)
• Try natural red food coloring made from vegetables

Cornstarch:

• Substitute with additional all-purpose flour (waffles will be slightly less crispy)
• Use tapioca starch for a similar effect

Variations:

Strawberry Valentine's Waffles:

• Fold ½ cup diced fresh strawberries into the batter
• Top with strawberry syrup and whipped cream
• Garnish with heart-shaped strawberry slices

Chocolate Chip Valentine's Waffles:

• Top with additional chocolate chips and whipped cream
• Add ½ cup mini chocolate chips to the batter
• Drizzle with chocolate syrup

Red Velvet Waffles:

• Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the dry ingredients
• Increase red food coloring for deeper color
• Top with cream cheese icing and red velvet cake crumbs

Funfetti Valentine's Waffles:

• Fold ¼ cup Valentine's sprinkles into the batter
• Top with whipped cream and additional sprinkles
• Drizzle with white chocolate or vanilla glaze

Storage

Refrigerator Storage:

• Store cooked waffles in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Layer waffles between sheets of parchment paper or wax paper to prevent them from sticking together.
• Make sure the waffles have cooled completely to room temperature before storing to prevent condensation and sogginess.
• Keep waffles separate from toppings and syrup – store those separately and add just before serving.

Freezer Storage (Recommended for Meal Prep):

• Valentine's Day waffles freeze beautifully for up to 1-2 months.
• Allow waffles to cool completely on a wire rack before freezing.
• Layer waffles between sheets of wax paper or parchment paper to prevent them from freezing together.
• Place the layered waffles in a freezer-safe resealable bag or airtight container, removing as much air as possible.
• Label the bag with the date so you can track freshness.
• For best results, freeze waffles in single layers so they freeze quickly and maintain their crispy texture.

Reheating Instructions:

From Refrigerator:

• Toaster (Best Method): Pop refrigerated waffles in the toaster on a medium-high setting for 1-2 minutes until crispy and warmed through.
• Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F, place waffles directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet, and warm for 5-7 minutes until crispy.
• Microwave: Place 1-2 waffles on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 20-30 seconds (note: this method makes them soft rather than crispy).
• Waffle Iron: For the crispiest results, reheat in your waffle iron for 1-2 minutes.

From Frozen:

No need to thaw – you can reheat directly from frozen for best texture and convenience.

Toaster (Easiest Method): Place frozen waffles directly in the toaster on medium-high setting for 2-3 minutes until heated through and crispy.

Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F, place frozen waffles on a baking sheet, and warm for 10-12 minutes until heated through and crispy.

Microwave: Heat frozen waffles for 45-60 seconds, checking and adding time as needed (waffles will be soft, not crispy).

Check out these other breakfast recipes for fun valentine’s day breakfast ideas