These overnight yeast waffles have everything I want in a waffle: a crisp golden exterior, a soft, creamy center, and great flavor from a slow overnight rise. Mix the batter the night before, put it in the refrigerator, and in the morning it is ready for the waffle iron. No complicated technique and only a few minutes of active work.
Waffles are also wonderfully forgiving, which makes them a perfect use-what-you-have recipe. Add the last handful of nuts, some berries or chopped fruit, a little spice, or whatever else in the kitchen could use a second act. Extra waffles can go straight into the freezer and later into the toaster, so they don’t have to go to waste either. It saves food, saves money, and often leads to combinations you might never have planned.
We also make these with ingredients such as Kernza flour, maple syrup and walnut oil, which add flavor while giving us another opportunity to make a more sustainable choice. But sustainability starts even earlier than that: before buying something new, use what you already have.
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Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Table of contents
Method
Waffles are commonly made using baking soda or baking powder to make them quick and easy. Waffles made with baking powder are quicker to prepare, as they require no rising time. They typically have a more straightforward and neutral taste, with a denser texture. But this sacrifices the taste and crispiness of a waffle made with yeast. Waffles made from yeast tend to have a lighter and fluffier texture, with a crispy exterior and a tender interior.
But making waffles with yeast can be just as easy and even more convenient. The batter is made the night before and refrigerated, so there is the added convenience of being ready to go in the morning.
This recipe uses an easy, foolproof method that requires only a few minutes of active time. Check out Master Bread Method for a more detailed explanation on how this works.
- Measure the ingredients by weight and mix together
- Chill the dough overnight
- Shape the dough and let it rise
- Bake
This recipe uses our Master Bread Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making bread.
Ingredients
The key to improving flavor is to use all the best ingredients.
These sustainable ingredients give this waffle recipe a low carbon footprint, and makes them healthier and more flavorful as well. It is seriously the best yeast waffle recipe. Like we said – better tasting, healthier, easier, more convenient, and a lower carbon footprint. We hope you try this recipe and see just how easy it is to make something better.
The key to improving flavor is to use all the best ingredients.
- All-Purpose Flour – King Arthur Organic All-Purpose flour King Arthur responsibly sources the wheat for their flours, and it pays off in the taste and quality. They have a “never bleached” guarantee, which means their flours don’t have an off taste or unpredictable results that can be caused by bleaching. They also carefully calibrate the protein content, so the flour gives you the same results everytime.
- Milk, Cream, Butter – Horizon Organics – Milk, Cream and Butter that are produced organically, sustainably, and responsibly. You can taste the difference.
- Yeast – SAF-Instant Red – for Hearth Bread and SAF-Instant Gold for Enriched Bread – Instant yeast is easier to use and more reliable so the results are better.
- Salt – Diamond Kosher tastes cleaner and measures differently.
- Maple sugar – is renowned for its sustainability and low carbon footprint. One of the key reasons behind this is the minimal environmental impact maple sugaring has on the surrounding ecosystem. Unlike other forms of sugar production, maple sugaring does not require large amounts of land, excessive water usage, or the use of chemicals or pesticides. It relies solely on the natural process of tapping maple trees and collecting sap, which is then boiled down to produce the flavorful and versatile maple sugar. Additionally, the carbon footprint of maple sugaring is significantly lower compared to other sugar production methods. The process is energy-efficient as it primarily utilizes wood-burning evaporators, which release fewer emissions than fossil fuels. Moreover, maple trees, as living organisms, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making the production cycle even more sustainable and contributing positively to the environment. Overall, maple sugar is a great choice for those seeking a sustainable and environmentally friendly sweetener option.
- Kernza – also known as intermediate wheatgrass, is a perennial grain crop that holds great promise for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. When it comes to taste, Kernza has a sweet, nutty flavor with hints of earthiness. As a deep-rooted perennial, it requires less water, fertilizer, and pesticides compared to annual crops like wheat. This reduces soil erosion, enhances soil health, and improves water quality by preventing runoff. Kernza’s extensive root system also sequesters carbon, making it a valuable tool in combating climate change. Moreover, its long growing season provides continuous ground cover, minimizing weed growth and providing habitat for beneficial insects. Kernza’s sustainable cultivation practices make it a promising alternative to conventional grains, aligning with the goals of promoting biodiversity, conserving natural resources, and preserving a healthy environment for future generations.
- La Tourangelle Nut oil – a delightful addition to any culinary enthusiast’s pantry, as it not only imparts a rich and distinct flavor to dishes but also offers a more sustainable alternative to butter. With its unique nutty taste, nut oils, like walnut or hazelnut oil, elevate a wide range of recipes, from salad dressings to baked goods. What sets nut oil apart from butter is its sustainability. While butter production requires vast amounts of land, water, and feed for cows, nut oils are sourced from abundant and renewable nut crops. This makes nut oil a more environmentally friendly choice, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving valuable natural resources. In addition to enhancing the taste of meals, incorporating nut oil into our cooking practices contributes to a more sustainable and responsible approach to food consumption.
No Affiliates Statement
We call this our “no affiliates” statement because we accept no advertising, have no affiliates and accept no payment. We are not paid to mention brands – we just love buying the best, sharing that information and saving the planet at the same time. The effort put into writing and photographing the blog is solely based on our dedication to the cause.
Variations: Use What You Have
It’s easy to be creative with waffles. They are versatile and forgiving, and go well with a variety of ingredients. We add all kinds of ingredients to the batter, sometimes using up small amounts of things we have on hand. One of the simplest ways to cook more sustainably is also one of the oldest: use what you already have. Before buying something new, take a look at what is in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry and find a way to put it to work. This recipe is intentionally flexible, so feel free to change the flavors, substitute ingredients, or add nuts, fruit, herbs, spices, chocolate, cheese—or whatever else needs using up. Some of the best variations come from making do with what is already in the kitchen.
In the United States, an estimated 30–40 percent of the food supply goes uneaten or is wasted. When food is thrown away, we lose more than the cost of the food itself—we also waste the water, farmland, energy, labor and transportation that went into producing it. Using what you have is an easy way to save money, waste less, and make your kitchen a little more sustainable without changing the way you like to eat.
Choosing sustainable products, like Kernza and maple syrup makes a small but meaningful act of sustainability. Sustainability is at the heart of this recipe: choosing high-quality pantry staples, supporting responsible growers and brands. High quality products don’t just taste better, they are usually produced sustainably as well.
RECIPE
Equipment
- waffle iron
CHOOSING BRANDS:
For certain products, the choice of brand will make a big difference in the outcome of the recipe and in your carbon footprint. So, for those products, we have listed the brand. We are not paid to mention a brand and have no affiliates.
Ingredients
- 150 grams King Arthur unbleached all-purpose flour
- 150 Grams Perennial Pantry Kernza flour
- 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Red SAF instant yeast
- 300 grams filtered water
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup Dark
- 80 grams La Tourangelle walnut oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 Tbsp walnuts toasted and chopped, optional
Instructions
- Using a scale, measure the flours, salt and yeast into a large mixing bowl and whisk together.
- Measure in the water, maple syrup, and oil, and whisk together until the batter is smooth. Add the eggs and whisk just until incorporated.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (12-14 hours).
- After the 12 to 14 hours of rising, the dough should have doubled in size and have bubbles on the surface. Heat the waffle iron, add nuts to the batter and whisk to combine. Spoon it into the waffle iron. Bake the waffles according to manufacturer’s instructions. Serve waffles immediately.
Nutrition
WHY THIS RECIPE IS A GAME CHANGER:
This recipe is a game-changer — made with the finest sustainable ingredients, simplified using a modern method, and measured in grams, it is easy and reliable.
Breakfast at the Historic Green Mountain Inn in Stowe Vermont
We had an unforgettable breakfast experience at the charming Green Mountain Inn in Stowe, Vermont. The day started on a delightfully sweet note with their signature French toast crafted from mouth-watering homemade oat bread. Each slice with a golden crust that gives way to a fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth center. What truly sets this breakfast apart is the locally sourced maple syrup that generously drizzles over the French toast. Bursting with robust flavor, this amber liquid is a testament to the rich heritage of Vermont’s maple syrup production. The fragrant oat bread and velvety maple syrup creates an unforgettable sensory experience. The elegance of the Green Mountain Inn and the perfect Vermont breakfast that celebrates the finest local ingredients, left us feeling nourished and ready to explore all that this idyllic Vermont town had to offer.
Back home, we were reminded of the French toast at the Green Mountain Inn when we tried baking with Kernza flour for the first time. We thought the sweet, oat taste of the flour would add the perfect flavor to waffles. So we created this waffle recipe using the Kernza flour and maple syrup. Then we went even further, and made a recipe that used only sustainable ingredients.
| Ingredient | Percent by Weight |
Flour Sugar Salt | 100 50 |
Baker’s Percentages is a formula-based system where total flour weight is always !00 percent and all other ingredients are expressed as a percentage of that flour weight. It allows you to quickly and accurately compare recipes.
More Bread Recipes from our Master Bread Method
These recipes use our Master Bread Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making bread.
True to The Master Pantry philosophy, this recipe combines the best seasonal ingredients and quality brands with homemade methods to maximize both flavor and sustainability. It was inspired by our travels and works well as a holiday recipe.
Photography by Tony Fitzgerald Photography
Recipes created by Lisa LeCoump — Food Photographer, Agricultural Expert, and Home Baker. Sharing master recipes, chef secrets, and sustainable baking for every kitchen. Featured on various publications.