Cooking Waffles For A Large Group

How Do You Serve Waffles To A Crowd

Cooking Waffles for a Large Group: handy tips

Wondering what to cook for a large group soon? Buttermilk Waffles would be a perfect food to prepare since it is a staple and easy recipe for your hungry guest. You can cook them either for breakfast, brunch, baby showers, birthdays, or any kind of event. But cooking for a large group will also require you to cook waffles in large quantities that may make you feel overwhelmed.

If you have run out of oil – what can you substitute in Waffles

Another great breakfast for New Years Day is french Toast – see our article on how much French Toast Per person.

Also, crepes are an alternative for waffles – see how many to serve for 50 people

Fear not because we have prepared lots of tips, waffle ideas, and techniques for serving the perfect waffle to a large family or group without you being stressed out.

If you want to have a classic more healthy breakfast – Porridge or Rolled Oats are great.

Cakes are sweet also – see how to calculate cakes for 100 people here.

If you want a keto-friendly waffle – see our article on lupin flour.

See here for an article on The Real Difference Between Sherbet and Gelato

Waffles and Pancakes are similar and checkout our guide on pancake premix quantities for a big group.

How do you serve waffles to a crowd?

Below are our top tips

1. Consider the number of guests

Your waffle recipe will matter the number of guests you have on the list. For example, if there are about 20 people coming, chances are you are going to double the number of waffles so that everyone will get to have at least 2 waffles. If you have 50 guests and above, it is better to make sure that everyone has their own share. Or if there are a hundred guests or so, maybe you could make 200 waffles or more.

Of course, it wouldn’t be wise to spend several hours manning a hot iron alone just so you can cook two hundred waffles. But if you plan to cook that kind of amount, go get your friends to help with you or if you read on – prepare them in advance we explain how.

Now, once you already have the final guest list, account for an extra 3 to 10 people. For the reason that some of them might bring plus one or other friends, or perhaps someone who eats more waffles than you had anticipated. The rule of thumb in preparing food for a large crowd is always this: It is better to come over-prepared than under-prepared.

It would also be important to know some health concerns of the guests such as allergies and specific diets to know what ingredients you would use. Consider making a special batch of waffles for them so that everyone will have a chance to participate in your waffle recipe.

Consider if you are serving other desserts as breakfast sides, like pumpkin pie for thanksgiving guests.

2. Consider the Serving Size of Your Recipe

The serving size of your recipe is going to depend on how many ingredients you are going to buy. Also, you are going to change your original recipe and alter it to feed everyone at the party. In other words, you have to change the number of serving sizes. The common waffle recipe that everyone has makes about 4 to 6 waffles, but if you are going to be in a large group, be ready to make more than the usual.

If you have a recipe that serves 5 and you are serving a group of 50 people, then you are going to multiply it by 10. Meaning, you are going to buy ten times the amount of flour, eggs, sugar, syrups, and more to make your waffle satisfying.

3. Prepare ahead of time

Cooking in a large quantity always needs to be prepared ahead of time. If you know you are going to make a hundred waffles, then you might want to prepare a night or several hours before the party, right? And a lot has been curious about how to prepare waffles ahead of time.

Also, prevent yourself from rushing, so you must prepare all the needed cookware, utensils, cutleries, and ingredients before you start cooking. It is best to keep a checklist to figure out in advance if you are missing something or not. Preparing everything ahead of time gives a lesser chance of mistakes and for you to be in the swing of things when people arrive.

Moreover, incorporate travel time. If your venue is far from your home, remember that you must still keep the waffles fresh and clean. Keep in track of where the event will be, how long it takes to get there, and importantly, the loading and unloading time, too!

Remember that when you take the waffles out, it is easy to leave the iron open, especially if you are going to use it again. But know that when you do this, you are actually letting the heat escape from the iron, which is going to slow down the cooking process for the next wafffle.

It cannot also be too hot to prevent the waffles from burning. A good and consistent warm temperature is what is essential in the cooking process.

Can Waffles Be Made the Night Before?

Yes! You can definitely make waffles the night before your party by wrapping them in plastic food wrap or aluminum foil to prevent the waffles from frying out. Next, place all the waffles in a plastic bag overnight. And when you are ready to serve, warm them in a 350°F heated oven until they reach your desired crispness.

4. Keep Your Waffles Fresh

No one, even kids, like a cold and mushy waffle no matter what ingredients you add to it. If you are cooking lots of waffles for a large group, it is important to keep them warm and there are easy techniques on how to keep them crispy and good.

• If the event is going to be several days after you have prepared the waffles, you can freeze them using an airtight container. This can keep them fresh for about several weeks. (also see our tip below on how to freeze waffles.
• Set your oven warm enough that will not let the waffles lose their height. As mentioned above, consistent temperature is the key.
• Have your waffles placed in an enclosed container. You can place them in the oven if not consumed immediately to retain the heat and prevent it from getting soggy.
• Always cover your waffles using a kitchen towel to retain the heat.

5. Get Help from Your Friends

The more people in the kitchen, the merrier your cooking will be. If you are cooking for a crowd, you will definitely have a hard time alone. It is best to check with your friends if they can lend you a hand in cooking your waffles.

Designate your to-do list to keep you overwhelmed. Have someone in charge of the batter, another in charge of flipping the waffles, another one in measuring the ingredients, another one in cleaning, and more. Having a company to be with you in the cooking process will save you time and energy.

8. Buy the Cheapest yet Good Ingredients

Many are asking if how much will it cost to cook waffles for a large crowd. It will certainly cost you a lot so make sure you get the cheapest ingredients in the grocery at the same time, ensuring that they cannot affect the quality of the waffles.

For example, instead of purchasing 40 pieces of eggs, opt for a box waffle mix that will only need waster as a mixing ingredient. These boxes can cost around $2 to $10 dollars depending on the size. This ready-to-cook mixture is going to be cheaper than buying gallons of milk or boxes of flour for your waffle batter.

Waffles recipe

So, let’s answer the common question from everyone: how to make a buttermilk waffle for a large group?

Serving size:

18 waffles

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 4 cups buttermilk
• 4 large eggs

Instructions

1. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt altogether in a large mixing bowl.

2. In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla, nutmeg, and eggs accordingly and slowly.

3. Pour into the dry mixture and quickly stir together until all ingredients are combined.

4. Heat your waffle iron and spray both the top and bottom of the iron with a non-stick cooking spray.

5. Scoop your waffle batter into the iron and spread evenly.

6. Cook the batter for several minutes according to your iron’s instructions.

7. Serve immediately with your favorite chocolate syrup, peanut butter, or fruits.

How do you keep waffles warm for a crowd?

Keep the waffles warm for a crowd during the event by preheating your oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit at the same time, make the waffle batter. Next, turn off the oven and pop the waffle into the warm oven. It will eventually get warm and crisp so everyone can enjoy it together.

How Do You Keep Waffles Moist?

The ultimate secret in making every batter moist is by putting enough amount of eggs, especially the egg whites. To do this, you should separate the egg whites and beat them until they are fluffy as if you are about to make a souffle or meringue.

Can Waffle Batter Be Made the Night Before?

Yes, buttermilk waffle mix can be made the day before – the secret is to cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate. If you want to be really organized you can portion the batter into disposable cups up to 1-2 hours before you need to cook them – this will be much better than a frozen waffle.

How do you keep waffles warm on a waffle bar?

To keep homemade waffles warm it is best if each guest cooks their own, this only takes a couple of minutes especially if you have already measured out the mix into cups – Saves you having to reheat waffles.

However, if you need waffles for 100 guests then you can keep them warm at 200°F in an oven.

Don’t be afraid of your waffles cooling a bit. Waffles can be served cool or warm!

How to Throw a Waffle Party

One of my favorite tips for a good and easy party is to let the food be the entertainment. By that I mean – get lots of toppings for the waffles, and make a selection ahead of time for people to copy the topping design – or do better. Why not have a waffle design competition!

This is very similar to setting up a taco bar (see our post on how to do that) except you have with all the waffle fixin’s a person could dream of.

The great thing about waffles is you can throw a waffle party for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

Don’t stress about matching dishware with all those toppings, you can even put them in paper plates with waffle environmentally-friendly spoons and forks.

When it comes to the toppings, make sure you have classics maple syrup, whipped cream, fruit, etc. but do not be afraid to mix it up to really make it a waffle party! Also, try to have a mixture of healthy and not-so-healthy waffle options for folks to mix and match as they see fit.

What are the Top Waffle Toppings for 100 Guests

Fresh fruit of pretty much any kind! Berries are great, as is mango- but let your imagination run wild.

• canned pie filling is a fun topping.

• jams, jellies – see how much pectin in Sure-Jell to make jam

• crunchy nuts like walnuts, pecans, almonds, or peanuts on the table.

• Pumpkin and hemp seeds
• chia seeds are nice sprinkled on top of waffles.

• coconut is a great addition to your waffle bar!

• Real maple syrup is a must at any waffle party. Plus a selection of quality flavored syrup is also a good idea if you want to really impress your visitors.

• Plain or flavored Greek yogurt is a great way to add creamy texture

• Nut butters like peanut, almond, cashew, etc are fantastic on a waffle bar. To make sure they are runny enough to easily drizzle over waffles, mix in a little mild-flavored cooking oil (avocado oil, grapeseed oil, vegetable oil). This nicely thins out the butters so they cover the treat easily.

• warm chocolate sauce is always popular.

• caramel sauce and butterscotch on the table is going to be popular

• Whipped cream is a classic waffle topping. Whip your own with a dash of vanilla or have a can of pre-whipped cream to keep it simple.
• Ice Cream (see how much ice cream per person)

How Many Waffle per Person for A Crowd

Waffle Bar: How many waffles should I buy or make?

If you’re planning on having a waffle bar, then you’ll need to purchase or make enough waffles to feed all your guests. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of making waffles from scratch, you can always order them from a local bakery or restaurant.

How Many Waffles to Per Person for 20 People

If you have 20 people for a new years day breakfast or another big gather then you will need

• 40 medium-sized waffles for 20 people. You can double the number of waffles and cut them into smaller pieces so that they fit on each guest’s plate. 

How Many Waffles to Per Person for 40 People

If you have 40 people for a new years day breakfast or another big gather then you will need

• 80 medium-sized waffles for 40 people. 

How Many Waffles to Per Person for 50 People

If you have 50 people for a new years day breakfast or another big gather then you will need

• 100 medium-sized waffles for 50 people. 

How Many Waffles to Per Person for 75 People

If you have 75 people for a new years day breakfast or another big gather then you will need

• 150 medium-sized waffles for 75people. 

How Many Waffles to Serve for 100 guests

If you have 100 people for a new years day breakfast or another big gather then you will need

• 209 medium-sized waffles for 100 people. 

How to Keep Waffles Crispy When Feeding a Crowd

The way to keep waffles warm for a crowd is your humble oven – A waffle toasted taken form the section of frozen foods of your store or supermarket is not a substitute for a nice fresh cooked or baked waffle which will be crisp straight off waffle iron at home. The big problem with homemade waffles is it can be hard to make enough or keep up with the demand form the hungry mouths.

As they come off the iron, how do you keep them hot and crisp until you have a good quantity to serve to your 50 guests!

Keeping them crisp is however a challenge – too hot and they will dry out and the perfect crispy waffle is gone – you know how hard it is to look after a pancake – well waffles are similar.

Start by heating your oven to 200 degrees F. That’s is a good temperature to keep the waffles warm without drying them out.

Do not cover the waffles as they will continue to steam for 2-3 minutes after finishing on the iron, and layering them or covering them with a towel, baking sheet, or paper will simply trap the steam and make your waffles soggy.

What is the answer – well use a baking rack to transfer your fresh-baked waffles straight onto the oven rack. They can steam into the warm air of the oven, but retain their crisp texture.

Place about six big, round Belgian-style waffles on a standard oven rack. With smaller waffles of course you can fit more.

How to plan a Waffle Party?

Before you plan your waffle breakfast or brunch, think about your production capacity. How long does it take to cook for example depending on what waffle iron you have – thick Belgian style waffles take up to 4-5 minutes to finish cooking.

You can keep them warm for 20-30 minutes – so if your waffle Iron can cook six waffles in 5 minutes – you can produce around 30 perfect waffles, and store them ready to serve at once!

Some of the more modern irons take about 3 mins and they ate smaller so with two of these going you can produce 8 every 3 minutes or around 80 in 30 minutes.

Do not rush with the cooking – let each set of waffles cook perfectly before you take them out. Cooking waffles for the proper length of time will keep the light texture that comes from baking a wet batter, the perfect Belgian waffle recipe into a crisp bit of paradise.

When making your dry ingredients little differences in the quantities of baking powder, flour and sugar can affect your waffle’s crispness. Same with the wet ingredients, eggs, buttermilk, etc must also be measured carefully.

Test your recipe ahead of time to make sure it is right and you know the exact measurements so you get the right dough consistency each time you make it.

How to freeze a big batch of homemade waffles

Freeze the waffles by first cooling them on wire racks as soon as they come off the griddle.

Then take a baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper and put it in the freezer.

Now place the completely cooled waffles on the baking sheet, leaving a small gap in between.

Repeat the process if you have more to freeze – put a second layer of waffles or the top sheet and repeat.

How long till the waffles are frozen – this takes about 6 hours until they are really solid.

Then quickly put them into resealable bags. Or you can wrap them with plastic wrap if you are going to eat them one at a time, and quickly put them back into the freezer.

If you want to freeze waffles for a long time and stop freezer burn seal bags but inset a plastic straw in one corner. then using a kitchen pump suvk out the air – you will have a vacuum seal of your frozen waffles – this is a great kitchen hack.

How Long can you freeze waffles – 3 months is a safe time frame to freeze them, and have that homemade waffle taste remain.

How to reheat and crisp waffles from frozen

If you do it right reheating waffles that have been frozen can be just as good as waffles straight off the hot waffle iron.

I have found the best toaster to reheat waffles is the Magimix toaster – it will crisp them up really nicely because it is wide enough to fit even the fattest fluffy waffles. Plus it has a defrost button.

If you have a family that wants waffles to preheat the oven to 350F and put them on a wire baking rack – this lets the air circulate around them and stops them from going soggy. Bake them for approximately 10 minutes. Then, the perfect waffle is ready to serve – I love them with sliced bananas.

All Ovens are a little different so check after about 7 minutes to see if they are ready.

How do I check a preheated waffle is ready – break off a corner to see if it is heated through and crispy

What Is The Best Waffle Iron For A Large Crowd Or Group?

Cooking waffles for a large group using a small iron wouldn’t be great and practical. There are some waffle irons that can help you save time by allowing you to cook multiple waffles at the same time, producing really good quality waffles for your party.

We have come up with a list of the best waffle iron that you can use 

Best Group Waffle Maker

The Cuisinart Griddler is a semi-professional multipurpose waffle maker. This is efficient when you are in a hurry since you can set a timer and dual-zone temperature control to keep your waffles fresh

Set up A Waffle Bar in 3 Easy Steps

First, you need to decide on your waffle recipe. Second – Prepare all your toppings. Third Roll out some butchers paper so that your table stays easy to clean – and the great thing about this you can use a magic marker to write waffle instructions and ideas for your guests.
 Go for it!

How to Reheat Waffles Top 5 Ways in 2024

Who does not like to make giant breakfast or brunch with batches of eggs, pancakes, french toast, or waffles. Waffles are my favorite and I loved digging into a big stack of them.

Waffles is also a dish that is great for parties and they can be made in advance if you have to cater for a big group of 100 people.

When you have a lot of leftover waffles, what do you do?

You can save waffles for next weekend, because they freeze well. You can eat them when you have little time for breakfast.

They can be pulled out of the freezer, warmed up and poured on your favorite food.

How to heat up frozen waffles – what is the best way to reheat waffles – we will take you through the top 5 ways to reheat waffles in 2024

You can reheat your waffles in the microwave, the oven, or the toaster. The toaster is a quick and easy way to get crispy waffles in record time. If you’re feeding a big crowd, the oven works wonders.

Keep reading for the best ways to reheat your waffles. Learn the pros and cons of each method, plus the best way to freeze your leftover waffles.

How To Reheat Waffles in the Toaster

The toaster is one of those appliances that everyone has at home. It’s an essential part of any kitchen.

If you want to reheat your waffle quickly, then this is the perfect option.

How To Reheat Waffles in the Toaster and get a nice crisp waffle

Toasting waffles in the toaster is one of the easiest ways to heat up your leftover waffle. It also gives you that crispier exterior while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. Plus, there’s no mess involved with using the toaster. Simply pop open the lid, place your waffles in the slots, close the lid, and wait until they start popping.

Pros: Quickest Way to Heat Up Leftover Waffles

• You will get waffles that are super crisp and not soggy.
• It’s ideal for busy mornings.
• It’s even easier to cook frozen waffles with a defrost function in some toasting machines.

The only con is how quickly the toast works. You can end up with burnt waffles and have to start over if you are not careful.

How to Reheat Waffles in the Microwave

How to Reheat Waffles in the Microwave easily.

If you don’t mind the fact that your waffles won’t really crisp up, this is the option for you.

Microwaving waffles is another great way to quickly reheat them. This method takes longer than using the toaster but will ensure that your waffles come out perfectly crisp every single time.

To reheat your waffles, simply place them in a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Heat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes per side. Check after one minute and then again after two minutes. They should be golden brown and hot throughout.

Add one waffle at a time for 30 seconds if necessary. That should be enough – but if it is not quite hot enough add 10-20 seconds more. It will depend on the power of your microwave a little.

Some more time is required for frozen waffles. When it’s warm all the way through, keep heating and checking.

If you put waffles in the microwave for a long time, they will get soft and wet. Make sure to pay attention to the timing.

For frozen waffles this is probably the fastest way – You can make waffles from frozen to steaming in a couple of minutes.

If you use this method a lot  – You can get a microwave crisper tray. This is a special plate that cooks in the microwave almost like a skillet or frying pan.

Crispy rather than soggy waffles in the microwave sounds too good to be true – give it a try you will be surprised.

How to Reheat Waffles in the Oven

How to Reheat Waffles in the Oven

Finally, there’s always the oven. You could use an electric convection oven, which cooks food evenly without burning anything. Or, opt for a regular old stovetop model. 

The oven can be used to make waffles all at the same time. If you have a baking sheet, you can heat as many as you want. If you have extra time and a few mouths to feed, this is the best way to go.

You can go straight from the freezer to the oven just reheat the waffles a few more minutes.

Place your waffles on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

Room Temperature Waffles – Heat them for ten minutes at 300 F and they should be warm right through and nice and crispy.

How to Reheat Fresh Out Of The Freezer Waffles

For Frozen waffles, straight from the freezer, you will need about 15 minutes.

How long it takes is the only con. It takes 15-20 minutes for the oven to heat up and you have to wait.

How do I know when my waffles are done?

The first thing to check is whether they’re golden brown. Then look at their texture: Are they chewy or crunchy? Soft or hard? Crisp around the edges or inside?

When you see these signs, you’ll know your waffles are ready

Is there any difference between different types of waffles ?

There are several differences between Belgian style waffles and American style waffles. The main difference is that Belgian style waffles contain yeast while American style waffles don’t.

This means that Belgian style waffles rise much higher than American style waffles. As such, Belgian style waffles tend to be thicker and chewier.

Belgian waffles will take slightly longer to reheat.

Are there any other ways to reheat waffles besides microwaves/ovens?

Yes you can use a toaster oven, air fryer or even an instant pot.

How to Reheats Waffles Quickly

Use a microwave – they will be ready in about 30 seconds.

How to Reheat Stale Waffles?

The microwave will be the best method because it tends to make the waffle moister than the convection and conduction heat methods.

See how to reheat apple pie and make your own homemade heavy whipping cream.