Are Belgian Waffles Vegan? Yes, they absolutely can be!

Are you travelling to Europe and planning on devouring some Belgian waffles? If you’re a vegan you’ll probably be asking yourself “are Belgian waffles vegan?” And the short answer is, no. Belgian waffles are not typically vegan. But that doesn’t mean you can’t eat Belgian vegan waffles. Read on to find out more.

There is more than one type of waffle

Most western countries are familiar with waffles. Many countries even have their own type of waffle. The Netherlands has the famous Stroopwafels, the UK and Ireland have potato waffles, and Vietnam has Pandan waffles.

With waffles being such a popular snack, it’s no wonder Belgium has more than one type of waffle. There’s the Brussels Waffle which are rectangular in shape and closely resemble the American waffle. These have deep pockets and are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

And then there’s the Liège waffle. The more famous Belgium waffle. This one is an ever so slightly different recipe. So if you’re asking “are Belgian waffles vegan?” this waffle is the one I’m referring to.

Posts you might be interested in:

What’s the difference between a Liège waffle and a Brussels waffle?

The Liège waffle is oval or round in shape. The Brussels waffle is rectangular and slightly larger, often with 6 x 4 pockets. Both Belgian waffles typically are made from flour, egg, milk, and butter. Making neither recipe for waffles vegan friendly. If you want to read a good vegan Belgium waffle recipe, carry on scrolling.

What the Liège waffle has that the Brussels one doesn’t is pearled sugar. And that makes all the difference. The sugar adds a caramelised flavour and makes it a treat that is just perfect plain without any toppings. It’s crisp and sweet with a dense cake-like texture.

History of the Liège waffle

As with a lot of traditional pastries, and meals in general, the history of the Belgian waffle isn’t 100% known. There is a legend that says the Liege waffle came about when the Prince-Bishop of Liege asked his chef for a sugary pastry. And, as they say, the rest is history.

So where can I find a vegan Belgium waffle?

Vegan Belgium waffles aren’t the most common bakery product to come by in your local supermarket. But it’s always worth having a look to see if your local vegan supermarket has included any in their range.

If you’re yet to visit Belgium and are limited to the supermarket offerings, then we recommend you make your own crispy vegan Belgian waffles at home. Make sure you follow a vegan Belgian waffle recipe with good reviews. The vegan food bloggers have done the testing so you don’t have to.

Alternatively, you could hunt down a vegan café selling Liège waffles in your town or city, or in Belgium on holiday. Read on to find out more.

Places selling vegan Belgium Waffles

Vegan restaurants and cafes aren’t new to Europe but the smaller the city or town, the less likely you are to find an exclusively vegan café serving vegan Belgium waffles.

That being said, the small but popular tourist destinations are becoming more vegan friendly. Bruges has four vegan and vegetarian friendly places on the Happy Cow app.

As a vegan, you might be familiar with the Happy Cow app, especially when travelling abroad. The app works well in Belgium, there’s a massive 2000 listings. Cafes in Belgium are more likely to serve waffles than restaurants as it is more of a street food than breakfast item.

And you will still need to check the menu to see if vegan Belgium waffles are served wherever you choose to go. Just remember to double check ingredients if you aren’t sure when ordering.

The Best Vegan Belgian Waffle Recipe

Have you thought about making your own vegan Belgian waffles? If you own a waffle iron and know how to read, you’re good to start whipping these vegan waffles up in the kitchen.

A couple of points to remember:

Always read around for a good vegan Belgian waffle recipe. If you are new to vegan baking, this applies more to you than the experts.
Follow the instructions closely on the substitute eggs, milk and fat. No one wants to eat a brick hiding as a vegan Liège waffle.
Always watch your waffle iron, those things burn!

In fact, The Waffle Pantry blog has a good list of things to bear in mind with baking vegan Belgian waffles. Just make sure you have a read through the blog post before getting started.

We’ve had a look around for a good vegan Liège waffle recipe for you. So here are our recommended vegan Belgium waffle recipes:

As well as some tips on vegan baking, the Waffle Pantry. also has a good vegan Belgian waffle recipe.

The Well Vegan Blog has a Liège vegan waffle recipe. Although the recipe doesn’t specify how much egg replacer is needed, but it does advise when you need to add it. Hopefully as a regular egg-replacer-user, you’ll know when you need to add it.

Plant Based on a Budget has got some tremendous reviews for its vegan waffle recipe. Looking at the reviews, I’d say this is likely going to be the best vegan Belgian waffle recipe out there. But to find out, you’ll have to try it out yourself.

So are Belgian waffles vegan? Yes, they absolutely can be! You just need to make them yourself or hunt down a vegan-friendly café!

Have you enjoyed a good crispy vegan Belgian waffle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.

Facebook Tweet Pin Email