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A waffle is a type of breakfast pastry that is made of batter, which is then poured onto a heated mold called a waffle iron. The characteristic patterns of the waffle maker give the waffle its unique, trademark shape. Different types of waffles can be made depending on the different ingredients in the batter and the shape of iron used to make the waffle.

Pilgrims brought waffle making to America in 1620 since Europeans traditionally made waffles. Thomas Jefferson used to hold waffle frolics or waffle parties. In the Middle Ages people made waffles by using two metal plates that were equipped with a hinge, as well as wooden handles. This was placed over a fire, and subsequently flipped to cook both sides of the waffle but at the time they were called wafers.

There are a number of different kinds of waffles and waffle makers. For instance there is Belgian or Brussels waffles which sometimes is made with deeper indentations that are also wider than the American waffle. They were first introduced to America at the New York’s World’s Fair in 1964. The Lige waffle also comes from Belgium.

Round, Hong Kong style waffles are made with four quarters and often filled with peanut butter before being folded in half. Stroopwafels are a Dutch creation similar to the Hong Kong style in that they are drizzled with a luscious mixture of butter, syrup, brown sugar, and cinnamon and then folded in half to eat.

Swedish style waffles are made from a heart shaped waffle iron, and filled with sour or whipped cream, along with fresh berries or jams. In Norway, salted varieties of waffles topped with brown or bleu cheeses are also available.

Waffle makers are now electric, have non-stick cooking plates and have handy light signals that let you know when to put on the batter, and even lights that signal you when the waffles are ready. USA waffle makers come in a plethora of styles including cartoon characters, the famous outline of the Disney Mickey Mouse character, and various hearts and flowers. The advantage of these is that of course children love them.

Not only will you have to decide on a shape, but also if you need to conserve space a retractable cord is handy, and so are waffle makers that can be stored on their side. Waffle makers come with a lot of bells and whistles too, such as versatility to make sandwiches or even grill meat. You can also purchase an electronically controlled waffle maker featuring an LED display. Some models will even beep you when to add batter, and when they are ready.

There are a number of options for where you should buy your waffle maker, depending on what you plan to use it for, and how often you will be using it. For infrequent to moderate use, consider buying online or at a department store. But, if you will be using your waffle maker daily, or almost daily, or if you want one with all of the bells and whistles, then it’s a good idea to purchase from a restaurant supply store. Just bear in mind that once you start making tasty waffles, your family will probably be begging for more! Fortunately, you can make healthy, delicious waffles as part of a well balanced breakfast for your family.