How to Make an Easy Waffle Bar

Create an easy waffle bar for your next brunch. It's an easy way to enjoy the best breakfast foods any time of the day. Make waffles ahead of time and keep them warm in the oven for a delicious, fun brunch.

[This recipe was originally posted in January 2019. It has been updated with cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

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This waffle bar is great any day of the week or weekend, DIY it for yourself or for a brunch with friends. It's a great set up for a celebration, shower, party, or simple brunch.

It's also perfect for Galentine's Day, February 13th. I'm sharing my favorite waffle topping ideas that you and your guests will love, and you will too because they're so easy and delicious.

Watch your favorite chick flick & make it a potluck for an even easier party. I usually make the waffles and ask guests to bring their favorite topping to get the best waffle toppings for everyone.

Serve up this delicious waffle bar brunch with fun movies like: 9 to 5 (my personal fave!), Mean Girls, The Other Women, She's the Man, Booksmart, Barbie, and Now & Then.

What are your favorite chick flick type movies?

A waffle bar is a great brunch option, because you can make waffles and chop up some of the fruit ahead of time. Just keep the waffles warm in the oven before serving and you're good to go.

Of course you don't have to just make it for brunch.

Ingredients

Scroll down to the waffle bar recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick description of what's in this set up.

• Pancake/Waffle mix
• Cooking spray

Toppings Ideas

• Berries
• Bananas
• Fresh whipped cream
• Yogurt
• Peanut butter
• Butter
• Nutella
• Chocolate chips
• Nuts
• Maple syrup
• Chocolate syrup
• Caramel syrup
• Sprinkles

Sides Ideas

• Scrambled eggs
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Frittata
• Yogurt
• Drinks

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.

Prepare your favorite waffles. Cook waffles according to waffle mix instructions.

While waffles are cooking, heat up oven to 200 degrees, place a large baking pan in oven with a lid. Transfer cooked waffles to baking pan to keep them warm as the others cook.

Cut up fruit and toppings, put toppings in serving bowls. Place bowls of toppings on a table, add waffles right before serving. Assemble your waffle bar and enjoy.

How to Make Ahead

You can definitely prepare the toppings and cook waffles ahead of time for your waffle bar. Chop fruit, except bananas, a day or a couple ahead of time. Cook waffles a couple days early too.

To heat up waffles, just heat in a 200 degree F oven, covered. They'll probably need about 30 or so minutes to heat up. Rotate waffles a few times, and keep loosely covered to allow for reheating and crispy edges.

Cut banana just prior to setting up to preserve the color.

How to Set Up your Waffle Bar

You can make it as simple or fancy as you want. I'd just set up some plates, silverware, and napkins. Then have a couple plates of waffles. Next comes fruit and chocolate toppings, and finally syrups.

Place a jug of juice, water, mimosas or other drinks at the end with glasses. Label toppings and drinks if desired, but I like to keep things really simple and just explain anything that needs to be explained.

Make this Waffle Bar for One

Use this info to choose toppings for your special waffle and you can use this recipe to make Waffles for One or use your favorite premade waffle mix.

Making a waffle bar for one might not be as fun as for a crowd, so choose a topping, or a couple and make one serving worth instead of making all the options then storing them for later. Although that could be fun too. You do you!

Storage/Reheating Tips

Store leftover waffles and toppings in individual containers and bags. Fruit will last only a couple of days, waffles about a week, and leftover sauces or candy will last months.

Substitutions/Tips

• Use your favorite pancake/waffle mix OR make your own. Here's a great & easy recipe from The Stay at Home Chef.
• If you want to make chocolate waffles, here's an easy recipe using plain pancake/waffle mix.
• You can also make waffles ahead of time and refrigerate/freeze ahead of time. Then reheat in oven or toaster so they don't get soggy.
• Serve with any of the following for variety: scrambled eggs or frittata, bacon, sausage, cocktails or mocktails.
• Use strawberries, Nutella, peanut butter, bananas, yogurt, whipped cream, and chocolate chips as toppings!
• Make about ¼ recipe more than the number of guests you anticipate, unless you've got a lot of protein foods. This will ensure you've got a few extra at your waffle bar if anyone wants seconds!
• Freeze remaining waffles for a quick and exciting breakfast so you can enjoy your waffle bar for longer!

FAQ

Other Good Brunch Recipes

• Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches
• Breakfast Sausage Casserole
• PB Chia Pudding
• Breakfast Tacos (turn it into a breakfast taco bar!)
• Apple Omelet with Sharp Cheddar
• Easy Yogurt Bowl (again, turn it into a yogurt bowl bar!)
• Huevos Rancheros
• And something delicious to drink with your waffle bar or other brunch

What can I make with leftover ingredients?

• Fruit: 5 Min Strawberry Sauce, Yogurt Bowls, Triple Berry Chia Pudding, Berry Popsicles, Turkey Sandwich with Blueberry Mustard, Sparkling Berry Lemonade, Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Dressing.
• Chocolate: Edible Single Serving Cookie Dough, Chocolate Covered Popcorn, and Single Serving Brownie.
• Nuts: Add to M&M Popcorn for One or Single Serve Banana Bread.
• Pancake/waffle mix, syrup: freeze leftover waffles from. your waffle bar or make Bananas Foster Pancakes.

Did you make this waffle bar? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!