Waffle House Waffles Taste So Good Because of This Secret Ingredient

Waffle House is an American institution. The first one opened in Georgia in 1955, and since then, it’s become a Southern staple known for eggs and hashbrowns that are smothered and covered. Of course, the star of the show has always been—and always will be—the waffles, themselves. There’s nothing quite like a fresh Waffle House waffle, and if you’ve ever wondered why they taste so good, it could be from a very unassuming secret ingredient.

Half-and-half.

Yep, the same pint of half-and-half you have in your refrigerator right now that you pour into your morning coffee each day could be what your homemade waffles are missing to get that unmatched Waffle House taste.

First, it’s important to note that all Waffle House waffles are made to order. They aren’t frozen and reheated, so the fact that they’re fresh already means they’re going to taste better when they’re right off of a hot waffle iron.

Second, the cooks at Waffle House know what they’re doing. The chain cranks out an unbelievable 145 waffles per minute at all of its locations across the U.S., so you’re always getting a piping hot waffle from a pro.

But, what about that secret ingredient?

A former Waffle House cook took to Quora to provide a little insider information about the waffle recipe. According to them, the restaurant adds half-and-half into the batter to give it a more luxurious, velvety texture.

Half-and-half is different from regular milk—even whole milk. It’s made from equal parts milk and heavy cream, adding indulgence without a ton of extra fat. It’s also thicker and heavier than regular milk (what most waffle recipes call for), so it serves as a better binding agent, creating a heartier batter that could lead to an extra crispy waffle.

If you really want to enjoy the Waffle House experience at home, you can purchase their sweet cream waffle mix online. They began selling it during the pandemic, and it’s remained popular today thanks to fans of the chain.

The information on Quora might not be the most reliable source–people can share what they want. But, it’s worth giving it a try at home, especially if you want to use the mix. Simply add an egg and a quart of half-and-half to the batter, and see if you can replicate the unique taste and texture on your own. At the very least, using half-and-half instead of milk will add more body and richness, and who wouldn’t enjoy that with their lazy Sunday morning breakfast?