Happy National Waffle Day! Today we celebrate the wonderful waffle. August 24th is National Waffle Day, a celebration of the anniversary of the patent for the waffle iron.
Is this a “waffley” (at best) reason to celebrate the delectable breakfast staple?
Sure. But there’s never a bad time to celebrate waffles.
On this day in 1869, Cornelius Swartwout, of Troy, New York, received the patent for his invention, the waffle iron. As such, August 24th is often celebrated as #NationalWaffleDay in the United States.
We appreciate the waffle’s gridded texture for convenient grappling. ?? pic.twitter.com/MdlwzZ12sh
— Verminati (@verminati) August 24, 2020
Let’s celebrate this wonderful day by sharing some great waffle facts.
The History of the Waffle
The word waffle is derived from the Dutch word “wafel,” which is in turn derived from the Old Dutch word “wafaele.” And “wafaele” is further derived from the Frankish word “wafla,” which means “honeycomb.”
Early waffle iron designs depicted Biblical scenes before moving to more symbolic imagery. The first waffle recipe appeared in the 1393 book
“Le Ménagier de Paris,” a book on cooking and proper etiquette for wives.
Waffles exploded in popularity in the Low Country (Netherlands, Belgium, Northern France) so much so that King Charles IX enacted waffle regulations to stop feuds between rival waffle makers.
Thanks to these rivalries, various cities have their own recipes and standards, such as the thicker, chewier Liège (AKA Belgian) waffle.
RT @AKitchenHoor
Peach Liège Waffles are a rich, yeast waffle that’s more bread than waffle. They’re lightly sweet and packed with ripe peaches. #FarmersMarketWeek #LiègeWaffle #BelgianWaffle #wafflerecipe
Recipe –> https://t.co/1IjIZDxO9E pic.twitter.com/z02g4Cfkwu— Christie Campbell (@AKitchenHoor) August 22, 2022
The Indonesian Kue gapit, uses local ingredients such as tapioca flour to create a snack borrowed from Dutch colonialism in Southeast Asia.
Wikipedia picture of the day for March 30: Kue gapit is an Indonesian kue kering (dry snack) which originates from Cirebon, West Java. Generally made from tapioca flour, its name comes from the cooking process, in which it is grilled between iron molds.… https://t.co/GKkt2eJT2T pic.twitter.com/yT9iV5XheD
— Muhammad Usman Ahmad (@UsmanSwift) March 30, 2018
And the more square Brussels waffles.
One of the best Belgian Waffles in
Brussels! ?? pic.twitter.com/xYZzO6aHuh— ♡ (@__ra97a) August 19, 2022
The Waffle Iron
While waffle irons existed in the Netherlands and Belgium as early as the 13th century, the first stovetop version was invented by American Cornelius Swartout in 1869. His design featured a handle and a swinging hinge on a cast-iron waffle mold. This innovation allowed even cooking as the waffle iron could be flipped easily. Swartout filed the first patent for a waffle iron.
The electric waffle iron was invented around 1918.
Fun Waffle Shapes
The waffle iron has allowed many fun shapes and sizes for waffles.
Tetris Waffles if you want to play games while you eat.
The UK is getting a Tetris Waffle Maker that makes waffles in the shape of… uh, waffles. ?
Source: https://t.co/pGQjDM6msV pic.twitter.com/SgiTO7Wv2e
— VideoGameArt&Tidbits (@VGArtAndTidbits) February 27, 2021
Don’t Mess With Texas!
“Why do people in Texas think their state is the best in the world?”
Well… does your state make Belgian Waffles in the shape of your state?
I didn’t think so, next. #TexasForever pic.twitter.com/C5Ae7RLKlS
— L A N E (@lane_dorr) November 17, 2018
I WAFFLE YOU
i got a mini heart shape waffle maker and it’s maybe the most critical purchase for my mental health i’ve ever made pic.twitter.com/65D9Od7dML
— dorian gay (@doriantagonist) April 10, 2022
World’s Largest Waffle
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s largest waffle was made in 2013 in Gouda, The Netherlands. It had a diameter of over 8 feet.
Go Make Some Waffles
All right, now what are you waiting for? Get out there and make some waffles of your own. Here’s a recipe:
Are you a fan of waffles? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Next, Read This: You Can Make Breakfast In Your Waffle Iron While Your Coffee Brews!