Happy National Waffle Day!

Tomorrow is National Waffle Day! It’s time to embrace our inner Leslie Knope’s and enjoy waffle after waffle all day long. Luckily for us, waffles are very easy to eat for every meal of the day. They lend themselves well to breakfast, brunch, lunch, a snack, dinner, dessert, and another snack. That might sound like a lot of waffles but…is it? The sheer versatility they have means you’ll never be bored and you won’t even realize you’re eating the same “food” all day long.

August 24th being designated as National Waffle Day has more to do with the method of making waffles than the food itself. In 1869 on tomorrow’s date Cornelius Swartwout received the first patent for creating the waffle iron in the United States. While the actual food dates back centuries, it was Swartwout’s iron invention that started the waffles as we know, love, and enjoy today. In honor of this great man’s important work, I’m sharing my favorite ways to eat waffles with you. And I say that we both should try out at least ONE type tomorrow to celebrate the day. It’s what Leslie Knope would do.

Image Credit: Kellogg’s

Frozen Waffles {via eggos}
Alright, I understand you might be giving me the virtual side eye right now but hear me out: these are good. I make waffles from scratch often and still find myself craving these from time to time. I ate these almost everyday for breakfast in elementary school so it’s possible that they taste so good due to some memories but still — if you don’t own a waffle iron, heat these up in celebration!

Homemade Waffles {via all recipes}
This is my go-to recipe when I want a really good (and quick) waffle. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry and it’s a “drop everything in the bowl, mix it up, and pour” situation which is why I refer to it so often. It’s such a good basic recipe that you can dress up a ton of ways – add a teaspoon of cinnamon & ¼ tsp of nutmeg to the batter for a little kick. A cup of chocolate chips or any dried fruit would work too. Top with fresh fruit and lots of syrup and butter = perfect breakfast or brunch tomorrow. I have also replaced all the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat in this recipe when I wanted to be “healthier” without any issue.

Image Credit: thepioneerwoman / ree drummond

Waffles {via thepioneerwoman}
These are another classic waffle but not as quick to make as the the previous recipe. They involve whipping egg whites to stiff peaks then folding them into the batter, which can be time consuming & labor intensive if you do it hand. If you’re up for it it’s definitely worth the little extra effort. These are good waffles. So good that when I make them, I put a little butter & syrup on them and that’s it. No add ins or extra toppings required – these are stand alone waffles.

Gingerbread Waffles {via annie’s eats}
These are going to seem way out of season but I cannot not include them because: they are the best waffles I’ve ever made, without question. They taste as though you are eating moist, flavorful gingerbread but in waffle form. I made them for the first time last Christmas time and have thought about them at least 2 times a month since. If eating gingerbread in the Summer freaks you out, save this recipe and make them when it gets closer to the holidays. Then please come back to me and tell me how much you love them too.

Image Credit: Joy Wilson / joythebaker

Mashed Potato, Cheddar & Chive Waffles {via joy the baker}
Dinner in a waffle. These are essentially really delicious mashed potatoes smashed into a waffle iron. I don’t think we should be mad at it, in fact I think we should both make them tomorrow night for dinner. These are a perfect example of why waffles really are a magical food: you can make the recipe right above this one for breakfast, then make this one for dinner, and you’ll be experiencing two very different flavor profiles, both equally addicting! When I made these, I served them as the main dish with some roasted broccoli on the side. And there possibly was a glass of wine involved. Just saying!

Blueberry Waffle Cookies {via baker’s royale}
Revolutionary is what these are. These technically could be breakfast but I think they work even better as a snack or dessert. They not only taste amazing but they look absolutely stunning, especially for how easy they are. The blueberry glaze is what sets them over the top — it’s tasty and such a gorgeous color. These waffle cookies are such a creative way to really use summer’s last blueberries in season.

How are you celebrating National Waffle Day tomorrow? Parks & Recreation marathon? Making all these recipes? Let me know below!