A waffle is a light batter cake cooked in a waffle iron, between two hot plates, patterned to give a distinctive honeycomb shape.

Varieties of waffle

• The Belgian waffle (also referred to as the "Brussels waffle") is prepared from a yeast-leavened batter, often lightened with beaten egg-whites, to give a light, crisp waffle. They are often served by street vendors, and eaten hot, dusted with confectioner's sugar, or topped with whipped cream or chocolate spread. They may also be eaten as a dessert, served with fruits, whipped cream or ice cream.
   
• The Liège waffle (from the city of Liège, eastern Belgium) is a waffle usually bought and eaten warm on the street. They are usually freshly made in small shops, but it is also possible to buy them in supermarkets. They are smaller, sweeter and denser than "Belgian waffles" and have a caramelized sugar coating on the outside, resulting from the last-minute addition to the batter of lumps of sugar, giving them a distinctive flavor. Most are served plain, but some are vanilla or cinnamon flavoured, and can be served with toppings like fruits, creams, and chocolate. The Liège waffle was invented by a cook of the prince-bishop of Liège in the 18th century.
   
• Waffles were introduced to the United States in 1620, by pilgrims who obtained the method from Holland. Thomas Jefferson brought a waffle iron from France, and waffle frolics or parties became popular in the late eighteenth century. Waffles were eaten with both sweet (e.g. molasses or maple syrup) and savoury (such as kidney stew) toppings. In the United States waffles are now normally made from a wheat-flour batter leavened with baking soda, rather than the traditional yeast. They are usually served as a sweet breakfast food, topped with butter and various syrups, but are also found in many different savory dishes. They are generally denser and thinner than the Belgian waffle. Virginia waffles are made with rice or cornmeal instead of wheat-flour.
   
• In the UK, the potato waffle, is a savory frozen food in waffle shape, made of reconstituted potato, oil and seasonings. These waffles may be baked, grilled, prepared in a toaster or fried, and are used as a side dish or snack. These are produced by various frozen food companies including Birdseye, and McCain.
   
• A Japanese waffle, or taiyaki, is a batter cake that is cooked like a waffle. It usually shaped like a fish and filled with red or white an (a sweet bean paste), or custard (chocolate or plain).
   
• Other kinds of waffle include Biscuit waffles, Sugar waffle, Soft waffle, Fruit waffle, and the Waffle ice cream cone