International Waffle Day

Waffles have been eaten since the 14th century. “Waffle” descends from the Dutch word for “wafer.” Consequently, the batter was poured in, pressed together, and cooked over an open hearth fire. It is at this time the word for waffles, which comes from the old French word, guafre, translated to Old English wafla, first appears in print. Over the years, in Europe, waffles become commonly sold by street vendors.

In the 15th century, the Dutch began using rectangular plates with a grid pattern to cook waffles. Although no one knows for sure, experts believe the grid pattern we know today was a way to cook less batter over a greater surface area. We give the Dutch credit for bringing the waffle to the U.S., too.