How Waffles Can Seriously Elevate The Classiness Of Your Party Appetizers

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Waffles may have started out as breakfast foods, but their utility has expanded into other courses. Not only can you top a hot waffle with ice cream and chocolate sauce for an upgraded dessert, but you can even use them to revamp party appetizers. Their light, fluffy crumb and crispy crust acts as a great swap for crackers or baguette, providing a stunning lattice-shaped form that effortlessly holds toppings.

Waffles are such a beloved griddle cake that they come in various convenient forms, saving you the trouble of making them from scratch. We've even ranked 14 frozen waffle brands, from worst to best to help you choose. You can also give waffles a more homemade feel by using a store-bought mix or by making them from scratch. This will give you an opportunity to upgrade the batter with different mix-ins — our sesame scallion waffle recipe can really elevate complexity.

Whether you're using homemade or frozen waffles, you can slice them into segments with a knife. Otherwise, cut regular-sized waffles into creative shapes with cookie cutters to further improve their presentation. But, you don't even have to use a knife if you're working with Eggo Minis Frozen Waffle Bites, which are already the perfect size for finger foods.

Just as there's no shortage of waffle recipes, there are just as many waffle appetizers to fit any culinary theme. Start with classic waffle pairings like fried chicken. Simply pop frozen chicken nuggets in the air fryer while you toast mini waffles, then assemble and serve with maple syrup to make an adorable, bite-sized appetizer. Alternatively, slice waffles into strips and layer with caviar and crème fraîche for an elegant twist.

If you're making fluffy Belgian-style waffles, you can cut them into individual squares to layer onto a wooden skewer with other ingredients like a shishkabob. For a sweet and savory canapé, pair waffle squares with chunks of brie and fresh strawberries. Otherwise, lace the waffle batter with parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper, before you skewer waffles pieces with cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, and balls of buffalo mozzarella.

Considering the various uses your waffle iron has, you can also make appetizers out of more than just waffle batter. If you're using tater tots in the iron, slice the potato "waffles" into circular shapes and top with lox, cream cheese, and capers for a delectable brunch finger food. The same goes for simple quesadillas — cut them into squares or triangles and garnish with sour cream and fresh pico de gallo. You can even place a few frozen mozzarella sticks onto the iron for a texturally sophisticated appetizer, filling the dented wedges with marinara sauce.