It’s hard not to perk up when the smell of sizzling waffles wafts by in the morning.
And there are plenty of options out there.
To help cut through the confusion, I tested 12 of the most common store-bought waffle mixes.
Photos: The brands. Design: Eat This, Not That!
For this taste test, I prepared each mix according to the package instructions.
Some called for oil and eggs, others for just water.
Here’s how these 12 boxed mixes ranked in descending order from my least favorite to the absolute best.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
Unfortunately, fewer carbs didn’t equate to better flavor or texture.
This mix cost me $9.99 at Whole Foods Market.
The look:These waffles were among the thickest I tested.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
They developed soft, rounded edges that were cute and sort of cartoonish looking.
The edges also stayed quite pale when the top of the waffle was browned and ready.
Unfortunately, the texture was the bigger issue here.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
Otherwise, the ingredients are similar to the brand’sComplete Belgian Waffle Mix.
I picked up this mix for $4.99 at Stop & Shop.
The look:These waffles turned out uniform in shape and color.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
They were golden brown throughout and had nice defined divots and edges.
Texture-wise, the edges were super crisp and the waffles were airy and almost too light to feel satisfying.
The taste:Despite the 6 grams of sugar per serving, these waffles lacked flavor.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
Each serving includes 15 grams from whey protein concentrate and wheat protein isolate.
Five grams of fiber is also a nice number to see in the morning.
This mix cost me $6.99 at Stop & Shop.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
However, they’re not what you imagine when you think of fluffy buttermilk waffles.
They’re wheaty tasting with a background note of slightly chalky protein powder.
A box of this mix cost me $4.79 at Stop & Shop.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The look:These waffles turned out uniform and classic-looking.
They have the crisp edges and airy center you expect from a Belgian-style waffle.
The taste:These are some sugary waffles.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
They also had a distinct eggy flavor.
It’s made with organic ingredients and doesn’t skimp on sugar with 9 grams per serving.
It does, however, contain more buttermilk powder than some of the other buttermilk-style mixes I tried.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
I paid $4.40 for the package at Whole Foods.
The look:These waffles came out paler than most.
They were still crisp and cooked through, but took on minimal browning in the waffle iron.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
The batter also didn’t spread as much as others nor were the waffles especially airy or lifted.
The taste:Surprisingly, I didn’t find these waffles overly sweet.
They’re denser and thicker than most, and this batter was also one of the heaviest and thickest.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
These weren’t the most flavorful, and I was looking for more buttermilk tang.
This mix cost me $4.99 at Stop & Shop.
The look:These waffles came out looking classic and golden brown.
Photo: Lizzy Briskin, Eat This, Not That!
They had defined edges and divots and the batter spread evenly throughout the machine.
For waffles, you need milk, oil, and eggs.
A box of this mix cost me $7.99 at Stop & Shop.
These were simple and slightly richer than some, but pretty mild-tasting and definitely in need of toppings.
It’s sweetened with coconut sugar.
I paid $8.69 for this mix at Whole Foods.
The look:These waffles look quite different from the gluten-rich options I tried.
They’re darker brown and more crumbly.
Still, the waffles browned evenly and the edges crisped up.
The taste:Simple Mills waffles were richer and heartier than most of the competition.
They’re lightly sweetened, not over-powering nor bland.
I picked up a package for $7.49 at Whole Foods.
The look:These waffles had an orange-brown hue.
This mix has one of the better nutrition panels, thanks to its whole wheat flour base.
I paid $6.39 for a package at Whole Foods.
The batter was thick and substantial but had no issues filling out my waffle iron.
The taste:These waffles were a bit tangy and had a more developed, nuanced flavor than others.
The taste:I loved the tangy buttermilk-forward flavor of these waffles.
A container cost me $11.29 at Whole Foods.
The look:When you imagine a hot-off-the-griddle waffle, this is what you picture.
The batter ran to the edges of the machine and cooked evenly.
The taste:The melted butter in these waffles made a big difference in the flavor department.
These farmhouse waffles strike the right balance of flavor, texture, and looks.
