The History of Liège Waffles

Legend has it that the Prince-Bishop of Liège asked his chef to create a special treat with the newly introduced baking ingredient, “pearl sugar.”  Adding pearl sugar (pearl sugar is a specialty sugar which can only be found in Belgium, doesn’t melt easily with moisture, and bursts and caramelizes when it meets the high heat of a waffle iron) and vanilla to a waffle batter resulted in an intoxicating aroma and taste that astounded and delighted the Prince-Bishop. 

There are actually two types of waffles from Belgium. They are the widely known Brussels Waffle, and the Liege Waffle. Americans first became aware of the Brussels Waffle at the 1964 World’s Fair.  A large waffle covered with whipped cream and strawberries, introduced by Maurice Vermersch, seemed to be in everybody’s hands. Maurice changed the name to Belgian Waffles because people did not know where Brussels was.  The waffle explosion had begun!  It is during the Middle Ages that Liege waffles were born.  The sweet and crunchy treats were sold outside churches throughout Belgium to parishioners after Sunday Mass.  Those waffles, known as “Belgian Waffles” were enjoyed for centuries before they became better known as “Liege Waffles".

FAQ

What is a Liege waffle?

Legend has it that the Prince-Bishop of Liège asked his chef to create a special treat using the newly introduced “pearl sugar.” Pearl sugar—a specialty sugar found only in Belgium—doesn’t melt easily with moisture and caramelizes when exposed to the high heat of a waffle iron. By adding pearl sugar and vanilla to waffle batter, the chef created a treat so intoxicating in aroma and flavor that it delighted the Prince-Bishop.

Due to the high cost of sugar at the time, this unique waffle was not available to the public for another century. By 1820, sugar became more affordable, and a recipe for Gaufres aux Pistache appeared in a Paris paper. In 1822, a famous chef introduced waffles made with pearl sugar, and by 1835, the Belgian waffle (not yet the Liège waffle) gained popularity. The Liège Waffle, known as Gaufre de Liège, was officially born 75 years later in the city of Liège.

Why are your Liège Belgian Waffles considered the highest quality?

Our Liège waffles are made with only the finest natural ingredients, including:

  • Non-GMO flour
  • rBST-free milk and butter
  • Whole Belgian pearl sugar
  • Premium additives - pure maple syrup and authentic Belgian dark chocolate

We are committed to providing waffles free from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or any other additives, ensuring a dense, flavorful, and completely authentic Belgian waffle experience.

How long will the waffles stay fresh?

Our waffles have a 12-week shelf life at ambient room temperature or when refrigerated. For extended storage, you can freeze them.

Do you accept returns or refunds?

Due to the perishable nature of our waffles, we cannot accept returns for national or international orders, and all sales are considered final. However, if you experience an issue with your order, please contact us using our online form within 5 days. A member of our team will review your case and get in touch as soon as possible. Each issue is handled individually to ensure the best customer experience.