You know that moment when you open the fridge and see a container of fresh cherries that are one day away from turning?
That’s exactly how these Belgian waffles with cherry sauce were born in our house—and honestly, they’ve become one of those recipes I’m quietly proud of.
When sweet cherries are in season (and finally affordable), we snack on them nonstop. But once they start heading toward the end of their freshness, I love turning them into something special that still feels easy and family-friendly. This cherry sauce is quick, forgiving, and flexible—and it turns an ordinary waffle breakfast into something that feels a little celebratory without extra stress.
Why This Recipe Works for Real Life
- Uses fresh or frozen cherries
- Uses cherries you already have before they go bad
- Cherry sauce comes together in under 10 minutes
- Works for waffles, pancakes, or even yogurt
- Flexible enough for breakfast, brunch, or breakfast-for-dinner
- Kid-approved
A Family-Tested Favorite
The girls love blueberry waffles, so adapting our usual blueberry sauce into a cherry version felt like a natural experiment on a busy weekend. My husband and oldest daughter preferred the cherry waffles, while the younger two called it a tie.
I’ll take that as a solid family win.
The real surprise was how good the waffles were with a little cherry sauce folded directly into the batter—subtle, fruity, and just enough to feel different without being overpowering.
Ingredients for Belgian Waffles with Cherry Sauce
For the Waffles
- Your favorite waffle batter (prepared according to recipe)
Tip: I use a decades-old recipe from a well-loved Pillsbury Cookbook, sometimes swapping in whole wheat flour.
- 2 eggs, separated
- 1 3/4 c. Milk
- 2 c. all-purpose Flour
- 4 tsp. Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1/2 c. Melted Butter
For the Cherry Sauce
- 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted (or frozen cherries if that’s what you have)
- 2 Tbsp sugar, Stevia or ¼ cup local honey
- ½ cup water
- 2 tsp cornstarch, dissolved in ¼ cup cold water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or ½ tsp vanilla extract + ½ tsp almond extract
Optional Toppings
- Fresh whipped cream
- Whipped butter
🛒 What You’ll Need for This Recipe
Tap between ingredients and tools to grab exactly what you need.
How to Make Belgian Waffles with Cherry Sauce
1. Prepare Your Waffle Batter
Make your waffle batter according to your go-to recipe and set it aside.
If you are using my waffle recipe:
- Place egg yolks in a large bowl and egg whites in a smaller bowl.
- Add Milk to the egg yolks and beat well.
- Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and beat until smooth.
- Stir in the melted butter.
- Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form and fold the beaten egg whites into the flour mixture.
You’ll be adding cherry sauce to it shortly, so don’t cook the waffles just yet.
(This recipe makes enough for about 4 Belgian-style waffles.)
2. Make the Cherry Sauce
In a heavy saucepan, combine:
- Cherries
- Sugar or honey
- Water
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 4–5 minutes, until the cherries soften and release their juices.
Stir in the cornstarch mixture directly into the hot cherries. Cook, stirring, for 1–2 minutes, until thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla (or vanilla + almond extract).
Optional Tip: Gently fold ½ cup of the cherry sauce into your prepared waffle batter. Don’t overmix.
3. Cook the Waffles
Preheat your Belgian waffle iron and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Mom note: This same cherry sauce is also amazing over pancakes if waffles aren’t happening that morning.
4. Top and Serve
Serve waffles warm and top with:
- Extra cherry sauce
- Whipped cream
- Butter (or all three—no judgment)
A Little Mom-to-Mom Encouragement
Sometimes the best meals come from using what you already have—especially when groceries are expensive and that container of fruit is one day away from going bad. Turning almost-overripe cherries into these waffles is a small but satisfying budget win, and honestly? This doesn’t have to be just a weekend breakfast. We’ve served these as breakfast for dinner more than once, paired with scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, or even Greek yogurt on the side to add protein and make it a filling, balanced meal.
It’s proof that feeding your family well doesn’t have to mean extra spending or extra stress—just a little creativity and permission to keep it simple.
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