Waffles have been around for centuries. If you speak to a person from Holland they will insist that they were the first to create them and that their "stroopwafels" are the precursor to the modern waffle. The evidence shows that they were first made in Gouda during the 18th century. However, there is earlier evidence that the "chiffon waffle" was first made in the Netherlands during the 16th century. To add to the confusion, the Belgium's lay claim to the hundreds of years old Belgian waffle.

However, the debate can be laid to rest. The oldest reference that can be found to waffles is in a 14th century English cook book and they were called "waffres". The British have seemed to have moved away from these types of cakes with the modern British waffle being a savory potato cake.

The modern waffle that everybody knows is the American waffle. The knowledge of baking waffles was passed on to the Americans when pilgrims arrived from the Netherlands in 1620. It took a few hundreds years for the American waffle to become popular but today's it is often eaten for breakfast or as a dessert. They can be made as a sweet or savory dish.

A basic American waffle is made using a waffle maker. The batter is made from flour, eggs, milk, oil and baking powder. You can also add other ingredients to the batter such as nuts, fruit or - in fact - anything that you want.

One of the most important things about baking a waffle is using the correct waffle maker. There are a large range of waffle makers on the market today and choosing the right one can be tricky. But it is important that you choose a waffle maker that will keep the outside crispy while the inside remains soft and fluffy.