Waffle Fun Facts

Posted by Katie Straw on Sep 2, 2014

Planning on making waffles this weekend? If not, then you probably should because Sunday is National Waffle Day!

Sure, waffles can be a lot of work, but they’re definitely well worth it. (Fresh waffles topped with butter, berries, and maple syrup sounds perfect, right?) And just in case you’re not convinced that waffles should be on your plate this weekend, here are some pretty interesting fun facts:

• August 24th (aka Sunday aka National Waffle Day) celebrates the first patented waffle iron, which was submitted by Cornelius Swarthout back in 1869.
• Waffles have been around since the Middle Ages and were usually made using two metal plates and a fire. The plates had super-fancy designs, like coats of arms and landscapes.
• The first time the waffle was ever mentioned was in the late 14th century in an anonymous manuscript.
• The Belgium waffle was originally known as a Brussels waffle and was invented in 1839. It was thicker than other kinds and had deeper pockets.
• But Belgian Waffles aren’t the only ones named after a place. Other varieties include Scandinavian, American, and Hong Kong.
• Waffles at Thanksgiving? It is possible. Pilgrims introduced the waffles to America.
• The largest waffle ever weighed in at 110 lbs and was over 8 feet in diameter. It was created in the Netherlands by Stichting Gouda Oogst back in June of 2013.
• At the World Waffle Eating Championship in 2007, Patrick Bertoletti ate 29 waffles in a mere 10 minutes.