Unique Waffle Toppings That Will Impress Your Guests

Waffle toppings are a perfect way to make entertaining inexpensive, but special. Here are two interesting and impressive waffle toppings for your next breakfast!

Waffle toppings – #1:

Warm Caramel Buttermilk Syrup

This warm caramel buttermilk syrup is a welcome addition to your morning breakfast. It mixes up quickly and is impressive as one of your waffle toppings instead of the usual syrup. A deep, rich taste comes from the browned butter and caramely brown sugar flavor. I think you’ll love it!

waffles on a plate with toppings on cutting board

This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Browning the butter for your waffle toppings

I honestly think that the super fancy “browned butter” everyone uses came by way of accident. Actually, I’ve turned recipes into a browned butter recipe by forgetting the butter on the burner and realizing it got a bit caramely by accident. The crazy thing is that it imparts a deeper flavor to your baked goods. It’s delicious!

To begin, start with a pot that seems bigger than what you need. The last steps makes it foam up and it can easily pour over the sides of the pot. Start by putting butter in your pot and heating over medium low heat until it starts to turn a light brown and the milk solids begin to drop to the bottom of the pan. That’s it! Simple, huh?

Add the next 4 ingredients

Add all the rest of the ingredients, except the baking soda and vanilla. You’ll put those in at the very end. After adding the brown sugar, corn syrup, buttermilk, and salt to your browned butter, bring it to a boil, whisking constantly.

buttermilk syrup with whisk in pot on stove

Be careful on this step!

Remove it from the heat and this is where it gets interesting! Add the baking soda and whisk it the entire time. It will foam up really big, but then it will calm down. After the foam begins to dissipate, you can add the vanilla and you’re done!

action shot of whisking syrup in a pot on the stove

Ways to use Caramel Buttermilk Syrup

This waffle topping could be used on so many things! Obviously, the banana nut sourdough waffles shown here are amazing with the Caramel Buttermilk Syrup.

I also think it would be spectacular on my buttermilk whole wheat pancake recipe that is a basic go to for us. This morning, I used left over sourdough to make French toast and topped it with the buttermilk syrup. It was so good! You could also drizzle it over a warm apple pie, or top that fantastic custardy vanilla Costco ice cream with it. The possibilities are endless! Let me know how you use this syrup!

waffles on a plate with waffle topping sitting on a cutting board

Warm Caramel Buttermilk Syrup

1/4 cup browned butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp corn syrup
1/2 cup buttermilk
pinch salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract

Start by choosing a pot that seems to be larger than what you need. The last step will cause the syrup to foam and you'll need the extra room!
Brown the butter by adding it to the pot and cooking on medium low heat until the butter is light brown and milk solids begin to fall to the bottom of the pot.
Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, buttermilk and salt. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, and remove from heat.
Add the baking soda and whisk as it foams up. The bubbles will begin to dissipate. At this point, you can add the vanilla

Pin for later!

Waffle Toppings – #2

Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

Another topping that is simply amazing on both waffles and pancakes is this cream cheese whipped cream. Cream cheese frosting is amazing – but I thought that would be too sweet for breakfast. Homemade whipping cream is also spectacular, but I really wanted the cream cheese flavor that pairs so perfectly with pumpkin. I decided maybe I could combine them with a deeper brown sugar flavor to bring it all together. It really was the perfect combination!

stack of pancakes with whipped cream topping

Mixing cream cheese and sugar for your waffle toppings

In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese, brown sugar, and vanilla until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again to ensure it’s all incorporated. It should be a light tan and whipped beautifully.

whipped cream cheese and brown sugar in a bowl to make waffle toppings

Adding heavy whipping cream

Now it’s time to make it soft and fluffy by adding the heavy whipping cream. Beware! If you pour it in all at once, you’ll have lumps and it will also fling the whipping cream all over you! In order to avoid this, I add the whipping cream a little at a time. I start by adding a few tablespoons and turning the mixer on low. Then I add a little more and do the same thing. At about the halfway point, the whipping cream can be added in larger amounts.

Caution: make sure you’re scraping the bowl on the sides and bottom during this process so you don’t have a bunch of cream cheese at the bottom of the bowl. It should look like this after it’s all incorporated. (Notice that I forgot to scrape the bowl *gasp* That may be how I know you’ll get big chunks of cream cheese if you don’t!)

whipping cream being added to cream cheese and brown sugar in a bowl

Whipping it

Once it gets to this point, all that is left is to whip it up! I turned my stand mixer on high and it really only took about one minute to finish whipping it to the point of stiff peaks. And that’s all there is to it!

Ways to use Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

The pumpkin sourdough waffles or pancakes are unbelievable with the cream cheese whipped cream! Really, it tastes just like a pumpkin roll! I can’t wait for you to try them!

While I love it as a waffle topping, I think it would also be out of this world on the cinnamon roll pancakes found on my blog in place of the cream cheese drizzle that can sometimes be too sweet. It would pair perfectly with the chocolate chips in my whole wheat zucchini chocolate chip pancakes. I also can’t wait to try it on my mom’s pumpkin bars that remind me of my childhood. Last week I had friend over and we ate it on pieces of pumpkin pie and it may be my new favorite way to top my pie! I can’t wait to hear how you think to use it!

stack of pancakes on a plate with whipped cream

Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

1 8oz block of cream cheese
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups heavy whipping cream

In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the cream cheese, vanilla, and brown sugar. Make sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and whip again to ensure it's all incorporated.
Add a few tablespoons of whipping cream at a time, mixing on low between additions. Make sure to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl as you go.
Once you're about halfway through the whipping cream, it will be a consistency that will be easier to add larger amounts at a time.
After all the whipping cream is mixed in, raise the level to high and whip for about a minute until it looks like stiff peaks.

Frequently Asked Questions about waffle toppings:

How can I make waffles and also get a chance to sit down to eat too?

I totally get this! I have 3 kiddos and a hubby, so over the years, it’s been very frustrating to make waffles. A few years ago, I invested in a double waffle iron and it has been life changing! I know that sounds dramatic, but I really love waffles! This is one that is similar to the one I have and it’s amazing! Being able to make 2 at a time is really helpful to allow the family to eat together. As a side note, any of these waffle toppings would taste just as good on pancakes.

Do I just have to use these waffle toppings on waffles?

Absolutely not! So many breakfast items would be improved with these toppings! They would be amazing on French toast, pancakes, and especially pie and ice cream!