Hong Kong Egg Waffle with Ice Cream

This egg waffle recipe is a delicious treat I seriously can’t say no to! Egg waffles or ‘gai daan jai’ in Cantonese are a classic and popular Hong Kong street food. It’s a delicious treat with a crisp exterior and fluffy texture coupled with a creamy and indulgent scoop of ice cream. It’s the perfect dessert lover treat and I’ve taken it right off the streets into my home and now you can too!

These egg waffles (also called bubble waffles) were traditionally sold by the piece, and I remember when you could get 24 pieces for just $1 back in the day. Nowadays, you’ll find more modern and upgraded egg waffles that are stuffed with a variety of toppings. They could include ice cream, fresh fruit, mochi, Nutella, Pocky sticks, and more!

I was able to find this egg waffle maker on Amazon and I like how I can use it over the stovetop. They also have electrical waffle makers but I wanted something more portable and easier to clean which is why I went with this waffle maker pan.

But no matter which waffle maker you decide to use, I’m confident you’ll love this snack! Do note that it takes time and practice to master the waffles. I failed HORRIBLY the first 10 times that I tried making it, but with persistence and practice, they eventually came out perfectly. 

Why you’ll love this recipe

The explosion of textures and flavors makes this sweet treat delectable and extremely addicting. 

The delicate crunch and soft chewy airiness of the warm waffles burst with an eggy flavor and when served with a scoop of cold creamy ice cream, you’re met with an amazing contrast of flavors, textures, and temperatures. 

You’ll also be amazed by the endless possibilities that you can create with this dessert. It’s incredibly customizable so you can enjoy this with various ice cream flavors and toppings including fresh fruits, nuts, and more!

Once you get the hang of making the waffles, you can satiate your sweet tooth whenever you desire!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Custard powder: I prefer to use the Bird’s brand custard powder but you can also substitute it with any instant vanilla pudding mix you choose.

Cake flour: cake flour makes the waffles light and airy. If you’re in a pinch, you can DIY cake flour by removing 2 tablespoons from every cup of all-purpose flour and replacing it with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.

Tapioca flour: tapioca flour will give the waffles their chewy texture. You can substitute tapioca flour with glutinous rice flour. 

Baking powder: as a substitute, you can also combine ½ tsp baking soda, ¼ tsp cream of tartar, and ¼ tsp cornstarch for every 1 teaspoon of baking powder.

Evaporated milk: feel free to use any milk of your choice, including regular milk, half and half, or heavy cream.

Neutral oil: any neutral oil will be suitable for this recipe, including vegetable, canola, or avocado oil. 

How do I prepare this Egg Waffle with Ice Cream?

Now let’s jump right in and make these delicious Hong Kong-style waffles with ice cream. To learn how to make this delicious snack, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Prepare the dry ingredients

In a bowl combine, cake flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, and custard powder.

Step 2: Prepare the wet ingredients

In another bowl, mix 2 eggs and sugar together until they’re fully combined. Next, pour in the water, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract and mix together.

Step 3: Combine the ingredients

With a fine mesh sieve, slowly sift the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Then, gently stir until all of the flour is completely mixed in. Be careful not to overmix the batter or else it will become dense! If you find that there are still lumps, that’s okay! Just make sure not to over-mix the batter. 

Step 4: Sieve and refrigerate

Run the batter through the sieve to break down the lumps. Then, cover and place it in the fridge for at least an hour.

Step 5: Prepare the waffle maker

After an hour, take the batter from the fridge and preheat the waffle maker. Be sure to coat both sides of the waffle maker with non-stick cooking spray (such as PAM).

Step 6: Cook the waffles

Once the waffle maker is hot, fill it with batter about 80% of the way. Close it and flip immediately then tilt it from side to side to distribute the batter evenly. This will ensure that every hole gets filled.

Let it cook for 2 to 2 ½ minutes on each side or follow the instruction manual of your waffle maker.

Step 7: Shape the waffles

Once the waffles are thoroughly cooked, remove them from the waffle maker and lay them on a rolling pin or something of similar shape to form a rounded shape. Let them cool down completely so they retain their form.

Step 8: Add toppings and serve

From here, you can either eat the waffles as is or top them with your favorite treats! I topped mine with strawberry ice cream, fresh strawberries, Nutella, and Pocky sticks. Once you’re happy with the toppings, serve and enjoy!

Cooking Tips for Hong Kong Egg Waffle

Getting the hang of using your waffle maker is part of the fun of making this waffle recipe. To help you with the process, here are a few tricks you’d want to keep in mind:

• It’s important to find the perfect ratio of batter for your waffle maker. If you put too little batter, the waffle will turn out too small and incomplete. But if you put too much batter,  it will spill out once you close the waffle maker.

• Apply a generous coat of non-stick cooking spray on both sides of the waffle maker to ensure that the waffles come off easily and seamlessly. 

• If you don’t have a rolling pin to help mold the waffles, you can also lay them over a wine bottle. Just make sure to place a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper on top of the bottle. 

• Get wild and creative with the ice cream flavors and toppings! For the ice cream, you could try traditional flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry or unique flavors like matcha, sesame, and ube. For the toppings, you can essentially add anything that you like including mochi, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, sprinkles, M&M’s, and more!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know if waffle batter is overmixed?

Overmixing the batter can cause its gluten to expand, resulting in a dense and chewy waffle. You’ll know you’ve overmixed the batter once it looks thick and dense. It will also taste gummy-like. Mix the batter until just mixed. If you see lumps, it’s completely okay! 

If you’ve accidentally overmixed the batter, try adding in cake flour 1 tablespoon at a time until its texture smoothes out again. The gluten in the newly added flour will help the liquids and fat recombine to revive the mixture.

Why do you refrigerate the waffle batter?

I like to let the batter rest in the fridge for at least one hour to allow the gluten in the flour to relax and the starches to swell. It will also allow any lumps to hydrate so you won’t see any chunks of dry flour. This process will result in a softer and fluffier waffle that will taste heavenly. 

If you’re short on time, you can reduce the resting time to 20 minutes. Just keep in mind that the batter won’t be as light, airy, and fluffy. 

Can I store & reheat Egg Waffle with Ice Cream?

Yes, you can store any leftover egg waffles in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out. If you like, you can also store cooked waffles in the freezer for up to 3 months, just store them separately in a Ziploc bag and you can thaw one any time you want to prepare this recipe.

To reheat the waffles, preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and warm for 10 to 15 minutes. I would avoid reheating them in the microwave because it will cause them to turn soggy. 

Looking for more easy and delicious snack recipes?

Here are some of my top favorite irresistible snacks!

1. Korean Sweet Pancakes – ‘hottek‘ is a classic Korean street food snack with a sweet gooey nutty center. Be sure to make extra – they store well in the freezer and they’ll go fast!

2. Potato Cheese Donuts – these savory donuts are so incredibly indulgent and delectable. Made with potatoes, onions, and a cheesy center, these are irresistibly good.  

3. Brown Sugar Butter Toast – don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this recipe because it might be the best toast you’ll ever try. The sweet caramelized flavor of melted brown sugar coupled with butter will have you craving this for breakfast, lunch, and dessert!

4. Kimchi Nachos – You’ll want to try these spicy and salty nachos for a festive snack that’s great for sharing. The kimchi balances out the traditional flavors of the nachos, making it the perfect snack for movie night!

5. Mango Mochi – these bite-sized mango mochis are refreshing and sweet, making them one of my favorite sweet treats. They only take 10 minutes to make, but you’ll be surprised by how amazing they taste!

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*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that where I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. *