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We make pancakes more often, for some reason, but I can't choose, I really love them both. If I really had to choose though, sadly, I'd probably have to abandon waffles (of course, now I'm thinking that I'll be making waffles this coming Saturday:-) Speaking of which, my waffle-maker only makes two at a time, but I have two of them, and I use both at the same time - it makes the process significantly faster, because seriously, who has the patience to make two waffles at a time? Surely not me).

I love the same stuff on both - sour cream topped with blueberry syrup. If I don't have blueberry syrup, any homemade jam or preserves will do, but raspberry would be my first choice. I really don't care for maple syrup with either pancakes or waffles.

If I'm really hungry - I'll top either one (waffle or pancake) with an over easy (or poached) egg, bacon and ketchup.

Someday, I want an old-fashioned stovetop waffle iron. Till then I'll make Mark Bittman's Fluffy Pancakes (you make a half-recipe of pancake batter, add four egg yolks, and whip and fold in the four egg whites). It works very well for buckwheat pancakes. With blueberries, even.

Mark Bittman is my new pretend boyfriend.

I like both, but prefer waffles. Lots of fresh berries and whipped cream on them, with a couple big sausage patties with 'em. Pancakes, just butter and real maple syrup.

So difficult to choose. I guess I will have to go with pancakes, specifically that one center bite of the melting butter, maple syrup, slight tension of the top of the pancake and the soft, creamy spongyness of the center as the ultimate pancake moment. But that center square of waffle has its charms, too.

I usually eat pancakes with just a little maple syrup, nothing else. But having grown up having many lovely variations, from blueberry with whipped butter, to strawberry or apple-topped Belgium waffles, it is hard to choose. My favorite order was silver dollar pancakes at Perkins as a kind. The only stipulation is butter, never whipped cream!

I'm a big fan of plain old buttermilk pancakes or waffles with just syrup and a fried egg on top. The combination of the syrup and the egg yolk makes this fabulous sweet and savory goodness that can't get any better... unless you add bacon of course.

I make waffles about 3 times a year. However pancakes I make often and I vary my flavors. If we have fresh berries or even frozen ones they are going in. If I have apples or bananas they are going in. Ricotta or yogurt oh yea. Cranberries sure why not. You never know what pancake and what syrup is going to be on the menu here.
I don't limit us to just maple syrup. I like to make turkey sausage, country sausage, bacon or pork roll with pancakes or waffles.

I forgot to say, I love waffles but can't stand pancakes (unless they're super thin and crispy).

Can't remember the last time I had waffles.....Now pancakes gotta be buckwheat plop on top of a smear of blis bourbon maple syrup and two overeasy eggs on top..........nervana on a plate!!

Love 'em both. I don't know that I could ever decide, unless I had a guarantee the pancakes would always be my mother's. I don't even try to make them myself anymore - they just aren't even close to hers. Anyway, my favorite way to eat them is with just butter and a little white sugar sprinkled on top, although high-quality maple syrup is nice too. Love waffles as well, but prefer them with fruit (strawberries, blueberries, & bananas) and whipped cream on top. Waffles are great for dessert too...top with ice cream, chocolate sauce, peanut butter, etc...

chiasi, you can do the maple syrup thing with blueberries as well as crannies and it's great. I'm a syrup (or sugared fruit that's given up its juices) but no butter person myself. Love butter, but prefer to save the calories. Pancakes pop up more frequently here than waffles, and I tend to order them rather than waffles when I'm out, but as far as cooking for a crowd goes, I've successfully done waffles in advance, frozen them and re-heated them on cookie-cooling racks set over sheet pans in the oven when I'm faced with more than 6 at the breakfast/brunch table. I had surprisingly good waffles on a recent road trip at the breakfast bars in our hotels; cook them yourself, pay attention to the timer, get them out fast, and crisp-crisp-crisp.

Nigella says to crumble crisp bacon over the top of pancakes with syrup, and that seems like a good system. But I admit the combo of pork sausage and syrup is what floats my personal boat.

Our Norwegian grandson who grew up bilingual, was in NYC with us at age 16, and we went to a coffee shop. "Oooh," he said, on reading the menu, "they have pancakes. Can I have pancakes?" "Of course," I said. "Can I have pancakes WITH SYRUP?" That was when I realized that it's butter-and-sugar there; syrup was a big deal to him. And waffles are snack food in Norway; Mom's Clubs sell waffles at school functions the way they might run a soda-and-chips stand at soccer games here. Whipped cream and fruit or chocolate syrup.

way on both, i don't have a waffle iron but i make buttermilk pancakes. i need a lb of butter and a bottle of sweet maple to eat them. to bad i already ate. maybe for lunch. thanks alot @ perky that's what i'll be thinking about all day. guess i'll put the ribs back in the fridge cause they just won't do the trick now. lol

Either, but I don't make waffles often because I hate cleaning the waffle iron and my waffles never stay crispy. Very disappointing.

I LOVE sausage as a side and usually dip it in the syrup. I'll eat the fake or the real but prefer real maple syrup.

My 14 y/o made pancakes for supper the other night when the husband and I were both too ill to get off the couch. Such a good boy!

The most disappointing waffle I had at a restaurant was at- get this- a Waffle House in Colorado Springs! It should have cooked longer and wasn't very big. You'd think since the place is named WAFFLE HOUSE they could churn out some killer waffles but sadly, they failed.

Okay, since I just had some this morning in my company cafeteria (we actually have really great food, and these are no exception) can I make a vote for French Toast instead? With syrup, but no butter. Oh, the heaven!

But normally, if I had a choice, a nice Belgian waffle, or my mother's pancakes. Waffles always plain, pancakes with a *light* amount of pure maple syrup.

Waffles - definately. I like to crumble cooked bacon into the batter, then make them way crispy. Top with butter only.

I do love pancakes too. Stir leftover oatmeal into the batter, and you have pancakes to die for . Just butter of course. I'm really not into sweet breakfasts!

Peanut butter and jam--on either!

Pancakes....with thick sliced bacon, and real maple syrup.....Grade B, medium amber, I always buy it from a local producer.

Waffles! I just got one of those professional waffle makers for Christmas and I LOVE it. It makes huge waffles. Now I am just messing with different kinds of recipes to figure out which ones I like the best. I love to serve them with bacon or sausage to offset the sweetness of the waffle and syrup.

A great hot waffle with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top is so delicious.
From one of Donnies daughters. Oh bye the way Hi.

They're so similar, yet so different. I'm a waffles girl all the way and the only thing that goes best with waffles is friend chicken. There's a place here in Los Angeles called Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. Telling people who've never eaten the combination before that it's DELICIOUS is difficult because they look at you like a freak. The perfect bite consists of waffle slathered in butter and syrup and crispy, juicy fried chicken with a touch of Louisiana hot sauce on top. It sounds disgusting, right? It is SO GOOD.

@PumkinBear -- Hmmm, waffles and fried chicken?? I have seen signs outside places that serve that combo, but never tried it. But, being the adventurous foodie that I am, I would give it a try. But I thought you were supposed to eat them with honey, not LA hot sauce!

I am in the waffle-lovers camp and like mine with butter and maple syrup (either real or Log Cabin). I have both a Begian waffle maker and a heart-shaped one that I got about 20 years ago . . . I use it every year at Valentines Day to make heart shaped waffles with strawberries.

My newest love, however, is the Dutch Baby baked pancake. I bought a mix at Williams Sonoma and made one in my cast iron skillet the other day and it was SO good! I used to get them every year when we went to Portland at the Mallory Hotel restaurant and now I know how to make my very own : ) A dusting of powdered sugar, a squeeze of lemon juice and a bit of syrup and I'm content for the day.

@ Perky Mac My mom cooks dinner in the week,but I help her on Sundays. I never ate it before. If so, I would have waffles, ice cream, and fruit in a bowl,and I would have the fried chicken and a sauce on it on a plate. Nooooooooooooooooooo hot sauce EVER for me or syrup. Donnies one daughter

@ Perky Mac Im in fourth grade at the age of 10. My sister is in seventh grade at the age of 13. My brother in high school at the age of 14. I love being in the kitchen with my mom whether its cooking or baking. Im the same person that has been talking to you from the start. I am an hour and a few minutes past my bedtime so I have to go. So bye. Nice to talk to you. From donnies daughter ( when Im on call me dd).

forgot to ask if crepes count? I love them with almost anything in - chicken paprikash or chocolate syrup are my favorites!

The best waffle I ever had was at the Country Inn in Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX - they have make your own waffles for breakfast, and they're shaped like Texas. I had the same batter, in the same brand of waffle iron, but normal shaped at a different hotel and it was not as good...

Actually the waffles are the entire reason I stay at this hotel when I go to TX on business :-)

And tell me how you eat the chicken-n-waffles? It's hard for me to imagine Americans eating fried chicken with a knife and fork. But it's hard for me to imagine anyone eating waffles and syrup with their fingers. Details, please!

If I am craving something sweet: maple or chocolate syrup. For something savory: basil pesto and butter.

Wow - 51 responses so far!

I do many flavors of both pancakes and waffles so the first layer of flavor varies.

As for toppings - the sky's the limit on either...

* Fresh berries
* Whipped Cream
* Chocolate sauce (dessert crepes)
* Apple Butter
* Peanut Butter
* Favorite fruit preserves
* Honey
* Pure maple syrup - no substitutes

Waffle ice cream sandwiches!