When is National Waffle Day?
National Waffle Day 2027 is on Tuesday
Tuesday, August 24, 2027
August 24 every year. That's in 311 days.
until National Waffle Day begins, in your time zone
National Waffle Day is an informal US food holiday that celebrates waffles and the anniversary of an 1869 patent for a stovetop waffle iron. It is a day for griddle breakfasts, crisp edges and syrup-filled squares.
About National Waffle Day
National Waffle Day honors one of America's favorite breakfasts and the tool that made it easier to cook at home. The date marks August 24, 1869, when the US Patent Office granted patent No. 94,043 to Cornelius Swartwout of Troy, New York, for an improvement in waffle irons. Smithsonian magazine notes that his design added a handle that let cooks open, close and flip a stovetop waffle iron without it slipping and without burning their hands.
Waffle irons themselves are far older. Smithsonian magazine reports that the ancient Greeks cooked thin wafers between hot plates and that medieval Europeans made early waffles between iron plates with wooden handles, held over an open fire or on the hearth. Swartwout's stovetop iron spread quickly in the US, and General Electric developed an electric waffle iron prototype in 1911, putting it into production several years later.
No founder or sponsoring organization is documented for National Waffle Day, and it has no official status. Its date is simply tied to the anniversary of Swartwout's patent, which Smithsonian magazine describes as the day the invention is celebrated.
A separate tradition is Waffle Day on March 25 in Sweden, also known as International Waffle Day. It falls on the Feast of the Annunciation, called Vårfrudagen (Our Lady's Day) in Swedish. According to the Swedish American Museum in Chicago, dialect pronunciations blurred the name into Våffeldagen, or 'waffle day,' and the custom of eating heart-shaped waffles with berries and whipped cream followed.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine: A Brief History of the Waffle Iron (2019), Google Patents: US 94,043, Improvement in Waffle-Irons (1869), DNAinfo Chicago: Waffle Feast Planned at the Swedish American Museum (2013). How we check dates.
How to mark National Waffle Day
- Make waffles from scratch and compare a yeast-raised batter with a quick baking-powder batter.
- Try a savory version, such as cornmeal waffles with chili or waffles topped with a fried egg.
- Look for an antique stovetop waffle iron at a museum, flea market or historical society and see how it worked.
- Host a waffle bar with fresh fruit, yogurt, nut butters and a couple of syrups.
- Try a regional style from elsewhere, such as Belgian Liège waffles or Scandinavian heart-shaped waffles.
National Waffle Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday, August 24, 2025 |
| 2026 | Monday, August 24, 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, August 24, 2027 |
| 2028 | Thursday, August 24, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, August 24, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, August 24, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, August 24, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is National Waffle Day 2027?
National Waffle Day 2027 is on Tuesday, August 24, 2027. It falls on August 24 every year. In 2028, it is on Thursday, August 24, 2028.
Why is National Waffle Day on August 24?
The date marks August 24, 1869, when Cornelius Swartwout of Troy, New York, received a US patent for an improved stovetop waffle iron that could be turned without burning the cook's hand.
What is the difference between National Waffle Day and International Waffle Day?
National Waffle Day is a US observance on August 24. International Waffle Day on March 25 comes from Sweden's Våffeldagen, a waffle custom tied to the Feast of the Annunciation.
Is National Waffle Day a public holiday?
No. National Waffle Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.