Happy Waffle Day! A BTS and Presidential favorite - and we've got a First Lady's recipe!

National Waffle Day celebrates the waffle and creation of the improved waffle iron. 

Happy National Waffle Day!

At Barb's Tea Service, we're serving up a delicious combo of presidents and waffles to celebrate!

According to National Day Today, this tasty holiday falls on August 24 in honor of Cornelius Swartwout, who improved the waffle iron and received a U.S. patent for his safer, easier‑to‑use design on this day in 1869. Swartwout hailed from Troy, New York — one of our favorite Gilded Age towns — making the celebration feel doubly appropriate.

Chicken and waffles, a savory option.

Waffles have long been a beloved staple in our family, especially for daughter Rachel, who embraces every topping from classic syrup to savory chicken. When she still lived at home, Rachel and I made an annual sojourn to Louisville for the Jane Austen Festival, and each trip required at least one stop at a Waffle House along the way — made all the more “exotic” by their complete absence in Michigan.

The exotic Waffle House, not found in Michigan.

But waffles (and Jane Austen) aren’t the only passions Rachel and I share. We also love visiting presidential homes and libraries, and we’ve toured several together — most recently Warren G. Harding’s home in Marion, Ohio (Harding Home and Library, BTS blog, April, 2024). As it turns out, Harding was not only the 29th President of the United States, he was also a devoted waffle enthusiast.

Mother-Daughter shared interest, include Presidential Homes/Libraries & waffles

During our visit, we learned that Harding preferred not to travel while campaigning. Instead, he adopted the convenient “Front Porch Campaign,” staying home while supporters came to him. As the name suggests, Harding delivered speeches from the front porch of the house he and his wife, Florence, built.

Florence Harding's waffle recipe, a souvenir from the Harding House.

During the Front Porch Campaign, waffles were consistently on the menu. Florence's recipe was published in women's magazines with glowing reviews. 

Today, the Harding Library now hosts an annual waffle breakfast using Florence's original recipe (attendance to this event, another shared goal of mother and daughter.) 

In the gift shop, I picked up a bookmark featuring Florence Harding’s Famous Waffle Recipe. We’re sharing it here in honor of the holiday.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2 TBS sugar
• 2 heaping TBS butter
• 1 pint milk
• 1 pint flour
• 2 heaping tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

:

1. Beat yolks of eggs
2. Add sugar, milk and flour
3. Add melted butter and just before ready to bake, add beaten whites of eggs.
4. Cook in hot waffle iron
5. Don't eat them on a full stomach. Cover well with butter and then pour maple syrup over the plate.
6. Enjoy!

Harding wasn't the only waffle-loving president. President Taft admitted in a letter to his wife that he overindulged in Waffles and Chipped Beef (a special favorite of Harding) while visiting the Harding's home in 1920.

FDR's Little White House modern kitchen includes waffle iron. 

                   

And, just a bit more waffle/presidential trivia. While visiting FDR's Little Whitehouse in Warm Springs, GA, in 2025, the kitchen, though small and unpretentious, was considered "modern", outfitted with an electric stove, toaster and waffle iron.

Electric stove, waffle iron far left, next to breadbox.

However you like your waffle, know with confidence, that not only is it a scrumptious snack anytime of day, but if you're a fan, you're in some very impressive company.  (My favorite waffle holds ice cream).😊

My favorite kind of waffle holds ice cream. 

The good news:  Happy National Waffle Day can be celebrated anytime! Enjoy!