Like many kids in America, one of my favorite weekend rituals was the big American breakfast. During the week, my family had no time prepare batter, warm syrup, and slice fruit, but on the weekends, we took some time to slow down, relax, and enjoy ourselves. Waffles played a big part in that ritual.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of waking up to the scent of baking waffles wafting through house, you’ll know what I mean. The perfect combination of sweet and wholesome, waffles are truly a breakfast delicacy. After making the batter — the perfect delectable mixture of flour, milk, and sugar — kids around the country delight in the most fun part of making waffles: forming their shape in a waffle iron. Also called a waffle maker, this kitchen contraption bakes the batter into the symmetrical squares we’ve all grown to know and love.

But did you know that waffles are not an American creation? In fact, the Ancient Greeks baked flat cakes similar to this beloved dish. However, waffles didn’t take their modern shape until approximately the fourteenth century, when the first waffle iron was invented in either Holland or Germany. Over the years, the design changed and developed until General Electric produced the first electric waffle iron in 1911.

This invention of the electric waffle maker revolutionized the breakfast industry, as now anyone, anywhere could make this breakfast food. Restaurants like IHOP and Waffle House opened, and waffle consumption has been a favorite breakfast pastime ever since.