Waffle bars aren’t just for breakfast (though they’re great for that). They also make awesome family dinners and serve as the perfect party buffet. Best of all, they’re deceptively simple. Even the most-festive waffle bar can be set up in three easy steps.

1. First, decide on the waffle recipe you’ll use. A few fan-favorite suggestions:

• Multigrain Waffles
• Chocolate Waffles
• Pumpkin Waffles
• Bacon Waffles

2. Prep your toppings. Use bowls with spoons, or get fancier by displaying each topping in a water glass or fluted dessert bowl. Topping ideas:

• Softened butter
• Sliced bananas
• Fresh blueberries or raspberries
• Frozen sliced strawberries, thawed out and including the juices
• Jam, warmed up in the microwave so it’s runny
• Whipped cream
• Mini chocolate chips
• Granola
• Pumpkin seeds
• Dried cranberries
• Chocolate-covered raisins
• Powdered sugar
• Apple butter
• Maple syrup
• Chopped pecans
• Sprinkles
• Nutella

3. Next, roll out a big piece of butcher paper on your counter. This will serve as your tablecloth, counter saver and instruction manual, all in one. Use a pen to write out the names of your toppings, then set each one on top.

Arrange your waffles on one side, then toppings on the other, going from left to right, and write out instructions on your butcher paper like this:

3.    Drizzle a little on top. (Set your syrup, jam and/or Nutella over here.)

• Multigrain Waffles + powdered sugar + strawberries
• Pumpkin Waffles + whipped cream + pumpkin seeds + dried cranberries
• Chocolate Waffles + butter + bananas + mini chocolate chips
• Bacon Waffles + maple syrup

Charity Curley Mathews is the mother of four small rascals and founder of Foodlets.com, a site about raising kids who eat (and love) all the foods. Follow Foodlets on Facebook so you’ll never miss a recipe or tip.