Healthy Waffles Recipe

Featured comments

From Laura: "Made these this morning for 2 toddlers and they loved them. My husband and I loved them too, thank you!" ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

From Tricia: "These are great! With or without syrup! Whole fam loves them…I freeze them and then we can just stick them in the toaster for a quick, healthy breakfast or snack, or any meal really 🙂" ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.

1. Oats – As with all our oats recipes, use old fashioned or rolled oats and not quick cooking or instant variety.
2. Almond butter - Gives a nutty and hearty texture. Use peanut butter instead. Check out more ways to use almond butter in our round up post almond butter recipes.
3. Banana - As with all overripe banana recipes, use a very ripe banana with a few brown spots to add natural sweetness. If using frozen banana, make sure to thaw completely before adding into the blender.
4. Eggs – Provides the necessary structure and improves crumb in the healthy waffles.
5. Milk – Gluten-free waffles have a higher tendency to absorb liquid compared to regular waffles, which is why this recipe calls for a full cup of milk. I prefer using whole milk for its added fat content, as it enhances the texture and keeps the waffles moist.
6. Baking powder - It creates carbon dioxide bubbles upon contact with milk, and then creates a lift when the batter hits the hot iron.

Looking for more unique ways to use oats beyond oatmeal? Check out the blog post oats recipes that aren't oatmeal.

Substitutions & Variations

• Add flavorings like vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg or pumpkin spice.
• Use gluten free certified oats to make it gluten free.
• Use about 1 ¼ cup of applesauce instead of banana.
• Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar or maple syrup to the batter.
• Use dairy free milks such as almond or oat milk instead of regular milk.
• Stir in semi sweet chocolate chips or blueberries, after blending.
• Swirl in creamy peanut or almond butter into the batter just before making waffles.
• Use peanut butter or sun butter instead of almond butter.

Pro tip: The key to extra crisp healthy waffles is to cook them a little longer! Crispness is a result of the setting of proteins and dehydration, which is accomplished through heat and time.

Best blender to use

You don’t need an expensive blender—any blender will do. If you have a powerful one, grind the oats into a coarse powder first, then add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. I prefer using a Vitamix because it blends easily and can handle the entire recipe in one batch. If you’re using a smaller blender like a NutriBullet, you may need to blend in batches.

Serving suggestion

For the most indulgent breakfast idea, serve healthy waffles with a dab of softened salted butter, warm maple syrup and fresh berries. The squares were built for catching pools of maple syrup!

You can also pair them with coconut chia pudding, fried eggs and a smoothie to make a satisfying meal.

Healthy topping ideas

I like to set up a healthy waffles bar for the kids and their friends, especially after a sleep over and like to make a lavish spread of tasty topping ideas:

• Fresh berries, bananas, peaches or pineapples. Leftover baked peaches or baked pears will be outrageous with it!
• Nut butter for more healthy fats and protein.
• Greek yogurt along with some honey or maple syrup.
• Toasted and chopped nuts and seeds.
• Berry chia jam or other fruit jams.
• Date syrup

Freezing instructions

I usually make a double batch of this healthy waffles recipe, place cooled ones in a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 2 months.

To reheat: My favorite way to re heat them is to pop one or two (from frozen) in a bread toaster, until hot and crisp. Great for weekday mornings!

Recipe tips

• Select very ripe banana for natural sweetness.
• Use only old fashioned oats and not quick cooking or steel cuts.
• The batter tends to thicken as it sits, so the last batch may not be as light as the first. If the batter appears too thick for the final batch, you can stir in a couple of tablespoons of water.
• Cook until they get a deep golden brown for guaranteed crispness. It took 5 to 6 minutes in my waffle iron.
• Waffle iron - Not all appliances work the same way. Make sure to check the instructions that come with your waffle iron for the manufacturer recommendations on cooking time.