Healthy Waffles

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

1. Oats – 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.
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 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.

How to serve?

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.
• 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!

Helpful 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.
• Blender - You don't need a professional $$$ blender. Add all ingredients into any blender and blend until smooth (I have tried blending half the healthy waffles recipe in my Nutri Bullet and Vitamix with great success).