Banana Waffles are a great way to use up those overripe bananas on your counter! They’re sweet, spiced with cinnamon, and have crispy edges with tender, cake-like middles.
Not feeling like waffles today? Check out my delicious Banana Pancakes instead, or try the Gluten-Free Banana Pancakes if you need to avoid gluten.
A Really Great Banana Waffle Recipe
Remember these chocolate chip waffles? My kids absolutely love them and ask for them almost every morning. They’re just as obsessed with pumpkin waffles too!
I’ve been making big batches of waffles, cooling them, and then freezing them. It’s super handy on busy mornings—just toss them in the toaster, and they’re ready to eat.
The other day, while making waffles, I saw some overripe bananas on the counter. I mashed one up and added it into the batter, creating a waffle recipe with banana.
And that started my mission to create the ultimate banana waffle recipe. With plenty of bananas and lots of eager taste testers at home, I kept tweaking it until I got it just right!
Ingredients
- White Flour: The main part of your batter. To measure it right, fluff up the flour first, then scoop it into your measuring cup and level off the top with the back of a knife.
- Salt: Boosts all the flavors.
- Baking Powder: Makes your waffles light and fluffy. To see if it’s fresh: mix 2 teaspoons in hot water. If it bubbles, you’re good to go!
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg: Adds a warm, comforting taste. Adjust the amount to what you like.
- Brown Sugar: Brings a bit of moisture and a sweet caramel flavor. White sugar works too.
- Bananas: Overripe bananas are best for a stronger, sweeter flavor.
- Whole Milk: Makes the batter creamy and flavorful. Use leftover milk for dinner — try this one pot Chicken Orzo!
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a sweet flavor.
- Eggs: Keep everything together and helps the waffles to be fluffy.
- Unsalted Butter: Makes the waffles rich and smooth. Be sure it’s cooled to room temp (not hot!) when you mix it in.
How to Make Banana Waffles Recipe from Scratch
- Start with ripe bananas: Use bananas that are pretty brown all over with lots of spots and speckles for the sweetest, most flavorful waffles. Mash them up and measure to get the right amount.
- Make the batter: It’s simple! Just mix the dry ingredients, then add the wet ingredients right on top and stir them all together.
- Cook the batter: Pour the batter from the bowl into a measuring cup, then onto the grid of a hot waffle iron.
- Keep them crisp: Place the waffles on a wire cooling rack as soon as they come out of the iron. This stops them from getting soggy and keeps them nice and crisp.
Quick Tip
To quickly ripen bananas, bake them on a parchment-lined tray at 350 degrees F for 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway until black. Cool, discard any liquid, and mash for your waffles.
Banana Waffle Recipe Tips
- Easy Banana Mashing: Use an electric hand mixer to mash bananas quickly and smoothly.
- Know When They’re Done: If your waffle iron has a light or beep, wait for it. If not, wait until the steam stops before you check the waffles.
- Heat the Iron First: A preheated waffle iron cooks evenly and makes a nice golden crust.
- Stir Just Enough: Combine ingredients until just mixed to avoid tough waffles.
- Avoid Cooking Spray on Nonstick Surfaces: If your iron is nonstick, skip the cooking spray. It can build up and damage the surface over time.
- Consistent Waffle Size: Use a measuring cup to make sure all your waffles are the same size for even cooking.
What Goes With Banana Waffles?
- Syrup & Fruit: Drizzle this caramel-like syrup over the waffles and top with thinly sliced bananas and a handful of blueberries.
- Whipped Cream or Ice Cream: Turn it into a dessert by adding a big scoop of ice cream or freshly whipped cream.
- Bacon or Sausage: The saltiness of bacon or sausage goes with the sweetness of the waffles perfectly.
- Eggs: Add a high-protein side by serving eggs any style you like.
- Yogurt Parfait: Pair with a yogurt parfait for extra fiber and protein.
Storage
How To Freeze Banana Waffles
Doubling or Tripling: It’s a good idea to make extra waffles for meal prep or when hosting guests. They’re great for a quick meal, be it breakfast or dinner.
Freezing:
- Let waffles cool completely at room temperature.
- Place them on a parchment-lined tray and freeze until solid, about 1-2 hours.
- Move the waffles to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, toast the waffles.
My Top Two Tips
- Get a Good Waffle Maker: If you often make waffles or want to invest in one, here’s the exact waffle maker I use and can’t recommend enough. Quality waffle irons can be pricey, but they really make a difference in how your waffles turn out!
- Rest the Batter: For the tastiest and fluffiest banana waffles, prepare your batter the night before and keep it covered in the fridge. Just stir gently before cooking in a preheated waffle maker the next morning. Or, you can let the batter sit at room temperature for at least 10 minutes (and up to 2 hours) before you start cooking.
More Ways To Use Overripe Bananas:
- Healthy Banana Cake Recipe without refined sugars or flour
- Peanut Butter Banana Bars naturally sweetened with honey
- Banana Bread with Greek Yogurt and oats
- Flourless Banana Muffins with chocolate chips
- Chocolate Banana Muffins made with Greek yogurt
Banana Waffles
Banana waffles are the perfect way to use up overripe bananas! These waffles are sweet, lightly spiced with cinnamon, and perfectly golden and crispy.
Equipment
- Waffle Iron
Ingredients
- 2-1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar lightly packed, packed or granulated sugar
- 2 overripe bananas see note 1
- 1 cup whole milk room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
For Serving
- Syrup see note 2
- Sliced bananas optional
- Whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Thoroughly mash 2 overripe bananas and measure 2/3 cup. Set aside. Melt the butter and set aside to cool to room temperature. Warm the milk slightly in the microwave or let it reach room temperature naturally. Run un-cracked eggs under warm water to bring them to room temperature. Make sure all wet ingredients are the same temperature, or batter will get clumpy.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and ground nutmeg.
- Add brown sugar, mashed bananas, milk, vanilla, and eggs to the dry mixture. Whisk until combined. Continue whisking while slowly drizzling in the melted butter. Whisk until smooth. Don't over-mix. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes.
- Preheat your nonstick waffle maker according to the model's instructions. Once heated, grease the iron, and add 1/3 cup of batter per cavity. Cook until each waffle is nicely crisped on both sides and cooked through in the center.
- Keep cooked waffles warm in the oven while finishing the batch (see note 3) or serve immediately with your choice of toppings.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: The riper the banana, the sweeter and bolder the flavor, so wait until the bananas are well-browned. Mash the bananas in a bowl with a fork until they have the consistency of applesauce.
Note 2: To make my favorite syrup, combine 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and a pinch of salt in a medium-sized pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter melts and syrup slightly thickens, about 5–8 mins. Remove from heat, stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.
Note 3: To keep waffles crisp, place them on a cooling rack set over a large pan. Put the pan in a 200°F oven to keep waffles warm as you continue cooking.
Storage: You can meal prep these waffles two ways. For make-ahead batter, cover and refrigerate overnight, then stir and cook in a preheated waffle maker the next morning—this enhances flavor and convenience. Or to make freezer waffles, cool any extras completely, freeze on a parchment-lined tray for 1–2 hours, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. To reheat, toast the frozen waffles for a quick and easy meal.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.1g | Protein: 5.4g | Fat: 7.7g | Cholesterol: 77.7mg | Sodium: 132mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 4.2g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
