Home > Breakfast > Pancakes & Waffles > Healthy Waffle Recipe Healthy Waffle Recipe January 30, 2022 | 2 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. This Healthy Waffle Recipe is the absolute BEST! They’re flavorful, perfectly sweetened, and have soft, chewy interiors with slightly crisp exteriors. These waffles are made with good-for-you, natural ingredients without any refined sugars, flour, or butter. But don’t worry– you won’t need a trip to a health food store — all the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. These waffles are also quick and easy to make — throw everything into the blender and let it rip! And voila — you’ve got waffle batter! Can Waffles Be Healthy? Let’s be honest: While waffles are downright delicious, they get a bad rap nutritionally. Waffles often are loaded with butter, lots of sugar, and refined flours — all ingredients that nutritionists tell us to limit. BUT today I am telling you, yes waffles can be healthy and I couldn’t be more excited to share. While I have tried many (and many) waffles claiming to be healthy, they don’t end up getting made again. Hard as I try, I’m not one to give up flavor for nutritional purposes. So when I say I want a healthy waffle, I’m really saying it also has to be delicious — dare I say as delicious as the sugar and butter-laden counterparts. And let me assure you — this Healthy Waffle recipe checks all the boxes. Nutrition: check. Delicious: check, check! QUICK TIP Is There A Difference Between Waffle Batter And Pancake Batter? Yes! Avoid using pancake batter to make waffles — try our best-ever Healthy Pancakes recipe instead! Among many differences, waffle batter usually contains more sugar than pancake batter, which helps for caramelization. Waffle batter also generally includes more fat than pancake batter, to help achieve a crisp exterior. Recipe For Healthy Waffles: Nutritional Overview Here’s a quick overview of this recipe*: No flour. We use old-fashioned oatmeal instead. No refined sugars. See the “quick tip” box below for more info. Cashews. These nuts contain lots of good-for-you fats, protein, and nutrients, among other benefits. Protein. This recipe packs in the protein, thanks to the nuts and eggs. Dairy-free. We use plant-based milk (almond milk). Anti-inflammatory spices. This recipe calls for cinnamon and nutmeg, which are surprisingly full of health benefits! QUICK TIP For this Healthy Waffle Recipe, we use natural sugars derived from plant sources. Pure maple syrup comes from nature (trees!) Foods with natural sugars (like fruits, milk, and cheese) are not the same as those with refined sugars. Refined sugar typically starts with sugar cane or sugar beets, which are then processed to extract the sugar. Processing (refining) removes the nutrients and leaves the sugar. (*While I have my background in Exercise and Wellness (B.S.), all the content in this post is for informational purposes only. Please consult a doctor or dietician for any specific dietary needs/questions.) What Is Healthy To Eat With Waffles? We are obsessed with making an easy (two-ingredient) “raspberry smash” to top the waffles with. All you do is smash some fresh, ripe, sweet raspberries with flax seed (which has a myriad of health benefits) and top the waffles with it. A drizzle of pure maple syrup finishes everything off beautifully! (And, a scoop of coconut whipped cream will never be wrong here!) What Are The Best Waffle Toppings And Sides For Breakfast? Our favorite way to top this Healthy Waffle Recipe: With a scoop of “raspberry smash” (discussed above), pure maple syrup, and a scoop of coconut whipped cream Other topping ideas: A handful of granola, sautéed apples or a fruit compote, honey butter, fresh fruit, jam, toasted coconut, or chia seeds Our favorite breakfast sides: Eggs (scrambled, over-easy, poached, etc.), a side of fresh fruit, bacon, toast, or breakfast Roasted Potatoes. How To Make This Healthy Waffle Recipe I told you this is an easy healthy waffle recipe and I’m not messing around — it’s truly so simple! To make healthy waffles, we mix everything together in a blender! We blend the waffle batter together all at once. Once the batter is done, it can be poured directly from the blender jar into a measuring cup into the waffle iron to cook. Also, when making waffles with all-purpose flour, it’s always best to mix the batter as little as possible. But with this batter, it doesn’t matter — there is no gluten in the batter, so blend to your hearts’ content! How To Keep Waffles From Getting Soggy If you aren’t eating the waffles fresh from the waffle maker, you’ll want a foolproof way to keep them warm and crispy. (If you stack waffles on top of each other, you’ll end up creating steam, which makes the waffles soggy.) To keep that crispy exterior, follow these steps: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Place a cooling rack on a large sheet pan. As soon as you remove the waffle from the waffle iron, place it on the cooling rack in a single layer. Place that sheet pan in the oven until ready to eat. QUICK TIP If you’ll be eating this Healthy Waffles Recipe right away, just set them on a wire cooling rack right out of the waffle iron and serve from there! Skip the platter to avoid creating steam. STORAGE Freezing Healthy Waffles We love multiplying this waffle recipe to have leftovers or to make in advance when anticipating guests. Those leftovers make a great last-minute dinner or breakfast! Frozen waffles can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. To freeze: Allow the waffles to cool completely at room temperature. Then, place the cooled waffles on a parchment-paper-lined tray. Place the tray in the freezer until the waffles are fully frozen, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. To thaw: Use the microwave, toaster, or oven to reheat. We like popping them in our toaster to reheat. Top Healthy Waffle Recipe Tips My number one tip for the best waffles? Use a good waffle iron. Here’s the exact waffle maker I use, and I can’t say enough good things about it! If your waffle iron or pan has a nonstick surface, don’t use cooking spray. Cooking spray builds up on nonstick surfaces and eventually becomes tacky, ruining that non-stick coating. Let waffles stand on a wire cooling rack for a few minutes before digging in — this gives a chance for the exteriors to crisp up nicely. How do you know when your waffle is done? Most waffle irons tell you via a light or beep. If your waffle maker does neither, watch for the steam to stop coming out the sides. Never open your iron until the steam has stopped! More Nutritious Breakfast Recipes: Avocado Toast with several variations Breakfast Toast with bananas and blueberries Healthy Carrot Muffins sweetened with dates Egg Skillet with peppers and onions Golden Milk Smoothie with cashews FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Healthy Waffle Recipe 5 from 3 votes - Review this recipe This Healthy Waffle Recipe is the absolute BEST! They're flavorful, perfectly sweetened, and have soft, chewy interiors with slightly crisp exteriors. These waffles are made with good-for-you, natural ingredients without any refined sugars, flour, or butter. But don't worry-- you won't need a trip to a health food store -- all the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Healthy Waffle Recipe 5 from 3 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe This Healthy Waffle Recipe is the absolute BEST! They're flavorful, perfectly sweetened, and have soft, chewy interiors with slightly crisp exteriors. These waffles are made with good-for-you, natural ingredients without any refined sugars, flour, or butter. But don't worry-- you won't need a trip to a health food store -- all the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. Course Breakfast, Brunch, Snack Cuisine American Keyword healthy waffle recipe Prep Time 10 minutes minutes Cook Time 5 minutes minutes Total Time 15 minutes minutes Servings 4 -8 waffles (depending on your waffle iron) Chelsea Lords Calories 162kcal Author Chelsea Lords Cost $4.52 EquipmentWaffle Iron IngredientsWaffle Recipe Healthy▢ 1 cup old-fashioned oats▢ 3/4 cup dry roasted and lightly salted cashews (Note 1)▢ 1/3 cup melted coconut oil (Note 2)▢ 3/4 cup milk (Note 3)▢ 2 large eggs▢ 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, optional▢ 2 teaspoons baking powder▢ 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt▢ 2 tablespoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)▢ Optional: 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg▢ For topping: pure maple syrup, coconut whipped cream, fresh fruit, chia seeds, etc.Optional: Raspberry Smash Topping▢ 1-1/2 cups (6 oz.) fresh, ripe raspberries▢ 2 tablespoons flax seedsUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsPREP: Preheat the waffle iron. If you won't be eating waffles right away and want to keep waffles warm, see Note 5.BLEND: Add everything in the order listed to a high-powered blender. Blend until completely smooth, about 90-120 seconds. Scrape down sides and blend longer if needed. The batter is ready when there aren't any chunks of oats or cashews. COOK: If your waffle iron or pan has a nonstick surface, don't use cooking spray. (Cooking spray builds up on nonstick surfaces and eventually becomes tacky, ruining that non-stick coating.) If it doesn't have a nonstick surface, grease with cooking spray. Add a measured 1/3 cup of batter from the blender into each cavity. Use all the batter in the blender -- scraping it out with a spatula if needed. Most waffle irons will signal to let you know the waffle is done. If your waffle maker doesn't have that feature, watch for the steam to stop seeping out the sides. Never open your iron until the steam has stopped! Right out of the waffle iron, place each waffle on a wire cooling rack. ENJOY: Serve waffles enjoying as is or with a drizzle of syrup, a dollop of whipped cream, and/or fresh fruit (like bananas or strawberries). OPTIONAL RASPBERRY SMASH: Prepare while waffles are cooking. In a small bowl, mash the raspberries with a fork. Add in the flaxseeds and mix through. Serve atop waffles with a drizzle of syrup. FREEZE LEFTOVER WAFFLES: To freeze: Allow waffles to cool completely at room temperature. Place the cooled waffles on a parchment-paper-lined tray. Place that tray in the freezer until the waffles are fully frozen, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. To thaw: Use the microwave, toaster, or oven to reheat. We like popping them in our toaster. Frozen waffles can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. Video Recipe NotesNote 1: Cashews: We love roasted and lightly salted cashews best — more flavor without any extra effort on your part. Raw cashews won't deliver the right flavor. Note 2: Coconut oil: Measure in the melted state. Butter or ghee (melted) can also be used. Note 3: Milk: Any plant-based milk will work in these waffles; we like unsweetened vanilla almond milk best. And if you prefer, regular dairy milk can be used as well. Note 4: Pure maple syrup: Not to be confused with corn syrup or pancake syrup, pure maple syrup is the sap from a maple tree that has been boiled down to a thicker consistency. It’s just one ingredient -- a sugar naturally derived from nature! We tested honey and while it worked, the flavor was a bit overpowering. Note 5: Keeping waffles warm: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Place a cooling rack on a large sheet pan. As soon as you pull the waffle from the waffle iron, place it on the cooling rack in a single layer. Place that sheet pan in the oven until ready to eat. If you'll be eating the waffles right away, just set them on a wire cooling rack right out of the waffle iron and serve from there. Nutrition FactsServing: 1serving | Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 18.5g | Protein: 5.6g | Fat: 16.2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 32.7mg | Fiber: 1.4g | Sugar: 6.5g We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
