How to make a Healthy Waffle Recipe with whole wheat flour and no refined sugar for a healthy breakfast that can be made ahead and toasted from frozen for busy mornings!
For more easy grab-n-go breakfast ideas try almond flour waffles, Instant Pot egg bites or almond flour banana muffins!
Table of Contents
A healthy waffle recipe that results in crispy and delicious waffles? Yes please! These healthy waffles will satisfy the kid in all of us and are made with your everyday pantry staples.
If you make a big batch, freeze some for later for easy breakfast when you’re in a pinch. We always do that with protein waffles, healthy banana pancakes and whole wheat buttermilk pancakes.
What Makes This a Healthy Waffle Recipe?
- Whole grains: By swapping bleached white flour for whole wheat flour, you increase your fiber intake. This not only keeps you full longer, it decreases blood sugar spikes!
- Less sugar: Using stronger tasting maple syrup (or honey) allows you to use less, which equates to less sugar and caloric intake.
- Whole food ingredients: No overly-processed ingredients, no preservatives in our healthy waffle recipe, just simple wholesome real food.
- Budget friendly: Find all these ingredients at your local grocery store, no specialty stores needed.
- Easy to make: One bowl, less fuss, less mess!
Ingredients for Healthy Waffle Recipe
To make this healthy waffle recipe, you will need just a few simple ingredients.
- Flour: This recipe uses whole wheat flour or spelt flour. You’ll notice that these waffles aren’t as fluffy as your average waffle due to the whole wheat flour containing bran and germ. I don’t recommend using other flours, as I have not tested them and baking is a science!
- Large eggs: Used for binding waffles together.
- Any milk: I used unsweetened almond milk but feel free to use any unsweetened dairy milk or other milk of choice. Avoid canned coconut milk or milk with any added sweeteners.
- Maple syrup or honey: Either liquid sweetener works for these healthy waffles.
- Olive oil or avocado oil: You can also use melted butter as well.
- Pure vanilla extract: Not imitation vanilla for best taste.
- Aluminum-free baking powder: Technically any baking powder works, I prefer aluminum free for health reasons.
- Salt: Enhances waffles taste.
How to Make Healthy Waffles
Here is a quick overview how to make healthy waffle recipe from scratch.
- Make the batter: In a large mixing bowl, lightly whisk the eggs. Add milk, maple syrup, olive oil, vanilla, baking powder, and salt; whisk until well combined. Add whole wheat flour, mix well.
- Cook the waffles: Preheat the waffle maker well. The amount of batter depends on the size of your waffle maker. I used about 1/3 cup per waffle. If your waffle maker is cast iron you might have to spray it with cooking spray to prevent waffles from sticking. This waffle recipe uses enough oil, so you might not. Just try one first and see how it comes out.
Recipe Tip
For crispier waffles, I also cook a bit past the green Ready indicator.
Variations
- Gluten free: If you would like to make this healthy waffle recipe gluten-free, buckwheat flour is your best option. It has a deeper nuttier flavor and is darker in color. You can also try this protein waffle recipe made with oat flour.
- Other flours: As much as I love almond flour, it cannot be used for this recipe. Make almond flour waffles instead. I have not tested this recipe with all purpose flour or wheat pastry flour. White whole wheat flour can usually be replaced on a 1:1 basis. If you try, let us know in the comments!
- Cinnamon: For added warmth and a delicious hint of cinnamon, add a dash. Use pumpkin pie spice in the fall!
- Non-dairy: To make this non-dairy healthy waffle recipe, use almond milk, coconut milk (from a carton not a can), or oat milk instead.
- Blueberry waffles: You could add blueberries tossed with a small amount of flour into the waffle batter. Blueberries do tend to stick to the waffle maker, so you may have to use a bit more elbow grease when washing it.
- Chocolate chips: I love to use mini chocolate chips, so then I get some in every bite. You could use any you like including dark, semi-sweet, milk or even sugar free chocolate chips.
- Savory: Add some chopped cooked bacon to the batter.
- Chopped nuts: Pecans or walnuts chopped small would add a nutty taste to the healthy waffles batter!
- Sprinkles: Would be a fun healthier version of a cake batter waffle. So fun for little ones or if celebrating a birthday! Just add them into the batter.
- Buttermilk: If you love the taste of buttermilk in waffles, you can use that for your milk option or make your own like I do in healthy pancakes recipe. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to your milk (any kind) and let it sit first for about 5-10 minutes.
Tips for Best Results
- Tricks for fluffy waffles: Because this healthy waffle recipe uses whole wheat flour, you won’t have the fluffiest waffles. There are, however, some things you can do to try and maximize the potential.
- Separate the yolk from the egg whites. Beat whites until soft peaks have formed and fold them back into the batter.
- You can also allow the batter to rest while the waffle iron heats up. This way you give extra time for the baking powder to activate.
- Brown butter: If you do decide to use butter, you’ll want to melt it. Creating brown butter will add a beautiful nutty flavour to your waffles. Brown butter is made by melting the butter until it just starts to turn brown. You’ll know by its delicious aroma. Just be careful not to go too far the other way. Burnt butter has no place in your waffle batter.
- Preheat waffle maker: You want it nice and hot before you pour the batter in.
- Spray waffle maker with cooking spray: This is especially true for cast iron, but is a good tip for any waffle iron as the last thing you want is all the hard work to be stuck to the kitchen appliance.
- Measure correctly: Don’t overpack your flour! This is worth repeating with any baking project. Scoop and level. Scooping your flour into your measuring cups keeps it light and airy, and then leveling it with a knife ensures you have the precise amount.
- Sugar free waffles? Yes, you could! Just make sure it is a liquid sugar free sweetener.
- Healthy waffle mix recipe: Waking up Saturday morning to the aroma of freshly made waffles just doesn’t happen out of a box. Mix the dry ingredients for waffle recipe from scratch together and keep in a mason jar. You’ll have a homemade waffle mix at the ready!
FAQs
What is deemed “healthy” will always differ from one person to the next. However, anything that comes from a factory and has been highly processed is usually not good for anyone. It’s been stripped away of most of its nutrients and has had things added to it that we can’t even pronounce.
Moisture is the culprit! Ensure your waffle iron is hot before your batter touches it by testing it with water first. The water should sizzle when it makes contact with the hot iron. Another reason could be using buttermilk vs. milk. This may have made your batter too thick. If you still want even more crispy waffles, you can either toast them further in the oven or toaster!
Really it is personal preference! Oil will help thin your batter resulting in ‘crispier’ waffles, whereas butter will solidify and make a softer waffle.
It should be the consistency of honey. Not so thick that it is sticking and clumping to your whisk or spatula, but not so runny either like water. It should be thicker than a pancake batter!
Did you pour too much waffle batter in your iron? Only pour enough to cover the lower cooking grid. Waffle batter needs room to expand or you will end up with a soggy middle. Another culprit could be too much liquid in your batter. Follow the healthy waffle recipe as written and your healthy waffles will turn out perfect!
Splitting could be a variety of reasons but here are some common reasons. Your grid plates were not hot enough, the non-stick coating has become ineffective, you forgot to grease the plates, you omitted the oil (waffles need fat), you opened the waffle maker too soon and the waffles were not fully cooked, or you poured too much batter into the iron (if it oozes out the side, you poured too much in!)
Toppings Ideas
Here are a few toppings ideas for your healthy waffle recipe.
- Maple syrup: Look for “pure maple syrup.” Brands like Aunt Jemima are made of glucose, corn syrups, and all of the highly processed refined sugars we don’t want. When possible, spend a few more dollars and buy pure maple syrup. It is full of vitamins and nutrients and your kids will not notice the difference. Only pour a little bit. It’s not cheap, so make it last!
- Yogurt: When I have time I make yogurt in Instant Pot or buy plain whole milk yogurt. I shoot for local, organic, or grass-fed, with no added sugar. Maple syrup on top and it’s creamy heaven!
- Frozen fruit: Costco is amazing for affordable organic berries and fruit. Thaw it a bit and its juices will blend beautifully with yogurt and maple syrup “streams”.
- Berry compote: Use my simple cherry compote from Greek yogurt cheesecake!
- Nut/seed butter: Almond butter, cashew butter, and pumpkin seed butter all add a creamy, nutty, high protein topping.
- Chocolate spread: Making your own chocolate spread can be healthy, nutritious, and oh so chocolatey. Using raw cacao, hemp seeds, coconut oil, honey, and sea salt. Blend until creamy and dreamy.
- Savory: Healthy fried chicken and waffles, sausage or bacon are all savory toppings you could have with your healthy waffle recipe or even sandwich between two!
- South of the border waffle: Add pico de gallo, diced avocado and a fried egg.
- Dessert waffles: Serve with vegan vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream.
How to Store Healthy Waffles
Store: Keep healthy waffles in an air circulating container in the fridge for up to a week.
Freeze: To freeze, let waffles cool for 10 – 15 minutes, then place in a resealable Ziploc bag, let as much air out as possible, seal and freeze for up to 6 months.
Reheat: Pop them in the toaster straight out of the freezer to heat up. You can also use the microwave if you’re wanting to get them a bit softer.
More Healthy Breakfast Recipes to Try
- Chia seed pudding
- Healthy blueberry muffins
- Protein cookies
- Healthy banana muffins
- Healthy zucchini brownies
- Healthy muffin recipes
- Keto pancakes
Healthy Waffle Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 eggs large
- 1 1/2 cups any milk I used unsweetened almond milk
- 3 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 3 tbsp any mild oil or melted butter
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, lightly beat eggs. Add milk, maple syrup, olive oil, vanilla, baking powder and salt; whisk until well combined. Add whole wheat flour, mix well.
- Preheat waffle maker. If your waffle maker is cast iron you might have to spray it with cooking spray to prevent waffles from sticking but maybe not since batter has enough oil. Try one and see how it comes out.
- Make waffles according to your waffle maker's instructions. Amount of batter depends on the size of your waffle maker. I used about 1/3 cup batter per waffle. For crispier waffles, I also cook a bit past the green Ready indicator.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in air circulating container for up to a week.
- Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely, and freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Pop them in the toaster straight out of the freezer to heat up. You can also use the microwave if you’re wanting to get them a bit softer.
- Whole wheat flour: You’ll notice that these waffles aren’t as fluffy as your average waffle. This is due to the whole wheat flour containing bran and germ. For a lighter version try my almond flour waffles or super fluffy almond flour pancakes.
- Tricks for fluffy waffles: Separate the yolk from the egg whites. Beat whites until soft peaks have formed and fold them back into the batter. You can also allow the batter to rest while the waffle iron heats up.
- Preheat waffle maker: You want it nice and hot before you pour the batter in.
- Spray waffle maker with cooking spray: This is especially true for cast iron, but is a good tip for any waffle iron as the last thing you want is all the hard work to be stuck to the kitchen appliance.
- To prevent splitting: Don’t overfill your waffle iron and resist peeking before waffles are finished cooking.
- To prevent sticking: Don’t omit oil, waffles need healthy fat to cook correctly.
Absolutely beautiful! I used Polish natural kefir (buttermilk) and they are tasty as!! I wanted to make the home made chocolate spread but couldn’t find measurements anywhere. Would it be possible to add it to this recipe by any chance? Pretty please?
Do you mean a separate recipe for a chocolate spread?
Hi, I was wondering if I could substitute the whole wheat flour for gluten free all purpose flour. Would it turn out more like a regular waffle?
I have not tried, sorry, but possibly you could.