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When I told my 10-year-old I was going to call these Fluffy Applesauce Waffles she said "I think you should name them Best. Waffles. Ever!" So, I think that's a pretty good sign she liked them. :) Find our fluffy waffle recipe below for a freezer-friendly breakfast idea that's a lifesaver for busy mornings!
Whole Wheat Waffle Recipe
Light, sweet and delightfully fluffy, these are a cut above any boxed frozen waffles from the store! These whole wheat waffles are naturally sweetened with applesauce and can easily be frozen ahead of time for busy mornings. hope your kids dig them as much as mine do!
Best Whole Wheat Flour for Fluffy Waffles
For this recipe I used Bob's Red Mill Organic Whole Wheat Pastry Flour. The lighter texture of this flour really made these waffles light and fluffy and was honestly a perfect combination with the cinnamon and applesauce. And that's because whole wheat pastry flour is milled from soft white wheat, whereas regular whole wheat flour is milled from hard red wheat.
This flour is a great way to make really tender baked goods - I'll definitely be using it again soon just to switch things up!
(PS - This is part of my baking series this fall ...check out the first post here.) 
My 10-year-old separating the eggs and "folding in" her fluffy egg whites! She loves this job.
Fluffy Applesauce Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup whole-wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
- ½ cup applesauce
- 3 eggs (separated)
Instructions
- Preheat the waffle iron. Whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together in a bowl. Make a well (hole) in the center and drop in the milk, melted butter, applesauce, and egg yolks. Mix together until well combined and set aside.
- Meanwhile use an electric mixer to beat the egg whites until fluffy and forming stiff peaks. Carefully fold the egg whites into the batter - do not overmix. Follow manufacturers instructions with your waffle iron to make the batter into waffles. Enjoy!
kristy says
what suggestion to you have for GF ? I know the flour ratios are different sometimes
Julie says
Can these be made into pancakes?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi. This might help: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/5948/pancakes-and-waffles-what039s-difference.
Sonya says
I can't wait to make these! How would you freeze & store them?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi. Let them cool completely and then put them in an airtight container or bag. I've kept mine frozen for up to three months.
Brittany says
I always put wax paper between each waffle or pancake that I freeze. If I don't they freeze together and sometimes break trying to pull apart. Love this recipe btw!
Rachel says
These are by far the best waffles I have ever made. They have become a regular for Sunday mornings. Mmmmmmmmm
Cynthia says
My family made these again for breakfast this morning! We love them! They are delicious. Thank you for another great, easy and healthy recipe!
Jc says
Excellent. Fluffy and tasty- However, the first batch stuck to my waffle maker like no-ones business. Added 3 tablespoons oil. Then the results were very good. Could really smell the cinnamon and the applesauce. Yum. Might add a touch of sugar next time and even more cinnamon.
Janet G. says
We tried the Whole Wheat Waffle recipe posted earlier, and we didn't like it. It was too dense and bitter-tasting. But this recipe is amazing! They are light, fluffy, and delicious! My whole family begged for more! This recipe is a definite keeper!
Jacqueline says
These are delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and made a double batch. We froze a bunch and they are great as a quick breakfast on the go.
Jacqueline says
I should mention, I only had regular whole grain whole wheat flour from our local mill, so that's what I used. I can't find whole wheat pastry flour in my city.
Michelle says
My daughter (age 16) and I made these waffles this morning using leftover applesauce (from your recipe). We have recently been working on making the transition to real food. We are not accustomed to eating whole grain so we were slightly suspicious of these. :) However we loved them! They are indeed light, fluffy, and yummy. We were surprised how sweet they are.
I think using whole wheat pastry flour makes a definite difference. We can't wait to try it for a muffin recipe next. Thanks, Lisa!
Phunnyphella says
These are good, my family loves when I add pecan or walnut pieces before closing the lid to cook! Yum!
Karly says
I've been making your regular waffles for a while now, my kids love them. They're requesting breakfast for dinner tonight, so I'm excited to try these! We pretty much live off of your recipes, I can't wait for your second book to come out
Brian says
Wow! Made these last night for wife and 4 kids (one of my 3 kids had a friend over). Judging by the fact every piece was eaten, these were a huge hit! Nice flavor, and a perfect texture. The friend even said I should open a restaurant! Thank you for all the awesome recipes. I've tried many and most are a hit.
Laura says
I've been making your regular whole wheat waffles for a year or two and always loved them... But these totally out do them:) soo good!
Tess says
What a great way to add more 'real foods' to any families meals! Appreciate your simple recipes that make it possible for us ALL to succeed! I've taken your waffle recipe a step further and made my own applesauce!
Carly says
We loved these waffles. We struggled a little bit with our Belgian waffle maker and ended up turning the setting pretty high than what we normally do because they wouldn't stay together. Once we figured that part out, they were a huge hit!! I still ate the destroyed ones :)
Gina says
Anything with Cinnamon and Applesauce is already yummy! Love the pictures of your daughter in the kitchen.
Annette says
Love the idea! Unfortunately, waffles have been out of our rotation since I got rid of our teflon coated waffle iron:( Any suggestions on where to find a non-toxic waffle iron??? We miss waffles dearly!!!
Jessica says
I made them into pancakes successfully.
Tracy says
I just got a Chefman ceramic coated waffle maker from Kohls, it was on Black Friday sale for $30 and is $35 now. I am not sure how well it works since I have not tried it. I also do not know if ceramic coating is any better than teflon.
Summer says
These look wonderful! Can anyone suggest how I might substitute the 3 eggs for an egg-free version. These look SO yummy but we just found out my son is allergic to eggs (a huge pain, but thankful to finally know why he was always sick!). I already sub regular milk for almond milk (allergic to milk too) but the egg is tricky. Is the egg to help bind it together? Or help rise/make fluffy? Thanks, Lisa! I always LOVE the work you do. You've helped my family more than you'll ever know. :)
Heather says
Summer, you can try using a "flax egg." Lots of recipes online for how to do this. Or "Chia eggs." Basic recipe is 1 tablespoon ground flax or chia seeds and 2.5-3 tablespoons water. Set aside for 15 min. to gel.
Jennifer says
I made these last weekend and they were a HUGE hit with the kids. I cook from your website/cookbook for almost all of our meals and really appreciate all of your healthy (but practical) and delicious recipes. Thanks!
Jill says
Hi Lisa, I was curious how you feel about using nonstick cookwear? I no longer use any pots or pans with teflon and gave up on the idea of making waffles at home because I can't find a waffle iron without it.
Jill
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Jill. You can find waffle irons with the ceramic non-stick coating.
Jill says
Thanks Amy! I have never seen these and am so excited to get one. Do you happen to own one?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Nope but I have seen them. :)
allison says
What is the benefit to separating the eggs and adding the yolks and then the beaten whites?
Kristin says
When folded in gently, the beaten egg whites make the waffles incredibly light and fluffy. It is definitely worth this added step!
Dawn says
Do these waffles freeze well? Thinking of making a big batch and freezing to make school morning breakfasts quicker and easier!
Linda says
I always double the batch and freeze the extra
Aileen @ Aileen Cooks says
We make waffles for dinner sometimes and my kids love them! We usually make your banana waffle/pancake recipe, but will have to try this one. Especially since I just canned a bunch of applesauce.
lauren says
Any one have a suggestions for a gf flour option, my son is gluten and dairy free and I can sub earths balance for the butter but am not sure about the flour.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. You can use a gluten free whole grain blend. I like Bob's Red Mill.
J. Moore says
What do you use to keep the waffles from sticking the waffle iron? I don't use mine often because of this problem. Thanks!
Brandy B says
We buy coconut oil spray from Trader Joe's. It works great and with the spray you don't use enough to make it taste like coconut.
J. Moore says
Thanks!
Elizabeth says
This sounds good, we were going to have breakfast for dinner tonight, so I think we will try this! Separating the eggs works really well. Also, a tip: turn the oven to 200 and when each waffle is done cooking, place it directly on the oven rack. It keeps it crisp and warm while the others cook and then everyone can eat at the same time!
A Anderson says
how many waffles does this make? it would be helpful to know serving amounts on your recipes so I can figure out if i need to double for our larger family. thanks! (unless i am totally overlooking it and it's already listed) I love your recipes.
Jessica says
I also would really love serving size on the recipes. We are a family of 6 and we typically need to make a little more than the average recipe calls for!
Nicole says
This is interesting I will have to try it. My son is allergic to eggs so in all your recipes I have been subbing applesauce for eggs, 1/4 for each, and everything has been coming out amazing!
Sarah Mueller says
Thanks for the tip! We have an egg allergy here, too, and it's so challenging to bake without eggs (and also without flax as it's usually nut-contaminated). I'll give this a try.
Tracy Wiens says
I don't have a waffle maker. Can this recipe be used to make pancakes instead of waffles?
Leila says
It should work fine!
Nicole says
You can get them really cheap on black friday. I got mine at Macy's, and it was like $20 and a $12 mail-in rebate, so $8 at the end and i've been using it for 2 years no issues.
Vanessa says
I made these for Sunday breakfast and they were great! I used some leftover homemade applesauce and Trader Joe's white whole wheat flour and then topped with more applesauce. I got 11 waffles from my Belgian style waffle maker.
Melanie says
How many waffles does this recipe make? I have a family of 6 and they love waffles so I want to be sure this will make enough, if not I will double it. Thanks. :)
Vanessa says
I got 11 in a Belgian style waffle maker so you'd probably get a couple more from a traditional type.
Donnilyn says
Made these this morning. They are a huge hit with my hubby. :-)
Bethany @ Athletic Avocado says
Yay for fluffy waffles with healthy ingredients! These couldn't be more perfect :)
Renee Cook says
I made these for breakfast this morning, and they were excellent! Thank you, Lisa, for a recipe we'll enjoy for years to come!
Lisa says
I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Ashley Greer says
I literally just made these, my new favorite!! They were so good, perfect!! I've tried so many and these hit it spot on!
Lisa says
Yay I'm so glad!
Nicole says
Could you substitute the applesauce for pumpkin?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Nicole. That should work, too.
Norman Brown says
Looks fantastic. I may try these with a flaxseed substitute as well. Thanks for sharing!
http://bit.ly/1OWFie5
Bridget says
I don't have a waffle iron, would I be able to make these into pancakes instead of waffles?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Bridget. You could cook this recipe as pancakes or here is one of Lisa's pancake recipes: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/21/recipe-whole-wheat-banana-pancakes-freeze-the-leftovers/.
Emily says
What waffle iron do you recommend? I'd like to invest in one and would love any advice!
Kim says
I have a Cuisinart Griddler with waffle plates. It was the only "waffle maker" I could find with removable plates for easier clean up. It is also a griddle and a panini press. It has easily become my most frequently used small appliance.
Lisa says
I honestly have a very basic one and love it - http://amzn.to/1MP6R4A
Kathy says
I did not know there were waffle makers with removable plates. While mine was very inexpensive and works fine, it is a major PAIN to clean it, so I would definitely check into one with removable plates for cleaning!
Denise says
I am currently unable to eat diary products. What would you recommend for a substitute for the butter in this recipe?
Angie says
I have used coconut oil in place of butter before.
Jennifer says
Earth balance also makes a spread that is dairy free and one that is dairy and soy free. I have a child with intolerances to both and it has been a lifesaver in recipes. I also use coconut oil at times. :)
Donnilyn says
You can use coconut oil.
Donald Horn says
I substituted the whole wheat flour for regular. Instead of applesauce, I used pumpkin puree. 5/10. I may try again?