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What’s for breakfast this weekend? How about some yummy, healthy, easy-to-make, homemade whole wheat waffles!
You do need a waffle iron for this recipe, but I definitely think it is worth the $25-30 investment for a low priced model. I'm still using my parents’ old waffle iron, which has to be at least 20 years old. It is incredibly basic and always does the trick whenever we are in the mood for some homemade waffles.
I made this exact recipe the other morning and lost count at how many my kids ate. I love that they can eat something so wholesome and still enjoy it. I did make sure they ate plenty of fruit before giving them their second and third helpings though.
If you aren't sure what your kids will think of this for breakfast try adding a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream on top! And don't forget to freeze the leftovers.
What goes into this recipe for whole wheat waffles?
If you haven’t already noticed from my other posts, I love making real food swaps in recipes to make them healthier. That’s why this waffle recipe uses whole wheat flour, honey (instead of sugar), and real butter!
What I really love is how easy this waffle recipe is, especially since you can use any kind of milk you have on hand. The rest of the ingredients: eggs, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder, are all things you probably have on hand as well!
What’s the best whole wheat flour for this homemade waffle recipe?
I especially love this recipe with whole wheat pastry flour, but you can substitute regular whole wheat flour (or white whole wheat flour) if that's all you have. We often use King Arthur brand, but any whole wheat flour will work fine in this recipe.
How to make fluffier waffles
There’s an easy trick to getting extra fluffy waffles. Instead of adding the eggs whole, separate the whites from the yolks. Add just the egg yolks with the other liquids and leave the whites aside.
Whip the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, then gently fold the whites into your whole wheat waffle batter. The whipped egg whites add air into the recipe, which means extra fluffy waffles!
Waffle cooking tips
I’ve had plenty of time to perfect waffle making after making countless batches of this recipe for the kids, so here are my best tips:
- Let the batter rest for a few minutes before cooking.
- Make sure your waffle iron is hot at the start and between batches.
- Instead of a ladle, you can also use a measuring cup to scoop the batter. You may need to experiment with different sizes, depending on the size of your waffle iron.
- Don’t overfill the waffle iron. Remember your batter will expand!
- You may need to spread the batter out in your waffle iron, especially if it's one of those novelty shaped waffle makers.
- Keep your waffle iron well greased, adding more butter between waffles as needed.
- If you have kids, consider grabbing a second waffle iron or one that cooks more than one waffle at a time.
- Waffles can be removed with something made of wood or silicone (wooden chopsticks work!). Metal tools can scratch your waffle maker. If I use metal silverware, I make sure it only touches the waffle and not the machine.
Healthy topping ideas for whole wheat waffles
We always top our waffles (and pancakes) with real food. For classic waffles, real maple syrup tastes delicious! Other yummy, sweet toppings that we’ve enjoyed are berries, peaches, homemade jam, and no-sugar-added whipped cream.
For savory whole wheat waffle toppings, try Greek yogurt, butter, or natural peanut butter. Another idea is to fry an egg over easy and place it on top. (Bonus protein for a more filling breakfast!)
Other Breakfast Recipes You Might Enjoy:
Whole Wheat Waffles
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¾ cups milk (I have used everything from skim milk to thick buttermilk…so whatever you have on hand should work)
- ¼ cup butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- pure maple syrup (warmed, for serving)
- fruit (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, butter, honey, cinnamon, and baking soda until well combined.
- Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk together just until the large lumps disappear.
- When the waffle iron is hot, dab it with a little butter and then ladle some batter onto the center of the iron. Follow the instructions that came with your waffle maker to know how long it should be cooked (mine takes about 3 - 4 minutes each).
- Keep waffles warm until you finish cooking all of them. Top with pure maple syrup and fruit. Enjoy!
Sylvia says
This is a fantastic recipe! My husband has always loved waffles (particularly when they came out of a box labeled bisquick) and I wasn't sure if he'd be game to try these. Not only did he LOVE them, these are the only ones he wants from now on -- he talked about them almost all day! Thank you for helping us get more of the refined junk out of our house and our health!
Tianda says
hi I know in some recipes they substitute the oil for unsweetened applesauce and I was wondering if I could do the same for this recipe? could I substitute the oil for applesauce?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Tianda. You could try that but we have not. ~Amy
Jan says
I make these regularly. I also had a problem with the coconut oil conglomerating. I was able to fix the problem by mixing everything together excluding the coconut oil. Then I poured in the melted coconut oil while whisking the batter. I also use almond milk and it tastes just as good. I love this recipe as well as the other awesome recipes on this site. I have tried a majority of them! It makes me feel better knowing I am feeding my 3 kids real food.
Christina says
My kids loved these and usually, I have to tell them they have to eat it even if they don't like it. It ends in a fight. No fighting with these! I made them a pancake and added flaxseed and used applesauce instead of oil. Turned out great!
Jenn Osborne says
Made these for my kids last weekend and they loved them. Cooked up the rest of the batter and froze the waffles. Kids loved them just as much reheated. Thanks so much for this healthier version.
Melissa says
Delicious! Made these this morning. They were a huge hit with all three kids - even my youngest who eats nothing! :) My husband thought they were great too! Like you said - it feels so great to give your family something so wholesome and have them love it. Thank you so much for making me feel like a rock star mom this morning!
Laura says
I made these with molasses instead of honey. My kids ate them at breakfast and then kept asking for them all day. And I didn't mind obliging the request since these were so healthy! My husband doesn't love waffles but told me I could make these anytime!
Regan says
The recipe used to say: "1/4c oil (I use coconut oil)." That has now been changed to melted butter. What is the reason for the ingredient change? Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Regan. We use butter and coconut oil pretty interchangeably in our baking. You can choose either. ~Amy
JENN O says
Has anyone used Almond Milk (unsweetened) instead of milk?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Yes, Jenn. It works just as well. ~Amy
Tracey says
I apologize if I've simply missed it, but has anyone tried adding chia, hemp or flax seed to this recipe? I'm just wondering if adding these additional ingredients will require the need to alter the original recipe? I plan on trying it and adding blueberries so I appreciate any feedback! Thanks! =)
Crystal says
I have added blueberries and it was really good!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Tracey. I add flax regularly and do add a bit more milk. ~Amy
Tracey says
Thank you! I did add chia and hemp with no changes. They were great! I'll try flax next. =)
Allison says
Has anyone tried making the batter the night before? I would like to try this for a weekday and never seem to have much time in the AM.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Allison. You can make them the night before and throw them in the toaster in the morning. I do it all the time. :) ~Amy
Amy says
My son loved these and so did I!! So yummy!
Kelly says
These have become a weekend staple in our home. My family loves them, even my husband who never likes my "whole wheat" version of pancakes or waffles and I have tried many versions. It's because these don't taste like they would be so good for you! I also love making extras for the kids to defrost for school mornings.
Kathy says
Wow! How could you not love these waffles? My kids hate anything whole wheat, but they LOVE these waffles. So tasty. Fluffy on the inside, nice and crispy on the outside. Delicious.
Tara says
My coconut oil hardened when I added it to the egg mixture. I had melted it first. What is the best way to do this?
Jenn says
I usually take out eggs ahead of time so their not cold, same with milk. The cold tempeture is what makes the cocunut oil harden again
Jenn Osborne says
How did it taste with the coconut oil? And was that to replace the oil/butter?
Katrina says
I subbed the oil for coconut oil 1:1. I put it in last, but it still hardened before I got the chance to put on the waffle iron. I just went with it and put it on the waffle iron with the chunky coconut oil. Ha! I thought there would be oily spots, but they came out great! Melted right back up evenly! This is definitely my new go to waffle recipe now!
Amy says
Can these waffles be frozen and then toasted? Anything that can save time before school in the morning is worth trying and I want to cut out store-bought breakfast foods as much as possible.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Amy. Yes! I defrost the waffles and pancakes overnight and throw them in the toaster in the morning. Works like a dream. :) ~Amy
Anna says
Great recipe. A special treat for sure, and so nice to have something I can make for guests (who don't love "healthy" eating). I know a lot of people asked about making your own hash browns. I don't have access to any store bought, organic, 1 ingredient hash browns so I made my own. I shredded them in the food processor, and put them in a tea towel lined strainer. I squeezed as much water out as possible, and it turned out fabulous. I've never eaten Cracker Barrel's so maybe they aren't as good, but the family loved it.
Anna says
Oh dear! I meant to post this on the hash brown dish. So sorry! Not sure how to delete it!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kristen. Here is a similar recipe for a pumpkin spelt muffin: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/09/25/recipe-whole-spelt-pumpkin-muffins-and-other-spelt-recipes/. ~Amy
kristen says
Can you add pumpkin to them?
Deenie says
I made these today with multigrain flour. Turned out amazing!! My 16 month ate a whole one herself, which she doesn't usually do. A new favourite!!!!
Sarah says
I made these for the second time this morning and it is our new favorite recipe. My picky boys think they are the best waffles they've ever had. My only problem is that when I put them on a plate or whatever as I'm cooking, they will turn soggy. They're just perfect when I get them off the waffle maker. What should I have them rest on when they're not being eaten right away? Thank you so much. This website is awesome!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Sarah. I always put mine on a bread towel to protect them from the condensation that forms when you place then on a cold plate. ~Amy
Kim says
What is the difference between white whole what flour and regular whole wheat flour? And is the white whole wheat as good for you as the regular.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kim. It is still nutritious 100% whole wheat. It is just a lighter color and texture. ~Amy
Jelli says
I made these this morning for my husband's birthday and they turned out great! Usually the first waffle into the iron sticks a little, but even though these have significantly less oil than most recipes and I didn't butter the iron first, every single waffle came out easily.
Mara says
Yummy! Just made these for the first time this morning. Everyone loved them.
carol grose says
what is the nutritional breakdown of these waffles?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Carol. We do not provide nutrition information on our recipes. Our focus is on helping people cut out processed food while replacing them with real/whole foods. These posts help explain our philosophy: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/, https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/23/portion-size-matters/, and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/10-reasons-to-cut-out-processed-food/. ~Amy
Jennifer Willits says
I have made these several times and they come out great! This time I added to overripe bananas and they were excellent! Mine usually makes 14 waffles! Thanks
Nancy Hester says
Recipe says it serves 4-5, but how many waffles does it make?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Nancy. It makes 10-12 pancakes medium size pancakes. ~Amy
Daisy says
I usually get 5 of the large round waffles with enough batter left over to make another 1/4 waffle, which my son waits for after he finishes his first half. LOL!
Kim Ostrom says
My 9 yr old loves anything Chocolate! So for another fun twist try swap 1 heaping tablespoon of real unsweetened cocoa powder (organic preferably) for 1 TBSP of the flour. Cocoa powder is generally about as finely ground as cake flour, so it substitutes most directly in recipes that call for that flour. Adding just a little cocoa like this to a recipe shouldn't require other changes, but more cocoa will need more sugar. http://www.ehow.com/how_8137488_use-cocoa-powder-place-flour.html
You can read more on health benefits of real cocoa at: http://www.ehow.com/how_8137488_use-cocoa-powder-place-flour.html#ixzz2sZbqQSNi
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_8137488_use-cocoa-powder-place-flour.html#ixzz2sZbZy57A
See this link for great benefits of cocoa powder
http://www.livestrong.com/article/331715-cocoa-powder-health-benefits/
Jackie says
We love this recipe. We make it all the time. My 13 year old daughter and I make a batch over the weekend. She then pours out the batter as she wants on school mornings. I use Agave syrup instead of honey. Tasted great. I also use Agave syrup to pour over the waffles since I'm pre-diabetic. My daughter uses the maple syrup.
Selma says
instead*
Selma says
I made my very first waffles using this recipe and they came out delicious. However, second time I tried to make them (using the same recipe and same waffle maker) my waffles were raw inside. Any idea what I did wrong? I followed the instructions although I did not mix the ingredients in the same order as I did the first time. I just mixed it all together at once. I guess that means I didn't really follow the instructions lol. Anyway, can mixing ingredients all at once intend of the way Lisa recommended really be the problem? and if so why is order of mixing ingredients important?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Selma. My guess would be that the waffle iron was not hot enough. You should mix the wet ingredients first so it combines well with the dry ingredients. ~Amy
Kassie says
What can I substitute for honey? I don't have any, as my husband saw it had crystallized and threw it out!! Grrrrr
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kassie. You can use maple syrup. Also, you do not need to throw out crystalized honey. Just put the container in a warm pot of water and the crystals will dissolve. If you have raw honey and wish to keep it that way, don't over heat it. ~Amy
Evette says
Hi There, thank you for posting such great recipes! What a great site. Any thoughts if I could make these as a pancake? I do not own a waffle iron and don't want to make the investment unless I know my children like the taste. (We are new to eating clean...it has only been a month or 2 but breaking the "processed food" habit is going well!) I would love to try these.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Evette. I make these as pancakes all the time. :) ~Amy
leti says
thanks for sharing your recipe. very easy to make and very delicious!
Cassie says
To all asking if you can do all the dry together first, the answer is YES. The actual term for it is the muffin method for quick breads. It is the process of mixing all the dry ingredients together and then mixing all the wet ingredients together and then combining them in a certain way. You simply need to dig a pit out of the center of the dry ingredients (called "making a well") and then add the wet and stir just enough to combine. There should be lumps! Over mixing until it's a smooth consistency will make the quick bread tougher or make muffins have tunnels.
I teach family and consumer sciences (previous home ec) and this is a concept we teach in foods 1. Enjoy!
Stephanie says
Seriously the best waffles I've ever had!! I've tried several recipes from your site & they're always awesome!
Adriane says
Can you provide nutrition facts for this recipe?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Adriane. We do not provide nutrition information on our recipes. Our focus is on helping people cut out processed food while replacing them with real/whole foods. These posts help explain our philosophy: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/, https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/23/portion-size-matters/, and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/10-reasons-to-cut-out-processed-food/. ~Amy
heather says
you can enter this recipe into My Fitness Pal (www.myfitnesspal.com) and get the calories. I fudged the recipe (decrease oil to a combo of 1T oil, 1T yogurt; used a mix of unsweetened soy and unsweetened almond milks) and my calories were 120 per waffle (10 in batch), 4g fat, 4.4g protein. Just to give you a ball-park. YUMMY!!
Adriane says
Thanks so much to you both!
Fitgal says
For those whose coconut oil became solid, any tips on how to handle this? The same thing applies for those who use raw honey.. Any advice would be appreciated.
Abbey says
This is a great recipe! It was trial and error learning how to use the waffle iron (didn't come with instruction since we bought a display model) but once I got the hang of it it was smooth sailing. I froze them and we will just pop them in the toaster like an eggo when we are ready to eat. Thanks!
Ania says
Does anyone know if it is ok to prepare the batter the night before and then make the waffles in the morning? Will the batter go bad or not be as good if I do that? I just want to save time.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Ania. This should help: http://www.preparedpantry.com/pancake-batter-recipe.aspx. ~Amy
Abbey says
We just bought a waffle iron (hooray for clearance!) and I cant wait to try these.