Cinnamon Apple Waffles made with whole grain flour and grated apples. It’s a gluten-free (and optionally vegan) friendly breakfast great for meal prep that freezes beautifully.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to make with a waffle iron
- Vegan and gluten-free friendly with a few simple ingredient swaps
- Bursting with apples, cinnamon, and the flavors of fall
- Makes meal prep a dream
Ingredients for apple cinnamon waffle mix
You can, of course, make these apple cinnamon waffles with pancake mix (just follow the directions on the box for waffles and add the apples and cinnamon), but I find it to be so much more fun to make homemade waffles.
For homemade waffles will need:
- eggs or flax eggs – whisk together two eggs or make it vegan by replacing the eggs with two flax eggs.
- oil – hint: this is what makes the waffles crispy! I like avocado oil for a neutral flavor or unrefined coconut oil for an extra touch of sweetness. Just make sure to melt and cool the coconut oil before adding to the batter.
- vanilla – a touch of vanilla brings out all the other flavors.
- non-dairy milk – Something like cashew, almond, coconut, oat or soy milk all work for this recipe.
- whole wheat pastry flour or 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour – white whole wheat pastry flour has a lighter flavor and texture as opposed to all-purpose flour. I like Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 gluten-free baking blend when I want to make these gluten free.
- baking powder + salt – for lift and flavor.
- cinnamon – you can’t have cinnamon apples without cinnamon. It’s that warm spice the brings out the flavors of fall.
- fresh apple – this really rides home the apple waffle recipe – gala or granny smith apples are my favorite. Have an extra on hand to make the warm cinnamon apple topping!
How to Grate Apples
For best results, shred a whole, unpeeled apple on the large holes of a box grater directly into the bowl of waffle batter. This adds the apple and all those residual juices!
How to Make Apple Waffles
Preheat the waffle iron while you mix together the batter. And make sure to lightly grease it with oil before getting started.
Combine wet ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, and oil until smooth and silky. Add the vanilla and milk and whisk once more to combine.
Add dry ingredients
Add in flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and apples; combine with spatula until no lumps are present. Depending on your flour blend you may need a touch more milk here OR a tiny bit more flour. Batter should be somewhat thick but not drippy.
Cook waffles
Use 1/4 cup to pour batter into waffle iron; cook on low-medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until waffles are lightly golden. Every waffle iron is different so cook according to manufacturer’s instructions.
SERVING TIP: Keep in warm oven (about 160ºF) until ready to serve.
How to store waffles
These whole grain waffles will keep, without the topping, in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
For longer storage, cool waffles completely, then place in plastic freezer storage bag with small squares of parchment between each, seal tight, label, date and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating instructions
These homemade waffles are divine reheated in the toaster or oven!
- Toaster: Place in the toaster set to high heat – repeat once more, if necessary.
- Toaster Oven: Place in the toaster oven set to 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Oven: Set the waffles on a wire rack inside a baking sheet and place in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 5 minutes. Great option when you want to reheat the whole batch!
More waffle recipes you’ll love:
- The Best Whole Wheat Waffles
- Whole Grain Gingerbread Waffles
- Healthy Pumpkin Spice Orange Waffles
- Healthy Matcha Waffles
- Lemon Greek Yogurt Waffles
If you make this Apple Cinnamon Waffles recipe, be sure to leave a comment and review on the blog! I love hearing from you, and it helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx Ashley
How to Make…
Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Apple Cinnamon Waffles made with whole grain flour, applesauce, shredded apples and plenty of cinnamon for a delicious way to enjoy waffles. Dairy free and vegan friendly using a flaxseed egg. Great for freezing and meal prep.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
- Yield: 8 medium waffles 1x
- Scale:
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat white flour (or half all purpose, half whole wheat, or 1:1 gluten free blend)
- 3 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1.5 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk
- ¼ cup avocado oil (or melted/cooled coconut oil)
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup shredded apples (about 2 small apples)
warm cinnamon apple topping
- 1 medium apple, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 TBSP coconut oil
Instructions
apple cinnamon waffles
- Preheat waffle iron and grease if needed.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and oil. Add in vanilla and milk, gently whisking to combine.
- Add in flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and apples; combine with spatula until no lumps are present. Depending on your flour blend you may need a touch more milk here OR a tiny bit more flour. Batter should be somewhat thick but not drippy.
- Use 1/4 cup to pour batter into waffle iron; cook on low-medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until waffles are lightly golden. Every waffle iron is different so cook according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Keep in warm oven (about 160ºF) until ready to serve.
warm cinnamon apple topping
- In medium skillet over medium heat, sauté sliced apples with cinnamon and oil or ghee; stir occasionally for about 5 minutes or until soft. Add to warm waffles and serve immediately.
Recipes Notes:
Reheating Instructions: Toast in toaster set to high heat (twice, if needed) or in a preheated 350ºF toaster oven or oven for 5-10 minutes.
To freeze: Cool waffles completely, then place in plastic freezer storage bag, seal tight, label, date and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat as instructed, adding 2-3 minutes to toasting time.
Nutrition Information:
- Serving Size: 1 waffle with topping
- Calories: 184
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 226
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 48
Brittany Audra @ Audra's Appetite says
We always had pancakes instead of waffles too growing up…and always for dinner versus breakfast too! 🙂 Love the idea of adding warm apples as a topping.
Cassie Autumn Tran says
Waffles, YAY! I can enjoy pancakes and waffles any day. I totally agree that it’s never too early to prep for fall. Cinnamon just exuberates fall spirit!
The Modern Proper says
I love the idea of putting shredded apples and apple sauce into the batter! I need to try this! I am personally a pancake person but my husband loves waffles… so we split it up and do them each half the time 🙂
Marisa Levy says
For the topping, do you saute? For how long?
Ashley says
About 5 minutes or until soft – just added a step for that in the recipe page 🙂
Marisa says
Thanks, Ashley!
Lindsay says
I‘ve made this recipe several times now and it’s always a hit. Today I used buttermilk as I had some leftover and they turned out great, as usual. Thank you for your recipes….your waffles are always my fave!
★★★★★
Maria says
Hearty, healthy and delicious! Made these just as outlined and they turned out great. My kids made a waffle sandwich, using the apples and some bacon as the filling. So yummy ?
★★★★★