Healthy Waffle Recipes - Cooking Light

Rise and shine! These sweet and savory options are sure to add some joy to your morning meal.

1 of 27

Banana-Cinnamon Waffles

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Waffles are a great way to start off a Saturday morning, or lovely to serve at a Sunday brunch. If you prepare a large batch, they can be frozen, then enjoyed later for a quick breakfast. We've collected ten of our healthy waffle recipes, sure to please anyone.

We'll start off with Banana-Cinnamon Waffles. Crown these lightly spiced waffles with cinnamon sugar, sliced bananas, and/or a drizzle of maple syrup. Buckwheat flour adds a somewhat tangy, robust nuttiness.

2 of 27

Cornmeal Waffles with Fresh Blueberry Compote

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

View Recipe: Cornmeal Waffles with Fresh Blueberry Compote

Whole buttermilk is the key to fluffy, tender cornmeal's waffles. For an even quicker a.m. meal, make the batter the night before.

3 of 27

Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries

Here, we've remade the typical syrup-doused waffle breakfast into a lower-sugar, fruit-forward, gluten-free, whole-grain plate with 273 fewer calories. In place of refined all-purpose flour, we use gluten-free buckwheat flour, which adds 2.4g filling fiber per serving; strawberries add another 2.4g. Barely sweetened berries and yogurt replace maple syrup, slashing 18g added sugar per serving.

4 of 27

Savory Chickpea Waffles

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Savory Chickpea Waffles

We swap sugary pancake syrup for a poached egg and use chickpea flour in place of refined for an extra punch of protein. Enjoy for a quick breakfast or dinner.

5 of 27

Ham and Gruyère Belgian Waffles with Sautéed Pears

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Ham and Gruyère Belgian Waffles with Sautéed Pears

While traditional Belgian waffles are made with yeast, we use beaten egg whites to give these salty-sweet waffles their light, airy texture and crispy exterior. Sweet delicious pears top this breakfast beauty for a tasty touch of fall.

6 of 27

Peaches and Cream Waffle

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Peaches and Cream Waffle

The freezer aisle of your grocery store is stocked with a hearty selection of whole-grain toaster waffles that have less than 100 calories per serving. That's a low-calorie, grain-rich base for tasty combos that go way beyond butter and syrup.

7 of 27

Green, Egg, and Ham Waffle

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Green, Egg, and Ham Waffle

This savory tip-of-the-hat to Dr. Seuss's classic will go a long way with the kids on name recognition alone, but it's the flavor that will make it one of your breakfast staples. Avocado and prosciutto complement the poached egg for a snack you'll crave breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

8 of 27

Ricotta Lemon-Blueberry Waffles

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Ricotta Lemon-Blueberry Waffles

A sweet berry mixture tops these ricotta cheese-flavored waffles. Seriously, what's not to love?

9 of 27

Berries and Browned Butter Waffle

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Berry and Browned Butter Waffle

A strawberry topping with sliced almonds adds crunch, and a dash of brown sugar amplifies the sweet flavor.

10 of 27

Buckwheat Belgian Waffles

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Buckwheat Belgian Waffles

Beaten egg whites keep these waffles from feeling dense or heavy, and the buckwheat flour adds an earthy flavor. Drizzle with warm maple syrup and fresh fruit for a truly decadent experience.

11 of 27

Skinny Elvis Waffle

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Skinny Elvis Waffles

This aptly-named breakfast treat would've delighted the King of Rock 'n' Roll, with its sweet peanut butter and crispy bacon complemented by delicious sliced bananas.

12 of 27

Berry-Bacon Waffle Minis

Photo: Ryan Liebe

View Recipe: Berry-Bacon Waffle Minis

Breakfast may never be the same again! This concoction of berries, bacon and waffles will have everyone at the table asking for more.

13 of 27

Raspberry-Ricotta Waffle

Photo: Grant Cornett

View Recipe: Raspberry-Ricotta Waffle

You can pop a waffle in the toaster and have it ready by the time you’ve checked your daily email. Top it off with a dollop of part-skim ricotta cheese and raspberry preserves, and you’ve got fruit, protein, and whole-grains all in one perfect desk snack.

14 of 27

Chicken and Waffles

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Chicken and Waffles

A riff on traditional chicken and waffles, our version supplements shredded skinless chicken in place of the usual fried fowl. Drizzled honey gives this protein-packed combo a subtle sweetness.

15 of 27

Strawberry Cream Cheese Waffle Sandwiches

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Strawberry Cream Cheese Waffle Sandwiches

Standard toaster waffles get a tasty upgrade in this easy-to-prepare breakfast dish.

16 of 27

Creamy Coconut-Citrus Waffle

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Creamy Coconut-Citrus Waffle

With the combination of orange, macadamia nuts, maple syrup, and coconut, you’ll savor every last bite of this sweet, zesty waffle.

17 of 27

Lemon Cornmeal Waffles with Raspberry-Rhubarb Compote

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Lemon Cornmeal Waffles with Raspberry-Rhubarb Compote

This compote uses frozen fruit, which is as nutritious as fresh and readily available in winter. The honeyed yogurt offers a sweet balance for the tangy compote, which can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to one week. While Greek yogurt offers a thicker base for the topping, plain low-fat yogurt can be substituted, if desired.

18 of 27

Multigrain Malt Waffles

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Multigrain Malt Waffles

Your kids will be so happy to know that waffles are always at the ready—and you’ll be so happy to know that you’ve got a great, healthy, whole-grain mix as the base. Walnut oil is a lovely, nutty indulgence here, but you can also substitute any other nut oil.

19 of 27

Bacon Maple Waffles

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Bacon Maple Waffles

Bacon and maple are a natural match—maybe why many people dip bacon into their pancake syrup. In this recipe, crumbled bacon is cooked into maple-sweetened waffles, so every bite contains that classic pairing. If you're using a Belgian waffle maker, spread about 1/2 cup batter per waffle onto the waffle iron, and you'll get about 8 waffles.

20 of 27

Weekend Morning Waffles

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Weekend Morning Waffles

File this recipe as your go-to for waffles, and feel free to customize it by adding chocolate chips or any other add-ins, as well as topping it however you would like. One reader also noted that if you don't have soy flour on hand, you can substitute with wheat flour.

21 of 27

Chocolate Chip Waffles

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Chocolate Chip Waffles

Serve chocolate chip waffles for a super-indulgent breakfast perfect for holiday celebrations, from Mother's Day to Christmas morning. These chocolate chip waffles are even better topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate minichips.

22 of 27

French Toast Waffles

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: French Toast Waffles

A waffle maker creates a crisp, brown French toast without a skillet. Just make sure you start with slightly hardened bread so that the toast won't be soggy. Serve toast with fresh berries, powdered sugar, or maple syrup.

23 of 27

Gingerbread Waffles

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Gingerbread Waffles

Who says gingerbread has to be reserved for building whimsical houses during the holiday season? Bring the warm, comforting flavor to your breakfast table any time of year with these waffles.

24 of 27

Citrus Waffles with Marmalade Compote

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Citrus Waffles with Marmalade Compote

Marmalade and citrus makes for just the right combination of sweet, tangy, and tart whole wheat waffles. Sift powdered sugar over the top of the waffles for an excellent start to your morning.

25 of 27

Waffles with Two-Berry Syrup

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Waffles with Two-Berry Syrup

Wheat germ and flaxseed are the ingredients that give these waffles a wonderfully nutty flavor and crunchy texture. But it's the syrup, laced with maple and two kinds of berries, that elevates this breakfast to the sublime.

26 of 27

Sour Cream, Cheddar, and Chive Potato Waffles

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Sour Cream, Cheddar, and Chive Potato Waffles

Using a potato pancake mix, which you'll find at the market near the instant mashed potatoes, cuts preparation time. Serve as a side dish with beef or pork.

Replay gallery

Account

Waffle Recipes

1 of 27

Banana-Cinnamon Waffles

2 of 27

Cornmeal Waffles with Fresh Blueberry Compote

3 of 27

Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries

4 of 27

Savory Chickpea Waffles

5 of 27

Ham and Gruyère Belgian Waffles with Sautéed Pears

6 of 27

Peaches and Cream Waffle

7 of 27

Green, Egg, and Ham Waffle

8 of 27

Ricotta Lemon-Blueberry Waffles

9 of 27

Berries and Browned Butter Waffle

10 of 27

Buckwheat Belgian Waffles

11 of 27

Skinny Elvis Waffle

12 of 27

Berry-Bacon Waffle Minis

13 of 27

Raspberry-Ricotta Waffle

14 of 27

Chicken and Waffles

15 of 27

Strawberry Cream Cheese Waffle Sandwiches

16 of 27

Creamy Coconut-Citrus Waffle

17 of 27

Lemon Cornmeal Waffles with Raspberry-Rhubarb Compote

18 of 27

Multigrain Malt Waffles

19 of 27

Bacon Maple Waffles

20 of 27

Weekend Morning Waffles

21 of 27

Chocolate Chip Waffles

22 of 27

French Toast Waffles

23 of 27

Gingerbread Waffles

24 of 27

Citrus Waffles with Marmalade Compote

25 of 27

Waffles with Two-Berry Syrup

26 of 27

Sour Cream, Cheddar, and Chive Potato Waffles

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Popular in Recipes

All Topics in Recipes