These whole wheat gingerbread waffles are fluffy, yet crisp on the outside thanks to a simple trick. Enjoy these waffles as a festive holiday breakfast or as a warmly spiced treat year-round. Great to freeze and reheat!
'Tis the season to turn all of our favorites into gingerbread!
After turning spritz cookies into gingerbread spritz cookies and sneaking molasses and warm spices into mini chai gingerbread biscotti, it was only time until waffles got their turn.
I love both pancakes and waffles, but my husband has a strong preference for waffles, so that's what we make most of the time.
Because waffles aren't necessarily chock full of nutrition, I've taken to making them with white whole wheat flour to give a typically empty-carb kind of breakfast a little oomph. With a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg (and of course maple syrup) you really can't even tell they're whole wheat waffles at all.
Waffle ingredients
While these gingerbread waffles aren't as quick as those that use a box mix, most -- if not all -- of the ingredients are ones I usually have on hand.
The core ingredients stay the same, such as white whole wheat flour, (DIY) buttermilk, eggs, oil, baking powder, but molasses and extra spices easily jazz it up.
If you already have a prepared gingerbread spice mix you could always use that in place of the individual quantities written in the recipe card below, or sub in other spices you like in gingerbread recipes.
I'm usually a big ground white pepper fan in gingerbread/spice recipes, but didn't want to go too crazy given this is breakfast and all. Here I stuck with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves and thought it added a well-rounded warmth.
Important step!
My absolute favorite trick to getting these whole wheat gingerbread waffles EXTRA fluffy and crisp is separating the eggs.
You'll want to separate the eggs, adding the yolks to a big bowl with the rest of the wet ingredients. Now for the egg whites. Add them to a food processor and whiz for a few seconds at a time until they're frothy. Then fold them into the batter until you don't see any more little pockets of foam and you're ready to cook.
Usually I will go to great lengths to minimize the number of dishes and bowls I need to clean, but I'll say the extra effort here is well worth it.
Folding whipped up and frothy egg whites into the batter gives these waffles an airiness that carries over into the finished product. They're light and fluffy inside while maintaining a crisp exterior.
Waffle perfection if you ask me!
P.S. Just be sure to fold in the whites enough so they disperse and don't leave any larger areas of just whites. If they're not folded in enough, you risk pieces of cooked egg whites forming within the waffles. Ask me how I know. 😉
Did that, still ate them, loved them, but just consider this a word to the wise.
Recipe notes
- Most of the time I make a DIY buttermilk. For this recipe, I add 1 ½ tablespoons of white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup and pour in milk up to the 1 ½ cup line. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to thicken up before adding to the recipe. You can also use lemon juice in place of the vinegar.
- As written, this recipe makes a fair amount of waffles. See the recipe card notes for storage tips, but know that this recipe can be fairly easily divided into thirds for making a smaller batch.
Whole Wheat Gingerbread Waffles
Ingredients
- 3 eggs, yolks and whites separated
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk (see note)
- ¾ cup neutral-flavored cooking oil (such as vegetable or canola)
- 2 tablespoon molasses
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cup white whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¾ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Separate egg yolks and whites into two separate bowls. Add the yolks to a large mixing bowl and the whites to either a small bowl or the bowl of a food processor.
- In bowl with the yolks, add buttermilk, oil, molasses, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium-high speed or until all ingredients are combined and creamy.
- Add flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg and mix until dry ingredients are just combined.
- In the food processor, pulse egg whites until they are very fluffy and light. Fold egg whites into the waffle batter until fully incorporated and no larger pockets of egg whites remain, but do not overmix.
- Pour batter onto preheated waffle iron and cook to preferred doneness.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Food Safety and Nutrition DisclaimerThe pictures in this post have been updated in December 2017. The recipe remains the same!
Annie @Maebells says
Yes please!!! I skipped breakfast so I am currently hungry enough to eat my keyboard and these waffles are killing me!!!
Ashley says
haha I can just imagine you laughing at work - totally something I would do! I've recently gotten into podcasts as well. Love em!
And I love these waffles! I am on suchhh a gingerbread kick this season. These sound perfect!
Alyssa says
Thanks!! And hahaha I always try to stifle it but I can't help it! Anything to break up the monotony of the work day...awkward laughter and all. 🙂
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
gingerbread waffles are such a creative way to use this seasonal flavor, loves it! seriously craving a nice fat stack of these 🙂
Alyssa says
Thanks girl! I'm a sucker for anything festive -- waffles were no exception!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Alyssa, do you know I have *never* listened to a podcast? And, now you have me wanting to right now to see what I've been missing. In the meantime, would you mind making me some of these delightful waffles? I have a podcast to listen to!
Alyssa says
Sure thing, Kristi! Go go go and listen! I'm a recent convert but podcasts seriously break up the monotony of my work day. Plus I learn things and feel even more productive! 🙂
Terri says
What a different spin to waffles! They sound super delicious-- and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and voila! 🙂
Alyssa says
Thanks Terri! Vanilla ice cream is a fabulous suggestion - I'm going to have to try that soon! 🙂
Nora @ Savory Nothings says
OK, am I the only one not listening to podcasts? I only ever listened to the super-clever ones from Harvard etc. when prepping for an exam, haha! Your waffles look amazing - you know I'm obsessed with gingerbread anything 😀
Alyssa says
Haha I'm a recent podcast listener but I can't stop! They really help move along the work day as I sit at a desk all day long. And thanks! 🙂
Jessica @ Jessica in the Kitchen says
These look so yummy!! Crisp and delicious and seasonal. I used to listen to podcasts so often and haven't in ages...I definitely should again! Thanks!
Alyssa says
Thanks Jessica!! 🙂
marcie says
I normally try to skip as many steps as I can too, but waffles really are so much better when the egg whites are whipped. Can't skip that step! I love gingerbread, and this would be the most delicious holiday breakfast! 🙂
Alyssa says
It's been my favorite trick since I've learned it, Marcie! Thanks! 🙂
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
I've been addicted to gingerbread muffins this week, but now here's an idea ... gingerbread waffles! Love them!
Oh, and thanks for the podcast 'tips'. I love listening to podcasts too. I know Joy the Baker (love her) but hadn't heard of the other one. Do you know Jess Lively? That's another good one! 😉
Alyssa says
Thanks Helen! And those muffins sound delicious. 🙂 I haven't heard of Jess Lively - THANK YOU for the suggestion! I'm still new to the podcast game so I feel as if I've barely discovered what's out there. I'll check her out!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
I've heard so many amazing things about Serial. You did such a great job with these waffles - they do loom perfectly crisp AND fluffy!
Alyssa says
Thanks Bianca! And gahh Serial is addicting. I didn't think it would be that way going into it but they really suck you in to all the nuances of the case.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I love podcasts too! I listen to them CONSTANTLY at work. Otherwise I would be so super bored. And I've been listening to Serial all week too! What is up with Jay?! Ah, so many questions!
These waffles sound delicious!
Alyssa says
Thanks!! And girl I have no clue!! So. many. questions. I forgot my headphones at home one day last week and realized on the drive in to work. I was CRUSHED!! And seriously contemplated going out and buying another pair haha
Alessandra // the foodie teen says
I am SO addicted to podcasts! These sound absolutely fantastic! I adore those flavours together, and your photography is just amazing!
Alyssa says
Thanks so much Alessandra! And I don't know why I was late to the podcast train. I can't stop listening! 🙂
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Podcasts are the bomb! Love them! I listen to The Nerdist, Food is the New Rock, and the Alton Brown one... with some others sprinkled in here and there. And these waffles sound amazing! Pinning!
Alyssa says
Thanks Chris! And you are awesome - THANK YOU for more podcast suggestions! I get a little nervous thinking about running out of the ones I'm listening to! Now my ears can rest assured. 🙂