These delicious apple cinnamon waffles are sure to be as big a hit with your family as they are with mine. They’re warm and fluffy and just absolutely packed with apple flavor. Top them with the traditional butter and syrup or try a schmear of peanut butter and fresh berries or more apple topping.
Why I Love This Recipe
I love waffles. I mean who doesn’t, right? They’re probably the only thing better than pancakes for breakfast. And these cinnamon apple waffles are an amazingly delicious take on the great breakfast classic.
They’re packed with fresh grated apple complemented with a hint of great cinnamon flavor.
These waffles are a fall flavored favorite the whole family is sure to love. Here’s a few reasons I fell in love with this recipe.
- You can let your waffle maker do all the heavy lifting.
- Apples = fall = comfort start to the day.
- They are SO delicious and everyone loves them.
- It’s like having a blank canvas for the toppings of your choice. (I’ve included some options for you below.)
- It’s an easy recipe that is also easy to make gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan.
- They’re great for meal prep. Make, freeze, and reheat fluffy waffles when you want.
Ingredients for Homemade Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Make these delicious waffles with simple ingredients and a minimal amount of time.
All-purpose flour - Use a gluten-free flour blend like the one from Bob’s Red Mill or oat flour for delicious gluten-free waffles.
Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar can be used. You can also replace a portion with raw sugar or coconut sugar if desired.
Cinnamon - Ground cinnamon adds a warm touch, but consider subbing 1-2 tsp of apple pie spice instead if you have it on hand. Fresh ground nutmeg, used sparingly, is a nice addition as well.
Baking powder - Make sure your baking powder is fresh/in date for best results.
Salt - Feel free to omit this if you are using salted butter.
Eggs - For an eggless option, try using 1 well mashed ripe banana or flax egg.
Milk - Dairy milk replaced with a non-dairy milk variety like oat or soy milk for dairy-free pancakes when the butter is also replaced with a dairy free alternative.
Butter - Melt butter on the stove or in the microwave. Salted or unsalted butter will both work for this recipe. If you are using salted butter, you might opt to skip adding the extra salt from the recipe. Non-dairy butter can also be used.
Large Apple - Use peeled, cored and grated apples. If they begin to brown, squirt with fresh lemon juice or soak them in a bowl of lemon water. Pat dry with a paper towel before adding them to the batter to avoid excess moisture.
See the list below for best apple options for cooking and baking.
Apple Topping - This easy apple topping is a quick and delicious cinnamon apples recipe requiring just a handful of basic ingredients and a few minutes of time. It's the perfect way to use up those excess apples during apple season. It’s great on pancakes too!
How to Make the BEST Cinnamon Apple Waffles
Step 1
Preheat your waffle iron.
Step 2
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
Step 3
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and butter. Add the brown sugar and stir until combined.
Step 4
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold the grated apples gently into the waffle mix.
Step 5
Spray the waffle iron with cooking spray and add 1 heaping cup of batter to the center.
Cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Top cooked waffles with apple topping and serve immediately!
How to Prep These Waffles Ahead of Time
- Either prepare and store the batter, covered, in the fridge overnight. Then let the batter sit out at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking, or…
- Make waffles the night before and reheat them in the morning.
Recipe Notes
- Spray your waffle maker generously with cooking spray to avoid sticking
- Use 1 full cup of waffle batter to create a nice thick waffle. Alter as needed as you go.
- Add 2 grated apples to the batter for an even more appley flavor. It's a good idea to pat the shredded apples dry with a paper towel before adding. This helps avoid excess moisture in the batter.
Tips & Tricks
- Know your waffle maker. If you have a smaller waffle maker, 1 cup may be too much batter for it. Adjust the amount of batter accordingly.
- Don’t try to peek at the waffles as they cook. You’ll tear the waffle and have to start over. Patience is key.
- Spray the hot waffle iron between making each waffle.
What To Eat With Waffles
- You can eat waffles all on their own for a great breakfast. You can go classic style with just some butter and maple syrup. I like to top them with some almond butter and some apple topping.
- They also go really well with fresh fruit or fruit salad and yogurt.
- Might I also suggest trying these with some vanilla or snickerdoodle ice cream for amazing waffle ice cream sandwiches.
Best Waffle Toppings
Here are some of my top choices for the best toppings for homemade waffles. Sometimes I’ll even do a mix and match of nut butter, some fresh berries, and a little whipped cream.
- Butter and a drizzle of pure maple syrup for that classic style
- Fresh berries with a dusting of powdered sugar
- Whipped cream and sprinkles
- Apple Topping, berry compote, or fruit purees
- Canned strawberry, blueberry, or cherry pie filling
- A spread of almond butter, peanut butter, or Nutella
How to Store Waffles
Allow any extra waffles to cool fully before attempting to refrigerate or freeze them. Condensation will absolutely ruin a good waffle.
Stored properly in an airtight container or sealed freezer bag, these will be at their best in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If frozen, they’ll be good for two months.
Tip for freezing: Cut some parchment or wax paper into squares and place a square between waffles so they don’t freeze together.
How to Reheat Waffles
You can reheat waffles in the microwave or in your regular old toaster or toaster oven! My preferred method is the toaster.
- To reheat in the microwave, place 2 to 3 pancakes in a single layer on a plate with a paper towel under and over them. Heat in 30 second increments, checking every thirty seconds.
- If you reheat them in the toaster, don’t leave them in too long.
Can You Put Waffles In The Microwave?
You can put waffles in the microwave. But just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean you should. I find waffles reheated in the microwave to have a chewy, rubbery texture that I, personally, do not enjoy. I recommend reheating waffles in a toaster, toaster oven, or in the oven.
That said, if you still want to use the microwave, heat waffles on high in 30-second increments checking each time for desired doneness.
More Delicious Recipes
- Healthy Breakfast Cookies
- Blueberry Muffin Recipe (without milk)
- Banana Applesauce Pancakes
- 3-Ingredient Apple Muffins
Apple Cinnamon Waffles Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 large apple peeled, cored and grated
- 2 cups prepared apple topping
Instructions
- Preheat a waffle iron. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and butter. Add the brown sugar and stir until combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in the grated apples.
- Spray the waffle iron with cooking spray and add 1 full cup of batter to the center. Cook according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Top with apple topping and serve immediately!
Notes
- Spray your waffle maker generously with cooking spray to avoid sticking
- Use 1 full cup of waffle batter to create a nice thick waffle. Alter as needed as you go.
- Add 2 grated apples to the batter for an even more appley flavor. It's a good idea to pat the shredded apples dry with a paper towel before adding. This helps avoid excess moisture in the batter.
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