Hearty Banana Oatmeal Waffles
on Mar 19, 2025
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Discover the perfect family breakfast with our Banana Oatmeal Waffles recipe! These hearty, nutritious waffles combine ripe bananas and wholesome oats for a delicious morning meal that’s both kid-approved and mom-friendly. Easy to make ahead and freeze for busy weekdays!
Transform your morning routine with these nutritious banana oatmeal waffles that combine wholesome ingredients for a breakfast your family will request again and again. Ready in minutes but packed with flavor and goodness that lasts all day!
The natural sweetness from ripe bananas means you can reduce added sugar while still creating a breakfast treat that feels indulgent but delivers genuine nutrition. The combination of hearty oats and sweet bananas creates a breakfast that not only satisfies hungry little ones but provides sustained energy throughout the morning!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Banana Oatmeal Waffles Recipe
- Nutrient-Packed Powerhouse: The combination of fiber-rich oats and potassium-loaded bananas creates a breakfast that fuels growing bodies and busy parents alike.
- Make-Ahead Marvel: Prepare a double batch on Sunday and freeze the extras for grab-and-go breakfasts all week – they reheat beautifully in the toaster!
- Customizable Creation: The basic recipe serves as a perfect canvas for everyone’s preferences – add nuts for crunch, chocolate chips for a special treat, or extra cinnamon for warmth.
- Budget-Friendly Breakfast: Transform those spotty bananas into something spectacular instead of tossing them, making this a wallet-wise option for feeding the family.
🧇 Stock your freezer with waffles and transform hectic mornings into a breeze — just pop one in the toaster for a wholesome, homemade breakfast!
Recipe Ingredients
- Bananas — very ripe with spots
- Butter
- Eggs
- Milk — or buttermilk
- Brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Oats — old-fashioned or quick-cooking
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Banana Oatmeal Waffles
Step 1: In a medium mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth.
Step 2: Add the melted butter, eggs, milk (or buttermilk), brown sugar and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas.
Step 3: Whisk until well combined.
Step 4: Add the oats, flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to the bowl with the mashed banana and whisk to combine.
Step 5: Let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes. This gives the oats some time to soften up in the mixture and improves the texture of the waffles.
Step 6: Lightly grease your waffle iron if needed. Pour the batter onto the preheated waffle iron and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until golden brown and crisp.
Recipe FAQs
For best results, use bananas with plenty of brown spots. If your bananas aren’t quite ready, you can speed up the ripening process by placing them in a paper bag with an apple overnight, or bake them in their peels at 300°F for about 15-20 minutes.
Absolutely! Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend. The bananas and eggs help maintain excellent texture even without traditional flour. Just be sure to check that your oats are certified gluten-free as well.
Steel-cut oats require more liquid and longer cooking time, so they’re not an equal substitute in this recipe. Stick with old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats for the best texture and results.
Expert Tips
- Batter Consistency: The ideal batter should be thick but pourable – if it seems too thick after resting, add a tablespoon of milk at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
- Master the Mash: For a smoother texture, mash bananas completely until no lumps remain. For more banana flavor and texture, leave some small chunks throughout the batter.
- Optimize Your Oats: Toast the oats in a dry skillet for 3-4 minutes before adding to the batter for a nutty, deeper flavor that elevates the entire waffle experience.
- Temperature Matters: Pour batter onto a fully preheated waffle iron for the best rise and crispness. A waffle iron that’s not hot enough will result in soggy, undercooked waffles.
- Serve Strategically: Keep cooked waffles warm in a 200°F oven on a wire rack (not stacked) while finishing the batch to maintain their crisp exterior and fluffy interior.
Some Family Favorite Waffles
I’m always thrilled to share our family’s treasured waffle recipes! These are tried-and-true, go-to waffles that prove how simple things can make everyone smile.
- Extra Light & Fluffy Waffles: These are extra light, fluffy, and completely delicious homemade waffles!
- Soft & Fluffy Banana Waffles: Banana waffles without oats — crispy, lacy edges with a tender, fluffy interior.
- High Protein Waffles With Cottage Cheese: Incredibly easy to make with just a blender.
More Family-Approve Waffle Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Banana Oatmeal Waffles
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas, about 1 to 1 ¼ cups mashed
- ½ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk , or buttermilk
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Turn on your waffle iron and allow it to preheat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth.
- Add the melted butter, eggs, milk (or buttermilk), brown sugar and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Whisk until well combined.
- Add the oats, flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to the bowl with the mashed banana and whisk to combine.
- Let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes. This gives the oats some time to soften up in the mixture and improves the texture of the waffles.
- Lightly grease your waffle iron if needed. Pour the batter onto the preheated waffle iron and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until golden brown and crisp.
- Serve warm with fresh banana slices, maple syrup, honey, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Notes
- These waffles freeze well! Let them cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the freezer. Reheat in a toaster or oven for a quick and easy breakfast.
- You can add additional spices like a little nutmeg, all spice, ginger, and/or pumpkin pie spice to change up the flavor.
- This recipes is delightful with chopped walnuts or pecans mixed into the batter (about 1/3 of a cup chopped) and with a little more sprinkled on the top when serving.
- This recipe is so good with Homemade Buttermilk Syrup.
- You can use old-fashioned or quick cooking oats in this recipe. The old fashioned will have a little more texture in the end waffle and the quick cooking oats will be a little lighter. Both are great options.
- You can also make this recipe with whole wheat flour, you’ll just need an additional 1/4 cup of milk or buttermilk.
