Healthy Banana Waffles Recipe
on Jan 17, 2013, Updated Aug 22, 2024
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Healthy Banana Waffles are light, fluffy, and will get your day started out right! They contain plenty of fiber to fill you up and are naturally sweetened with bananas! My whole family loves banana waffles.
Bananas are such a great addition to waffles. They keep the waffles moist and add to the sweetness without all of the sugar. Throw in some cinnamon and these waffles are a total crowd pleaser. These healthy banana waffles are made with whole wheat flour, packed with fiber, and will keep the troops full longer.
Healthy banana waffles cook up in less than 15 minutes. Totally doable and delicious. Simply combine all of the ingredients, spray your waffle iron with cooking spray to prevent sticking, and breakfast is served. If you are looking to top these with something other than syrup, try my blueberry topping!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No sugar added and naturally sweetened with bananas
- Can be made in just 15 minutes
- Can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a large group.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bananas – The riper they are the sweeter the waffles will be.
- Applesauce – Can be replaced with additional banana or a light oil like avocado oil or melted coconut oil.
- Eggs
- Milk or buttermilk – Or your favorite dairy-free alternative.
- Oats
- Flour – Whole Wheat.
- Vanilla Extract – Brings out the natural sweetness of the bananas.
- Cinnamon
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Popular Substitutions and Variations
- You can use milk or buttermilk. New to using buttermilk, I wrote a big post about it. You can use either, depending on what you have on hand. Nut and other alternative milks will work well in this recipe also.
- You can replace the whole wheat flour with ground oat flour or another gluten free baking blend (sometimes called 1:1 gluten free flour). This is a great recipe gluten free if you need to.
- You can swab about the cinnamon for another favorite spices like pumpkin pie spice (it’s so good!)
- No applesauce? No issue! You can replace the applesauce with additional banana or a light oil like avocado oil or melted coconut oil.
How to Make Healthy Banana Waffles
Step 1. In a medium bowl mash the bananas with a fork until they are well mashed and make a smooth paste.
Step 3. Add the oats, wheat flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla and cinnamon. Stir until well combined.
Step 2. Add the applesauce and eggs and whisk to combine. Then add the buttermilk and combine.
Step 4. Cook the waffles according to the manufacturer instructions for your waffle iron.
Recipe FAQs
If you’re looking for more flavor but don’t want to use something sugary like maple syrup, you can add cinnamon, peanut butter, berries, banana slices, or even Greek yogurt! There are so many options to make the waffles how you want them.
Leftover waffles can be kept in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Waffles can also be enjoyed hot or cold, so there are so many ways to eat your leftover waffles.
Yes! Unused waffle batter can be kept for up to 2 days in the fridge. When you’re ready to use it, stir the batter to mix it again and it is ready.
There is nothing worse than soggy waffles so I like to leave mine in for 4-5 minutes to get the best kind of waffles there are.
Yes! I think that is a great way to add a little extra protein to your meal and it hardly affects the taste.
Expert Tips
- While cooking waffles, it is important that you start with a waffle iron that is already heated up so that the batter is not sitting and heating up with the iron! This will ensure even cooking.
- The more ripe your bananas are the sweeter your pancakes will be. We like to use bananas that are on the browner side to maximize the flavor that comes through.
- For a fluffier, richer waffle you can replace the milk with buttermilk.
- We recommend using unsweetened almond milk if you are using a dairy-free alternative, but you are welcome to use whatever you would like. Unsweetened almond milk has the least effect on the flavor of these waffles.
How to Serve and Store Healthy Banana Waffles
If you’re looking for more flavor but don’t want to use something sugary like maple syrup, you can add cinnamon, peanut butter, berries, banana slices, or even Greek yogurt! Other, more sweet options are buttermilk syrup, nutella, and whipped cream! I like to have all of the toppings on the side so individuals can customize their waffles.
If you have leftover waffles, you can store them in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Waffles can also be enjoyed hot or cold, so there are so many ways to eat your leftover waffles. You can also store unused waffle batter for up to 2 days in the fridge. When you’re ready to use it, stir the batter to mix it again and it is ready.
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Healthy Banana Waffles
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk or buttermilk
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Turn on your waffle iron and allow it to preheat.
- In a medium bowl mash the bananas with a fork until they are well mashed and make a smooth paste.
- Add the applesauce and eggs and whisk to combine.
- Add the buttermilk and combine.
- Add the oats, wheat flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla and cinnamon. Stir until well combined.
- Cook the waffles according to the manufacturer instructions for your waffle iron.
- Serve with fresh banana slices, pure maple syrup, or honey.
Notes
- Be sure to use cooking spray on your waffle iron if needed. There is no oil in the recipe and they tend to stick badly in my waffle maker if I don’t spray it with cooking oil first.
Do you use baking powder or baking soda? Tablespoon?
It’s one tablespoons baking powder 🙂
Thank you :)! I used the right one
These are awesome! And to think that there is no sugar either. Yummy! Thank you!
Can these be made into pancakes instead? I don’t have a waffle maker. :[
I’d sure give it a try! Good luck and let me know how it turns out 🙂
I made these for my family and they turned out super yummy! I made the leap to no refined sugars for lent and after looking through your blog this is going to be easier then I thought. Almost everything here seems ” meat and potatoes, husband friendly” lol Thank you
I just made these for my family and they are delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
It’s 217 calories per waffle! Great with some peanut butter or a filling, nutritious breakfast on the go!
Thank you. I found this recipe a few weeks ago and just had the opportunity to make them. So I needed the nutritional information.
How many calories are these?
No idea! I’ve never found a way to figure out nutrition facts that I like so I don’t do it much… but feel free to plug the recipe into someone on the web to find out 🙂 Thanks!
Can you use store bought flour?
Of course! Just use whole wheat flour to keep the healthy factor in 🙂 Enjoy!
Could yous ubstitute other flours? Lik almond flour or coconut flour?
*everything in bulk
Do these freeze well? I make ever tying in bulk and LOVE LOVE LOVE to know I have something yummy to pull out of the freezer when the day is going at top speed.
I think they they would if you cooked them a bit dark (does that make sense?!) They are really moist and a bit softer than traditional waffles because of the banana so if you cooked them a little dark/longer then that would help with some of that extra moisture. I would also let them cool completely before stacking to freeze or you’ll have a hard time getting them apart. Let me know! I love keep waffles in the freezer too 🙂
I haven’t done it with this recipe, but I have another waffle recipe I make and freeze. What I do is actually make them a bit lighter than normal, freeze them on a sheet pan, then put them in a freezer bag. Then when you’re ready to make them put them in the toaster oven and they finish cooking in there. I haven’t tried it with this recipe but I’m guessing it would work for you!