These gluten-free waffles are fluffy, soft on the inside, and crispy on the outside! They're easy to make, come together in one bowl, and I often make extra to keep in the freezer for breakfast in a pinch.
Honestly, I was never a big fan of waffles because I've always preferred pancakes and French toast for breakfast. For convenience, I tried frozen gluten-free waffles from the store and was underwhelmed with texture and flavor. But these homemade gluten-free waffles? They have crisp edges and a fluffy and slightly chewy center, and they make the perfect quick breakfast or snack to store in the freezer!
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this delicious gluten-free waffle recipe:
- Gluten-free flour blend. Use a measure for measure flour that includes xanthan gum. My go-to is one by Bob's Red Mill.
- Cornstarch. Makes the gluten-free waffle tender with a crisp exterior.
- Granulated sugar. It helps to add a hint of sweetness, softness, and color.
- Salt. Use fine salt for this recipe.
- Baking powder. A tablespoon of baking powder is what makes these homemade gluten-free waffles nice and fluffy.
- Eggs. Use large eggs in this recipe.
- Buttermilk. Adds moisture and fluff. You can substitute it by combining 1 cup (240ml) milk and ¾ cup (180ml) plain yogurt. You can also add regular milk into a measuring cup, take out 5 teaspoons of milk, replace it with 5 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Oil. Use a neutral flavor oil like avocado oil, light olive oil, or grapeseed oil.
- Vanilla extract. I highly recommend using pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste for the best flavor.
Mix-In Ideas
Although these gf waffles are delicious on their own, they'd also be delicious (and fun!) with some mix-ins:
- Chocolate chips
- Blueberries
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- Chopped crispy bacon
They would also be great topped with whipped cream, berries, maple syrup, banana slices, or Nutella!
How to Make Gluten-Free Waffles
Step 1: In a large bowl, add the gluten-free flour blend, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and granulated sugar. Whisk together until combined.
Step 2: Add the buttermilk, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract and mix until just combined and the batter is slightly lumpy.
Step 3: Let the batter rest for 30 minutes to allow the flour to properly hydrate.
Step 4: Preheat a waffle iron and grease it with oil or nonstick cooking spray. Pour about ⅓ cup of batter for each waffle. This will depend on the size of your waffle iron. Cook until golden, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Step 5: Take the cooked waffles off the iron and place them on a wire rack to keep them crisp.
Tips for Gluten-Free Waffles
Here are some tips to follow to make sure you end up with the best gluten-free waffles every single time:
- Let the batter rest. Letting your waffle batter rest will make sure your waffles come out of the waffle iron fluffy and moist, with no hint of grittiness in their texture.
- Preheat & grease your waffle iron. These are steps you can't skip! No matter how perfect the batter is, you won't end up with beautiful waffles if they're stuck to the waffle iron.
- Cool on a wire rack. By taking the cooked waffles out onto a wire rack instead of a plate, you're ensuring that they stay crisp and don't get soggy and limp.
- Keep them warm in the oven. If you're serving several people at once, I suggest keeping your waffles warm in the oven while you cook each batch. Preheat your oven to 200°F, place your cooked waffles onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and keep them warm.
Storage Directions
Storing: You can keep leftover waffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing: My recommended method of storing these gluten-free waffles is in the freezer. Wrap each cooled waffle and store them in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat them by popping them in the toaster.
FAQ
You can make the batter a day ahead and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also cook all the waffles and store them in the freezer to reheat later.
Yes! You can simply add the gluten-free flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in an airtight container, and store it in your pantry until you are ready to add the wet ingredients and make your waffles.
Although you can make this gluten-free waffle recipe as pancakes, they won't produce super fluffy pancakes as waffles tend to have a chewier texture than pancakes.
Yes, the best gluten-free waffle recipe can easily be made dairy-free as well! Simply swap the buttermilk for homemade dairy-free buttermilk. In a measuring cup, pour 1¾ cups of unsweetened and unflavored non-dairy milk. Take 5 teaspoons of milk out and replace it with 5 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and mix.
More Gluten-Free Breakfast Recipes
- This gluten-free granola recipe is so easy to make, but be warned, you won't be able to go back to store-bought granola because it's so good!
- Love bananas in the morning? Try my gluten-free banana bread recipe, gluten-free banana muffins recipe, or these banana oat bars.
- For an impressive and sweet breakfast or brunch, make this gluten-free coffee cake recipe! It's soft and moist and topped with a delicious crumb topping.
- For more recipes, check out this list of 20+ gluten-free dairy-free desserts! I've got cookies, brownies, cakes, and more!
Gluten-Free Waffle Recipe
Ingredients
- 2¼ cup gluten-free 1-to-1 flour blend
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1¾ cups buttermilk (check Notes for dairy-free instructions)
- ¼ cup oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the gluten-free flour blend, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and granulated sugar. Whisk together until combined.
- Add the buttermilk, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract and mix until just combined and the batter is slightly lumpy.
- Let the batter rest for 30 minutes to allow the flour to properly hydrate.
- Preheat a waffle iron and grease it with oil or nonstick cooking spray. Pour about ⅓ cup of batter for each waffle. This will depend on the size of your waffle iron. Cook until golden, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Take the cooked waffles off the iron and place them on a wire rack to keep them crisp.
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