Healthy Pumpkin Waffles

Making healthy pumpkin waffles is easy with this quick, tasty recipe that uses canned pumpkin puree with extras to elevate the nutrition of your waffles!

Before we even get started, I'm going to share a huge secret with you!

You can make these pumpkin waffles from ANY waffle recipe of your choice. If you prefer having a general baking mix, or like using a particular protein-packed waffle mix, or have your grandmother's favorite recipe - here's the secret:

Replace each egg in the recipe with ¼ cup pumpkin puree

Yep - that's all there is to it!

Healthy Pumpkin Waffles Recipe

This health(ier) pumpkin waffle recipe is so versatile. You can use the flours of your choice, all flour, all whole wheat, or combinations that you love. You can also add in any extra nutritional ingredients you need (extra protein powder, green powder, and even cacao chips or powder - sometimes I sneak in some chocolate chips for a fun dessert waffle)

Equipment

• Waffle Maker
• Bowl
• Spatula

Ingredients

• 2 oz (4 tablespoons) butter, melted (if using salted butter, leave out salt in recipe)
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar (out of brown sugar, make your own!)
• 2 tablespoons chia or flax seed meal
• 2 tablespoons vegetable powder (optional, but learn how to make your own!)
• ¾ cups pumpkin puree (about ½ standard 15 oz can)
• 16 oz of milk of your choice - higher fat milk works best, room temperature preferred

This recipe is inspired by Alton Brown's Buttermilk Waffle Mix

Instructions

1. Melt butter in the microwave or on the stovetop, allow to cool while gathering other ingredients.
2. Prepare your waffle iron
3. In a mixing bowl, mix dry ingredients
4. In another bowl, mix wet ingredients
5. Using the muffin method, mix wet ingredients into the dry ingredients
6. Gently fold ingredients until dry is just incorporated into the wet
7. Walk away - allow mix to sit for a few moments
8. Spray waffle iron with high heat oil (or follow the directions for your waffle maker)
9. Pour in waffle batter
10. Cook until crispy on the outside

Alternative Ingredients

For Milk - use buttermilk, soured milk (1 tablespoon of vinegar per cup of milk and allowed to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes), almond milk, coconut milk, powdered milk, etc. A higher fat content helps with the crispiness of the waffle's surface.

For Vegetable Powder - Vegetable powder is home dehydrated and ground ingredient that you can leave out, but it's a great way to sneak some extra nutrients into meals for the whole family! You can also use 1 tablespoon of green powder, as well

For Butter - this is to help 'crisp' the batter of the waffle, so you can use ghee, coconut oil, or other vegetarian or vegan substitutes.

For Flour - use all white flour or all whole wheat flour. This recipe has not been tested for alternative flours.

Boost nutrition:

• Extra protein powder of your choice
• Chopped nuts
• Even more ways to add nutrition to pancakes and waffles

While I don't follow a special diet as a health issue, I do know many need to have alternatives for dietary concerns, health concerns, or personal preferences. I'm offering these alternatives for ingredients, but you know your dietary needs better than I do, so use these merely as examples of what can be done. You'll need to choose according to your own needs.

Watch me make Pumpkin Waffles & Easy Pumpkin Butter!

Using Dehydrated Ingredients

• Pumpkin Powder - create a pumpkin puree according to these instructions
• Green Powder - use 1 tablespoon or more to your liking
• Vegetable Powder - use 2 tablespoons or more to your liking
• Use powdered milk to replace the milk

Freezing Instructions

Pumpkin waffles freeze well for about six months

• Place waffles in a layer on a cookie sheet in the freezer
• Once frozen, package in airtight container
• To reheat
• Pop into the microwave for 25-30 seconds until heated through
• Pop into the toaster until desired crispiness

Topping Suggestions

• Easy Pumpkin Butter - this topping is quick and easy to make while your waffles cook
• Maple syrup
• Nut butters
• Easy Pumpkin Butter
• Honey
• Pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
• Whipped cream and shaved chocolate for a dessert waffle
• Cinnamon