Gluten-Free Waffles

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Waffles

In addition to pantry staples, these homemade gluten-free waffles use a trio of gluten-free flours: oat flour, sweet rice flour, and tapioca starch. Here's everything you'll need to make the fluffiest gluten-free waffles:

• Gluten-free oat flour: Oat flour adds a warm wholesome flavor to the waffles. I recommend Bob's Red Mill brand. If you don't have gluten-free oat flour, you can quickly make your own by grinding gluten-free oats in a food processor or blender and sifting out any big pieces. 
• Sweet rice flour: Also called mochiko, sweet rice flour is distinctly different from white rice flour or brown rice flour, neither of which will work here. The same flour used to make mochi, sweet rice flour adds the chewy stickiness that holds the waffles together. I recommend Koda Farms brand or Bob's Red Mill brand. 
• Tapioca starch/flour: Tapioca flour serves two purposes, it helps create a super fluffy texture and it helps the outside crisp up. I exclusively use Bob's Red Mill brand tapioca flour, and have found other brands are not as finely ground, resulting in a not great outcome.
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Whole milk: Substitute plant milk, if needed.
• Large eggs, room temperature: Separate the egg yolks and the egg whites. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold the egg whites into the batter. This will create lighter, fluffier waffles!
• Unsalted butter: Substitute plant butter, if needed.
• Vanilla extract

Gluten-free waffle mix

Save time by making a big batch of gluten-free waffle mix to have on hand! Sift together several batches of oat flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and store in a large canister. I recommend sifting and storing at least 6 batches at a time!

Each time you want to make waffles use the following measurements for 4 large or 6 smaller waffles:

• 219g (or about 1.5 cups) of gluten-free waffle mix
• ½ cup + 3 tablespoons whole milk
• 2 large eggs, room temperature, separated
• 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Gifting Gluten-Free Waffle Mix

To make gluten-free waffle mix as a gift, fill a quart-sized mason jar with 2.5x the dry ingredients in the recipe: 

• 1¼ cups (150g) gluten-free oat flour
• 1¼ cups (200g) sweet rice flour
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons (75g) tapioca starch/flour
• ¼ cup + 3½ tablespoons (94g) granulated sugar
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Include an instructions tag for making 2 large waffles per batch. Here's a free printable tag you can use! 

Gluten-free dairy-free waffles

To make these waffles dairy-free, substitute the whole milk with plant milk such as oat milk or almond milk, and the melted butter for plant butter. The results are equally delicious!

How to make gluten-free waffles

You are just a few steps away from the fluffiest gluten-free waffles with a crisp outside:

1. Sift together dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together wet ingredients, minus the egg whites in a separate bowl.
3. Whisk wet ingredients into dry ingredients, until just combined, with a few lumps remaining.
4. Whip the egg whites with a hand mixer or stand mixer to stiff peaks, then gently fold the egg whites into the batter until just combined and no white streaks remain. Let the batter rest while you preheat the waffle iron.
5. Cook the waffles on a lightly greased waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions. 
6. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Tips for gluten-free waffles

Waffles are incredibly easy to make, but there are a few pitfalls that can make or break the perfect waffle. 

• Whip and fold in the egg whites. This helps create a fluffy waffle with a crisp exterior.
• Take care not to overmix the batter. There should be a few lumps remaining after you're done mixing. Overmixing will deflate the egg whites and create a runny batter that doesn't fluff up as well. 
• Brush the waffle iron with oil or butter, but do not use cooking spray. As someone who has personally ruined a waffle iron with cooking spray, I'm here to tell you not to use it on a non-stick waffle iron. Over time, it will leave a sticky residue, completely defeating the purpose of the spray so your waffles stick every time!

Best waffle iron

I have two go-to waffle irons in my collection.

For thick Belgian waffles, I use a stovetop waffle iron. The waffles pictured here were made on this stovetop waffle iron. The benefits are that you don't need another appliance and it stores away easily. Plus it makes the most beautiful waffles. The downside is that it requires quite a bit more hands-on time, keeping a close eye on the temperature and flipping the waffle iron over halfway through. 

When I want something quicker and hands-off, I use electric waffle iron. While it technically is listed as a Belgian waffle iron, the waffles are not nearly as thick and crisp as the ones I make in my stovetop waffle iron. The benefits are that it requires less precision, and you can make waffles while prepping the topping and tending to screaming children. The downside is that you have store another appliance and the waffles aren't quite as thick and crisp. 

A little plug for the Dash mini waffle irons as well - we have three of them for different seasons and my kids love the festive-shaped waffles! Often, I make them skulls or gingerbread people while the grown-ups get thick stovetop waffles. 

Waffle Add-Ins

Customize these plain waffles with your favorite add-ins:

• Cocoa powder: Replace ¼ cup of oat flour with ¼ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder for chocolate waffles.
• Chocolate chips: Fold up to ½ cup mini chocolate chips to the batter.
• Sprinkles: Fold up to ⅓ cup sprinkles to the batter. I recommend using rainbow jimmies (the long skinny ones). The color is vibrant and they typically won't bleed into the batter in streaks.
• Matcha: Add 1½ tablespoons of high-quality matcha powder (I recommend Encha!) to the dry ingredients.
• Lemon zest: Add 1½ tablespoons lemon zest to the batter and replace 2 tablespoons of milk with fresh lemon juice. 
• Pumpkin spice or chai spices: Add up to 2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice or chai spices to the dry ingredients. 

Waffle topping ideas

There are infinite topping ideas for waffles! Here are a few combinations for inspiration:

• Classic: Butter, fruit, maple syrup
• Strawberries, Nutella, and whipped cream
• Fresh or caramelized bananas with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream
• Cooked apples with cinnamon
• Berry compote
• Bacon and fried eggs
• Fried chicken and maple syrup

How to store waffles

Store leftover waffles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Pop them in the toaster or air fryer at 350°F for a couple of minutes to reheat while keeping the outside crispy! 

Alternatively, you can store cooled waffles in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 6 months. Defrost at room temperature or in the microwave, then pop in the toaster or air fryer at 350°F for a couple of minutes to reheat and crisp the outside. 

Homemade Frozen Gluten-Free Waffles

We make big batches of waffles and store them in the freezer for quick breakfasts or lunches. I recommend halving large waffles before storing, so they'll fit in the toaster when you're ready to reheat them. 

Other Gluten-Free Waffles Recipes

• Savory Gluten-Free Corn Flour Waffles
• Gluten-Free Chamomile Waffles
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Chestnut Waffles
• Gluten-Free Sweet Amaranth Waffles
• Gluten-Free Savory Amaranth Waffles
• Gluten-Free Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Waffles
• And if you're on team pancake, here's my classic Gluten-Free Pancake recipe