Easy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Waffles

Waffles on the weekend are a tradition in my house. Just because the weather turns cooler doesn’t mean they go off the menu. Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall – we just switch up the recipe to add in the season’s most popular flavors.

To be honest I don’t go nuts for pumpkin spice-flavored everything. Really, the only two pumpkin-flavored things I love are pumpkin pie and these waffles. Still, I can’t think of a better Fall breakfast than pumpkin waffles.

Even though I love cooking, and most of my family’s meals are made at home, I like shortcuts that simplify things and help save time. But only as long as there isn’t a compromise in flavor.

That’s why I always use this particular gluten-free pancake and waffle mix. Beyond being delicious, it’s just super convenient. Plus, using a pre-made mix eliminates the need for flour, baking powder, and other baking ingredients, which can be so helpful for parents on-the-go. And this can be even more beneficial when you’re dealing with dietary restrictions like we do in our house.

Not only are these gluten-free pumpkin waffles super quick, and so easy to make. But with a crispy golden outside and a warm, light, and fluffy inside, I’m sure these waffles will please even the pickiest of eaters.

Easy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Waffles Recipe

Other than being gluten-free, these pumpkin spice waffles have a plethora of other health benefits. They contain calcium, iron, protein, vitamin A, and fiber – perfect for starting your day off on the right foot.

The spices used in this recipe (cinnamon and ginger) have several benefits as well. In fact, both are known to house a multitude of medicinal properties and have been used throughout history to treat a wide variety of ailments.

For example, cinnamon is a natural antioxidant that assists the body in fighting free radicals. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties as well. Great for cleansing the body inside and out. This spice is also known to reduce blood pressure and has anti-diabetic effects when ingested.

Similarly, ginger directly supports the digestive system by promoting a healthy gut micro-biome. Specifically, ginger helps the body digest food more quickly. Which in turn, empties the stomach quicker and prevents the creation of unhealthy bacteria in the gut. Ginger is also known to improve immunity, aid in weight loss, and relieve nausea, upset stomach, and even menstrual pain.

Even the maple syrup has some health benefits, but only if you use an organic version with no added sugars, preservatives, or chemicals. Organic maple syrup contains a handful of vitamins and minerals and several different types of antioxidants. It also helps fight inflammation and directly supports skin health.

So, now that you know these waffles are both delicious and nutritious, let’s dive into the recipe!

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 4-5 minutes

Total: 10 minutes

Servings: makes 4 waffles

Required cooking utensils

• Large bowl
• Medium whisk
• Measuring cup
• Ladle
• Waffle iron or waffle maker

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups King Arthur Gluten-Free waffle mix
• 2 cups milk of choice (I use hemp or soy)
• 1 can pumpkin pie mix
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• Butter or coconut oil
• Maple syrup
• Whipped cream

Directions

1. Preheat the waffle iron or waffle maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. While the waffle iron is heating up, combine the gluten-free waffle mix, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger in a mixing bowl. Mixing the dry ingredients first will make a big difference in the consistency of the waffles.
3. Next add your wet ingredients. Pour in the milk while mixing slowly. Then add in the pumpkin puree mix and whisk it all together. You should have a thick but pourable batter.
4. Next prepare the cooking surfaces of your waffle iron with butter or cooking spray. Ladle about 2/3 cup batter into the middle of the waffle iron. The entire surface of the iron does not have to be covered as the batter will rise.
5. Wait for your waffle iron to beep indicating it’s finished. Remove the waffle from the iron and place it in a preheated oven if you need to keep it warm before serving.

Toppings

While these waffles won’t rise to the size of a large Belgian waffle, you can still top them will all sorts of Belgian waffle-inspired ingredients.

If you like lots of toppings on your waffles as we do, you can sprinkle a light dusting of cinnamon over it, drench it in maple syrup, and serve it with whipped cream. YUM!

Other optional toppings include, but are not limited to:

• Non-flavored chopped pecans
• Non-flavored chopped walnuts
• Additional pumpkin pie spice
• Fall-inspired fruit, like apples, dates, bananas, pears, cranberries, grapes, blackberries, and figs
• Gluten-free chocolate chips

My favorite swaps:

Just in case you need to modify this recipe in some way, here are some of my favorite, easy swaps.

Milk: While I prefer using soy or hemp milk, you can feel free substitute these milks with coconut milk or nut milk instead. Nut milks have an equally rich flavor and you might not even notice the swap. Some nut milks to choose from include almond, cashew, macadamia, hazelnut, walnut, and peanut.

Maple Syrup: If you don’t like maple syrup, or maybe you’ve just ran out, here’s a swap that’s just as sweet and satisfying. Combine four parts organic honey with one part coconut sugar, whisk well, and then drench your waffle. And don’t worry, the consistency is still really similar to maple syrup.

Whipped Cream: I think waffles should always be topped with a little sweetness. If you’re not a big fan of whipped cream, throw some bananas and dates on top. The same sweetness, but a healthier alternative.

Pumpkin Pie Mix: Although the focus of this recipe is pumpkin spice and all things nice, you can totally skip the pumpkin inspired flavors. You can opt for blueberry waffles, chocolate chip waffles, cinnamon waffles, or even strawberry waffles. (Pink strawberry waffles? I think YES!) Or, if you’d rather just stick to the basics, I recommend these regular, gluten-free waffles.

Because autoimmune disease runs in our family, I always take precautions when cooking.

So in light of that, I always like to share recipes that work for us, in the hopes of helping other families in the same situation.

So, are you on the lookout for more gluten-free sweetness? Then you’ve come to the right place! Try this easy gluten-free cake! And, since we’re talking about Autumn-inspired sweets, I have a whole post dedicated to Fall-inspired vegan desserts as well. Think apple crisp, pumpkin pie, chocolate pudding, carrot cake, gingersnap cookies, and so much more. So sweet. So delicious.

If you try out this recipe (or another one) let me know how you like it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! And, if you’re in search of more healthy gluten-free and/or vegan recipes, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, click here.

Enjoy!

Xx Monti