April 14, 2020
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It’s time to pull out the waffle iron because today’s recipe for dairy and gluten-free waffles that are vegan are super easy to whip up!
Unlike pre-made, gluten-free waffle mixes this recipe yields perfectly cooked waffles with soft centers and crispy edges.

Finding a tasty, gluten AND dairy-free waffle recipe used to be a headache. Everything tasted blah and had the texture of rubber- definitely not a winner for my family.
I’ve tried gluten-free waffle mixes and while some have been delicious, they aren’t cheap or easy to find. Out of convenience, I’ve also purchased frozen gluten-free waffles, which can be delicious and also expensive.
After many inedible waffles, both by testing my own recipes and what looked good on Pinterest, I decided to start with my go-to waffle recipe and experiment with gluten-free flour and dairy-free milk. The results? Delicious waffles that are allergy-friendly and vegan-approved!
Homemade Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free Waffles
Cousins to pancakes, waffles are always welcome for breakfast at my house. They are like eating a pancake, but with pockets to hold toppings and syrup. So when I tested this recipe for homemade dairy-free and gluten-free waffles and my kids gobbled them up, I knew it was a winner.
Whipping up a batch of waffles is easy to do for a weekend breakfast and even for breakfast-for-dinner.
Ingredients
I created this recipe with simple and easy to find ingredients for anyone already living with gluten and dairy intolerance.
If you have a gluten-free all-purpose flour you love- use it! If not, I really like Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Flour as well as King Arthur’s. Both are a combination of gluten-free flours and work great in this recipe.
You can thank my shortage of eggs for the vegan part. While making this recipe I found I was out of eggs, so I swapped them for flax and they still came out perfect!
The cinnamon is essential, I feel, to mask the ingredient swap from traditional waffles. They’ll also turn your waffles brown, which will be different than the golden color from the photos -I forgot to add the cinnamon during photo day.
- 1 ¼ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup ground flax
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¾ cup applesauce
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ cup water
How to Make Them
If your waffle iron has been sitting in the back of the pantry collecting dust, it’s time to pull it out, wipe it off, and let the magic happen!
No need for intimidation, waffles are just as easy to make as pancakes, and the waffle iron cooks the pancakes for you. All you have to do is pour on the batter, close, and remove when done!
- Preheat and grease a waffle maker.
While you mix the batter, let the waffle iron heat. - Combine the dry ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the flour, flax, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar. - Add the wet ingredients
Add the applesauce and vanilla, and mix. Slowly pour the water into the bowl, and mix to form a batter. If the batter is too thick, add a little more water, 1 tablespoon at a time. - Spoon the batter onto the waffle maker
Spread until it’s within ¼ inch of the edge of the grids. Close the lid, and cook until golden brown. Repeat as needed. - Time to eat
You’ll want to serve the waffles while they’re hot and fresh. Set up the waffles in a self-serve style so everyone can start topping and enjoying their plates as the other waffles cook.
How to Get the Perfect Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Waffles
This allergy-friendly waffle recipe is quite simple and another reason I love making it. No fancy ingredients and if you know the right waffle making tips, you’ll get delicious golden-brown and perfect waffles every time!
Know when it’s done!
Don’t lift the lid until the waffle iron stops steaming. Too soon, and the batter will stick to the iron.
Grease the waffle iron
Whatever you do, don’t skip this step -unless your waffle iron is an easy-release model. Use oil, ghee, or your favorite vegan cooking spray to make sure the iron is properly greased before pouring on the batter.
It’s important to pre-heat the waffle iron first and only grease it right before pouring the batter onto the plates. You don’t want to burn off the oil or whatever you used to grease it.
Don’t overmix
Stir the dry and wet ingredients until just combined. Use a whisk, starting with the middle first, working your way outward to the sides of the bowl.
Keep them warm
If you want to serve everyone at once, preheat the oven to 200F. Place the cooked waffles on a baking sheet to keep them warm while you finish cooking the rest of the batter.
Cook and freeze for later
Double or triple this recipe, allow the extras to cool down to room temperature, and freeze in zip bags for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to eat, reheat them in the toaster or microwave.
Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free Waffles Recipe (VEGAN)
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup ground flax
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¾ cup applesauce
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Preheat and grease a waffle maker.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, flax, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar.
- Add the applesauce and vanilla, and mix.
- Slowly pour the water into the bowl, and mix to form a batter. If the batter is too thick, add a little more water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Using an ice cream scoop, pour the batter into the center of the hot waffle maker and spread with the back of the scoop until it’s within ¼ inch of the edge of the grids.
- Close the lid, and cook until golden brown.
Nutrition
Gluten-Free Waffle Toppings
Blueberry Syrup – Top your waffles with some delicious blueberry syrup. Use fresh or frozen blueberries for this simple and easy to make recipe.
Strawberry Syrup – Grab those frozen strawberries you meant to use in smoothies and turn them into a delicious waffle syrup in minutes!
Gluten-Free Vegan Pancakes – Okay, this one isn’t a topping, but if you’re looking for the pancake version of today’s allergy-friendly waffle recipe you can find it here!
Jenna
Hi Laura! I’m consulting your recipe for waffles bc I love your pancakes. I read that the main difference between the 2 mixes is that waffles have more fat and sugar, but I don’t see any oil in this recipe. I know applesauce replaces oil and I love that. Are you just greasing up the waffle iron a good amount? Thank you so much!
MOMables - Laura
Hi Jenna! Yes, I’m greasing up the waffle iron quite well for these -even though my waffle iron is truly “non stick.” I hope this helps!
Nicole V
Do these save in the fridge? I see a note to freeze them but I’m interested in making morning meal preps for the next 3-4 days and keeping them in containers in the fridge
MOMables-Laura
Yes, you can refrigerate them for up to 3 days, but after that I would freeze them.
Luci
Instead of Flax, how many eggs would be in this recipe? Any other instructions for that change?
Thanks!
MOMables-Laura
Hi Luci, it’s 2 eggs.
Rachel
Can I substitute the applesauce?
MOMables-Laura
You can swap the applesauce for equal parts pumpkin puree or mashed bananas.
Luci
Is this unsweetened applesauce?
MOMables-Laura
Yes, but you can use sweetened if that’s what you have on hand.
Jessica
I made this recipe for gluten-free and dairy-free waffles this weekend and they came out perfect. I have to say that using Bob’s 1:1 flour made these waffles perfect. I used another recipe in the past with a different cup for cup flour and they were awful. I am new to gluten-free in the last year so I am learning that not all flours are the same and have the same purpose. I have now printed this waffle recipe and will be using it from now on! The dairy-free part I used vanilla almond flour. They were perfect.
Kathleen
Love this recipe, they freeze great and just throw in the toaster each morning. I feel better feeding these to my kids with the swaps like flax and apple sauce.
MOMables - Laura
I’m so glad your family enjoys this recipe! I find that making a big batch an having them in the freezer works really well for us too!