What a week! On Sunday, our house became temporary home to an extra 5 people, two dogs, one cat, and a bird when my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and her three children had to evacuate New Orleans because of Hurricane Gustav.
This is not a big house, and things were a little cozy. Some of the kids were sleeping on the sofa bed and the floor, pets were held in separate bedrooms, and at times we were in danger of tripping over each other, but we were all relieved that the worst didn’t happen, New Orleans didn’t flood. Still, after several rainy days spent cooped up in someone else’s house, my in-laws were happy to be allowed to go back home yesterday afternoon–even though their house is still without power, water, or sewage.
So I awoke this morning to a much quieter home and–surprise!–a George Foreman Next Grilleration Removable-Plate Grill, a birthday present from my husband and daughter.
Yes, during all the chaos, I had forgotten my own birthday, but my sweet family did not; E even remembered the exact grill I had pointed out to her in Target and took D there to buy it for me. I am definitely not one of those people who dislikes practical gifts; give me a nice blender or a grill any day–I can pick out my own jewelry. (Note to D: that link to the Vitamix is a hint for future birthdays!)
Part of the reason I wanted this particular grill is that it comes with plates you can remove, making it much more versatile than other electric grills and the plates easy to clean. The grill came with two plates called omelet/snack plates, and I’m looking forward to finding out if I can cook my tofu omelette in them. I’ll get to that soon, but what I really wanted to make right away was waffles.It’s been a long time since I’ve had a waffle iron–or a waffle, for that matter–so first thing this morning I whipped up a batch of waffles, half of them plain (which I prefer to think of as “vanilla”) and the other half with blueberries. Both were a delicious way start the day in my once again quiet house.
Fat-free Vanilla or Blueberry Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups flour (I used white whole wheat)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon potato starch, corn starch, or tapioca
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/3 cups soy milk or other non-dairy milk
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar
- 1/2 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup blueberries optional
- canola oil spray
Instructions
- Combine the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Combine the soy milk, cider vinegar, and agave in a smaller bowl. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the liquid ingredients (or add vanilla extract). Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until all flour is moistened. If blueberry waffles, fold in blueberries. Set batter aside while you heat your waffle iron.
- Spray your waffle iron with canola oil, if necessary, and follow your iron’s instructions for making the waffles, cooking until golden brown. Makes approximately 12 waffles.
Notes
Nutritional info is approximate.
Stephanie
I have made these waffles a number of times with wheat flour. Last month I went on a wheat-free diet and made them with gluten-free flour (Bob's Redmill, all-purpose). They crisp up much more with the GF flour. Much more like a standard waffle.
Clea
These are fantastic! I always read that vegan waffles "need" fat to work out, but am glad that doesn't have to be the case. Using this recipe as a base, I made a few changes–
-added pumpkin pie spice
-added 2 TB pumpkin
-maple syrup instead of agave
-added 1/4 cup quick oats, used half each AP and whole wheat flour
-used half vanilla extract, half almond
So tasty.
Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly
How important is the potato starch? If I omitted that would it still come out?
SusanV
You could use other starches–corn starch, arrowroot, or tapioca.
Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly
Perfect! Thank you! I have cornstarch in my pantry! I will make these tomorrow morning!! 🙂
Jennifer
Could you use this as a pancake recipe instead of in a waffle maker?
HoneyB
I made these this morning (without blueberries). I told Grumpy they were fat free (but omitted the vegan part!). He really enjoyed them – said they reminded him somewhat of raisin bran flavor. Thanks for a great vegan waffle recipe!
aj
I made this this morning for my boys, and they were very good. I have a big belgian waffle maker, so it only made like 4 waffles, but they tasted good and my boys like them. My older one (3 1/2) liked the plain ones, but my little one (1 year) loved the blueberry ones.
tamara coles
You are AMAZING!!
You’re site is supremely awesome, I am not Vegan but am seriously considering becoming one, and the prospect seems less daunting now that I have discovered your website.
Amazing food, recipes, content, simple easy to navigate website and SUPERB photography.
Please keep up the good work, need more people like you in the world.
With love and respect
Tamara Coles – Australia.
Mareile
Made these this morning (SO GOOD!) and tried them on my omnivorous son who liked the plain ones with vegan spread (there goes the fat free :D) and cinnamon sugar. Next time I’ll do the blueberry ones and see if he still needs spread ;-). Once I worked them out to perfection I’ll serve them to my husband. These days I do sneaky things, like making something special to eat for him and our son for those days when I’m on my 24hour shifts – which makes him think it’s not vegan (and therefore ‘safe’ to enjoy :D). I haven’t quite told him yet how many vegan things he’s had this week. =D
Hannah
These were delicious! They were a bit more floppy than waffles with fat, but leaving them a few minutes to let the steam escape really helped.
Kristen
Delicious! My husband wanted crispy waffles, so I added a little bit of oil. They came out divine (though not fat free!) and we decided to make a double batch next time so we can freeze some for weekday breakfasts. 🙂
Thank You!
Rebecca Cody
I just left my waffles, made by the recipe without oil, in the waffle iron a few extra moments and they came out crispy.
Michelle
What is the taste difference (besides vanilla and blueberries) with these ingredients versus your traditional waffle/pancake recipe? There are a few more ingredients in this one like potato starch and cider vinegar….. Thanks! 🙂
SusanV
They taste a lot alike, but this one rises better in the waffle iron. So I like this one for waffles and the other one for pancakes.
katie
Hello:
These waffles have a wonderful flavor! My whole family loved them. I have a question though; the recipe made 3 waffles not 12. You said there were 6 servings at 128 calories per serving. Do you mean each whole waffle is 128 calories? Each waffle can be divided into 4 sections. Are you calling one serving one of those sections?
Thanks for a great recipe!
Katie
SusanV
It depends on the individual waffle iron. It sounds like for yours, two sections would be a serving, 128 calories.
Lynne
I made these with no sweetener and no salt. I used pumpkin pie spice blend and two shredded yellow squash instead of the vanilla & blueberries. They were fabulous.
Lauren
I used the shredded squash instead of the added sugar as well. They turned out great. My teen boys said they liked them more than my regular non-vegan waffles.
carrie
WOW , my boyfriend has been raised on meat and potatoes and ive been slowly bringing him round as he suffers from arthritus and i am trying to get him healthy . He loves waffles LOVES THEM , i made these on sunday and couvered them in fresh peaches !!! they were a hit . Thanks so much , every sunday i will be making these.
Katie-Lyn from Gypsy Dust Vintage
Love, love your site!
I just tried this recipe, tonight. I’m trying to find a good waffle recipe for freezing. Unfortunately, my waffles were too soft & the taste of the cider vinegar was too potent for me. I used pastry flour, rice milk, & arrow root powder. Could these substitutions have caused my problems?? Any suggestions??
Thanks!
Susan Voisin
I don’t think those substitutions could have caused real problems, though the lighter flavor of the rice milk could have let too much of the cider vinegar flavor come through. They’re definitely softer waffles than the kind you buy frozen, but usually they’ll crisp up if you put them in the toaster or oven for a few minutes. I’m sorry they weren’t to your liking, but if you do try them again, try using white vinegar instead of cider and see how that tastes.
Marianne
Well who would have thought that without the egg and oil these waffles would be so delicious. Thanks again for another great recipe.
rebecca @outinthemsticks
What does the potato starch do? I don’t have any around and would love to know if I could still make it.
rebecca @outinthemsticks
nevermind, I just read the comments!
Annie
My husband and I wanted waffles tonight so we tried your recipe. Delicious, Susan. In fact, every recipe of yours I’ve tried has hit the spot. Thank you for sharing these with all of us who want to eat whole foods plant based no added oil diets. Annie
Heidi
These turned out nice, I used corn starch instead and didn’t have blueberries so opted out of that. Next time I might sweeten them a little more but overall very happy to have an oil free waffle recipe. Thanks Susan, you never fail to deliver!
Heidi
forgot I use WW pastry flour because that is what I had, they were soft, but the last ones I left in the waffle iron a little longer and they were browner and crisper.
Tanya B
These were a hit! My first attempt at any kind of waffles and they were amazing. Thanks so much for posting.
Esther J
All of the times I’ve made this recipe, I never thought to replace the blueberries (when I actually did use them). This time, I decided to peel and grate a small apple (it came to be about 2/3 cup) and add in a teaspoon of cinnamon into the dry ingredients to good results. Next time, I’ll tweak it a bit more (more apple; other spices), but overall, it was a good variation.
Esther J
This time, I made this, but sub’ing sweet potato for pumpkin, I used your gluten-free pumpkin waffle recipe spices (basically, the same recipe, but with wheat flour). Served with apple slices, walnut pieces, and a little warm maple syrup on top, they were were a big hit, probably the most well-received variation I’ve made.
Thanks much, ma’m!
bluegrass2
Hi Susan,
Maybe this isn’t the place to ask you this question but I couldn’t find another.
Susan, I am so baffled by all the talk I hear around me–both in person and on Facebook and in books and in newspaper articles, etc. about this gluten problem. Is it true that even though we have no know issues with gluten, that it’s still acting like a poison in our bodies (I just read Wheat Belly)? I’ve been following a plant based way of eating for two years now and love it and I’ve never heard Dr. Esseltyn or his son Kim, or Dr. Campbell, or Dr. Barnard, or Dr. McDougal or any vegan bloggers talk about it. I can’t imagine being both vegan and gluten free! Until I find out the truth, I am going to try to eliminate wheat and use spelt, corn, quinoa, kamut, etc. I’ve found a wonderful breakfast cereal using all whole grains and for the wheat grains I just substitute spelt grains or oat groats or buckwheat groats. Also have found a great bread using seeds and nuts. Would love to know what your thinking is on this. Thanks.
bluegrass2
Correcting my error in my reply just submitted..
It’s Rip, not Kip (and I wrote Kim)
So, Rip Esselstyn of Engine 2. Sorry Rip!
Susan Voisin
In my opinion (and from what I’ve read, the doctors you mention agree), there is nothing wrong with eating wheat if it doesn’t cause you any distress. There are thousand of competing theories about food (like a certain body part, everyone has one), but most of them are just that–theories, not backed up by science. Wheat Belly is the diet theory du jour, but it doesn’t ring true to me.
Kathy
According to Dr. Esselstyn et al, if you spray the waffle iron they are not considered fat free. Are there any waffle irons that don’t stick without using spray or oil?
Rebecca Cody
Dr Esselstyn is helping very sick heart patients reverse their disease so he insists on no oil. I don’t think the amount of oil sprayed on the waffle iron is a problem unless you fall into that category. Just my opinion, but how often do you eat waffles? Probably not weekly, maybe not even monthly, so I doubt it will be a problem for you.
Larissa
My search for a fat-free plant-based waffle recipe is over! I didn’t use enough oil in the waffle iron though, so I had to turn the rest of the batter into pancakes, which were just as tasty. Delicious, and I will definitely make these again (with more oil on the iron next time)! Thanks Susan.
Sammy McWaffles
Only made 3 waffles. You must a have a wee waffle iron.
Isabelle P.
Just made these amazing waffles this morning. I got 4 waffles instead of 12. I had wheat pastry flour and wheat bread flour and I wasn’t sure which one to use, so I did half n half. I also added a tablespoon of psyllium husk. I cooked them for 2 minutes on each side and they were perfect. My hubby loved them. Thank you for this great recipe!
Stacy Collins
Hi Susan, I’m having such a hard time with your website. I was very excited to discover it because I’ve been told by my doctor that I need to eat no fat right now. But there are so many of your recipes that are mislabeled as being fat free when they actually have fat in them. For example your waffles recipe has 2 grams of fat, so that would not be categorized as being fat free. Is there anyway you can list the recipes that have 0 grams of fat with ingredients that also have 0 grams of fat? I didn’t see any way to find these in your menu of recipes. If you can just list them then I wont mistakenly click on recipes labeled fatfree and end up with recipes that have fat in them. You have so many recipes it’s overwhelming to have to looking at them all and to specifically check the ingredients and nutrition labels. Since you made them Im sure you know the kind of recipes I’m looking for. I appreciate your time and help. Thank you!
Susan Voisin
Stacy, I hate to disappoint you but there is no such thing as a fat-free recipe. All foods have some fat, even lettuce, and so when you add them up in a recipe, the fat you see in the nutritional data is what is naturally occurring in the food. Unless you only eat water, you will be getting some fat. When people say fat-free, what they usually mean is that it contains no refined oil or high fat foods like nuts, seeds, or avocados.
In the waffle recipe, you could reduce the fat by using water instead of soy milk (which has naturally-occurring fat), but there will still be traces of fat from the flour. My recipes try to give an accurate picture of the fat as written, but you can always change them a little to lessen the fat even more (water instead of plant milks or broth, no nuts or seeds, etc.)
Laiza
Uhm, this only made 6 waffles and using no oil they completely stuck to the waffle makers. A complete disaster!
Christine
My search for the tastiest, crispiest, vegan and fat free waffle has finally ended! I bought a really great, expensive waffle maker a while ago and tried different fat free waffle recipes, non of them were good. I’d already regretted buying the waffle maker and was wondering if I should sell it. But this recipe is it! The waffles are absolutely divine. Thank you Susan : )
Susan Voisin
I’m so happy to hear that, Christine! Thanks for posting!
Taylor
Made these this morning and they were absolutely delicious! I was out of milk, so I substituted water and it worked out fine. Will definitely make again 🧇💛