Making gluten free waffles requires a waffle iron and perhaps a little more time than making pancakes…but isn’t that what weekend breakfasts are all about?

To me making waffles is about enjoying a slower pace in the kitchen and spending some time together at the table. Some might even say it’s about filling all those little indents with syrup. Whatever the reason, waffles can be an occasional treat or standard fare served out of the freezer midweek.

Get The Tools – A Waffle Iron

Your waffle iron may last you a life time so be sure to buy the one you like. A Belgian style waffle iron has deep indents to hold all those delicious toppings but the romantics out there might choose the heart-shaped waffle iron. Imagine, waffle hearts served in bed. For large families and serious breakfast entertainers you can even purchase a double waffle iron like the kind you see in hotel breakfast rooms. Once you buy one you will find lots of different recipes and many ways to enjoy it.

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Waffles vs Pancakes

I too see mixes at the store labeled ‘pancake and waffle mix’. If that works for you fine. If you are, or want to be, a breakfast snob well…there is a difference between pancakes and waffles. Pancakes are soft and spongy while waffles are crispy on the outside, light and airy on the inside. Waffle batter generally has more fat, sugar and egg plus the batter is made lighter by folding in beaten egg whites.

Once you get your recipe repeatable you can perfect it. That is where some knowledge about gluten free flour comes in handy. Try using this homemade gluten free flour mix but substitute ⅓ or ½  cup of the mix with oat flour, teff flour, buckwheat flour or any new flour you are learning about. If you make waffles often enough you can compare week after week and perfect your recipe or enjoy the subtle difference with each flour.

The New Gluten Free Basics

Don’t beat the egg whites. What?

The challenge with gluten free baking is that many of the traditional rules you may know don’t apply. I would have said that for waffles that beating the egg whites in what makes waffles light and then cook with a crisp exterior. This recipe is adapted from America’s Test Kitchen where they test recipes until they perfect them. Then they share that information with the world so we can repeat the recipe in our own kitchens. They tested, tasted and adjusted, then said don’t beat the egg whites. Okay, I’m not arguing with them. Don’t beat the egg whites.

For me the biggest challenge with gluten free baking is learning what baking tricks do not apply when you are using different gluten free flour combinations. Note to self – the learning never ends.

If you are a inspired to learn more about different flours follow my year-long blog post series on How to Use flours in gluten free baking.

Buttermilk Substitutes

Buttermilk gives a subtle tang to baked goods and enhances the action of baking soda to lighten a batter. This remains true with gluten free baking but what if you don’t have buttermilk in your fridge?

No problem, there is a substitute.

Store bought buttermilk is ideal. It’s thick and smooth and gives the best results but when I don’t have any, the substitute works. I’ve used it many many times and it also works to sour dairy free milk.

Let me know in the comments below if you did a little experimenting with your waffles.

More Breakfast Recipes

• –Breakfast Power Bowl
• –Yogurt Pancakes
• –Easy Huevos Rancheros
• –Sausage Breakfast Hash
• –Potato Chorizo Frittata
• –Pigs in a Blanket
• –Pistachio Apricot Granola
• –Swiss Muesli (AKA Overnight Oats)
• –Eggs Florentine