Today’s gingerbread waffles come together with a handful of basic kitchen ingredients, plus plenty of deep, warm gingerbread spices. They’re crisp and light right out of the waffle maker, and taste fantastic with maple pecan syrup, sugared cranberries, and/or a flurry of confectioners’ sugar on top. What could be better on a winter weekend morning?
I have to admit, I don’t whip out the waffle maker often. When I’m serving something luxurious (and sweet) for breakfast, I usually turn to this baked cream cheese French toast casserole. But that’s what helps make homemade waffles extra special; they’re not an everyday breakfast, so when you serve them, they’re REALLY appreciated. Do you make homemade waffles often?
I’m certainly glad I have a waffle maker, because of recipes like this (and also for pumpkin spice waffles!). These spiced gingerbread waffles are my new favorite reason to get out the neglected appliance. And if you enjoy these by the fire with snow falling outside, you’re definitely winning at winter breakfasts. 😉
Here’s Why You’ll Love These Gingerbread Waffles
- Crisp outside and chewy-soft inside
- Excellent gingerbread spice flavor that really comes through
- Not overly sweet, so maple pecan syrup is a perfect (and easy) topping
- Makes for a special holiday breakfast
- Can be made as gingerbread pancakes, too!
I used my buttermilk waffles recipe as the base. They’re a shade darker, thanks to the molasses, brown sugar, and spices. I added molasses, and therefore a little more flour. I slightly reduced the sugar, switched it to brown, and very slightly reduced the buttermilk. With each test batch (there were 3!), I added more and more spices so you really get that spice flavor, like a batch of gingerbread cookies or gingerbread cake.
Most notably, I skipped separating the eggs. This is a handy step for extra fluffy waffles, but I didn’t notice much of a difference here. The batter is already quite light.
Let Me Show You How to Make Them
Making a homemade waffle batter is easier than you think, and tastes so much better than a packaged mix. If you can turn on your waffle maker, and mix ingredients together, you can make waffles.
- Preheat your waffle maker. Here’s the waffle maker I own and love. If you’re looking for seasonal shapes, I love these mini snowflake and gingerbread person waffle makers.
- Combine the dry ingredients.
- Whisk the wet ingredients together and combine it all.Combine but do not over-mix! Some small lumps are fine—don’t worry about that.
- Pour batter into greased waffle maker. Close the lid and cook the waffles until crisp, which only takes about 4 minutes in my waffle maker. All waffle makers are different, so keep an eye on your cooking waffles and check often. Repeat with remaining batter.
Keep waffles warm as you cook the rest: If serving all of the waffles at once, transfer the cooked waffles to a wire rack on a baking sheet and place in a preheated 200°F (93°C) oven to keep them warm until the whole batch is ready.
Here’s the wet ingredient mixture. Pour it all into your dry ingredients:
Some small lumps are fine. Pour into your preheated and greased waffle maker:
Can I Make These as Gingerbread Pancakes?
Yes, please do! My team and I tested this batter cooked as pancakes, and they were also delicious. Pancakes have a softer, spongier texture than the crispness you get with waffles, but the flavor is exactly the same.
Optional Maple Pecan Topping
You can serve the gingerbread waffles with a simple pat of butter and your favorite syrup, but I especially love them with toasted pecans and warm maple syrup.
Toast the pecans in a saucepan on the stove for just a few minutes, then add the maple syrup to the pecans in the pan and let it warm through (doesn’t take long!), before spooning the mixture over the top of the plated gingerbread waffles.
I also added some sugared cranberries for garnish (what I use to garnish this pumpkin pie), and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. The snowy sugar and sparkling red berries make this breakfast extra festive for the holidays.
Of course all of these toppings are optional, so feel free to pick and choose your gingerbread waffle’s destiny. They’re also fantastic topped with lemon curd (lemon and ginger are a fated match… see these gingerbread muffins) and homemade whipped cream!
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Gingerbread Waffles
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.7 from 23 reviews
- Author: Sally
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (includes batches)
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 4-inch square waffles
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
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Description
Gingerbread waffles come together with a handful of basic ingredients, plus plenty of deep, warm gingerbread spices. They’re crisp and light right out of the waffle maker, and taste fantastic with maple pecan syrup. Try them as gingerbread pancakes, too!
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour()
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 and 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/4 cup (50g) light or dark brown sugar (I use dark)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) unsulphured or dark molasses (do not use blackstrap; I prefer Grandma’s brand)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 and 2/3 cups (about 400ml) buttermilk*
Optional Maple Pecan Topping
- 3/4 cup (90g) pecan halves
- 1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat waffle maker on medium-high heat. Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C). Place a wire rack on a baking sheet; set aside.
- Make the gingerbread waffle batter: In a large bowl preferably with a pour spout, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and molasses together. Whisk in the eggs, and then the buttermilk, until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk gently until combined. Do not over-mix. Some small lumps are OK.
- Grease the preheated waffle maker (I use nonstick spray). Pour about 1/3 cup of the batter into each well of the waffle maker (or less if your waffle maker is smaller) and close the lid. Cook the waffles until crisp, about 4–5 minutes. (Follow the cooking instructions for your waffle maker.) Transfer the cooked waffles to the wire rack and keep warm in the preheated oven as you cook the rest. Repeat to cook the remaining batter.
- Meanwhile, as the waffles cook, make the optional maple pecan topping: Place the pecans in a saucepan or skillet set over medium-low heat. Toast the pecans for just about 4–5 minutes, stirring the whole time, because pecans can go from toasted to burnt in a matter of seconds. When they’re giving off a subtle toasty scent, turn the heat down to low and pour in the maple syrup. Leave it on the stove for just a minute, until the syrup is warmed through, and then remove from heat.
- Serve the waffles immediately with warm maple pecan syrup, or your choice of toppings.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Waffles are best enjoyed freshly made. I recommend freezing any leftover cooled waffles. Waffles can be frozen for up to 3 months, then warmed in the toaster.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Mixing Bowls (preferably with a pour spout) | Whisk |Waffle Maker or Mini Snowflake and Gingerbread Waffle Makers | Saucepan (for optional maple pecan topping)
- Buttermilk: You can substitute whole milk for buttermilk if desired. However, if you’d like the tangy flavor, which I highly recommend, you can make your own soured milk substitute. Add 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Add enough milk to make 1 and 2/3 cup. Whisk together, then let sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe. Whole milk is best for the DIY sour milk substitute, though lower-fat or nondairy milks work in a pinch. Do not use nonfat milk.
- Waffle Maker: You can use this recipe in either a Belgian or traditional waffle maker or iron. The suggested cooking time is just a suggestion. Follow the cooking instructions for your specific waffle maker.
- Can I make these as gingerbread pancakes? Yes! No changes to the batter recipe. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Coat generously with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Once hot, drop about 1/4 cup of batter on the griddle. Cook until the edges look dry and bubbles begin to form on the surface. Flip and cook on the other side until cooked through, about 2 more minutes. Coat griddle/skillet again with cooking spray or butter for each pancake or batch of pancakes.
- Other Topping Suggestions:Lemon curd; whipped cream; sugared cranberries; dusting of confectioners’ sugar, sifted
