These healthy vegan protein waffles have no banana, eggs, oil, or dairy. These are the best plant-based waffles because they are super fluffy, full of flavor, and packed with healthy protein to start your day out strong. They're so easy to make, too!
In my opinion, there is never a bad time for waffles. They're perfect in the morning, but they also make a great dinner! If you're a fan of waffles like me, you have to try my personal favorite, these apple cinnamon waffles. These dairy-free waffles are delicious and super versatile, too!
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Why You'll Love These Waffles
- Super fluffy - Even without eggs, these waffles are super fluffy and soft.
- No banana - A lot of vegan waffle recipes include banana, but not this one. This recipe is perfect for all those non-banana people out there!
- Full of protein - Each waffle has over 13 grams of protein, depending on which plant-based protein powder you use.
- Oil-free - Unlike many other waffle recipes, these waffles are oil-free!
- Eggless and vegan - There are no eggs or dairy in this recipe, making the waffles completely vegan and plant-based.
- Easy to make - It only takes 15 minutes to make this recipe, making it a perfect choice for busy mornings and lazy weekends, too.
- Gluten-free - Just use gluten-free protein powder and certified gluten-free oat flour!
Ingredient Notes
You only need 8 healthy ingredients to make these waffles. They're very simple and easy! Below are some helpful notes on the ingredients, including tips for substitutions you can make if necessary.
- Oat Flour - You can make your own oat flour at home by grinding rolled oats in a blender or food processor. You can also buy it in stores. Use gluten-free oat flour if you want to make these waffles gluten-free.
- Vegan Protein Powder - I recommend using a vanilla-flavored vegan protein powder. Make sure you like the taste since it is the primary flavoring in these waffles.
- Almond Milk - Use unsweetened almond milk for best results, but if you like sweeter waffles, you can use sweetened almond milk. Any plant milk works well in this recipe.
- Baking Powder - This helps the waffles rise and become fluffy without eggs.
- Almond Butter - Use creamy, natural almond butter for best results. You may also use creamy peanut butter instead. This adds extra protein and a delicious taste.
- Maple Syrup - 100% pure maple syrup sweetens the waffles naturally.
- Vanilla Extract - A splash of vanilla adds some extra flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon - Cinnamon compliments the vanilla flavor of the waffles nicely, but it's not overpowering.
Vegan Protein vs. Whey Protein
In case you're new to the world of protein powder, whey protein is a type of protein made from milk strain created in the cheese manufacturing process. For vegan people, whey protein is not a good option because it is a dairy by-product.
Vegan protein powder is made from plants, making it a great option for vegan people. There are many vegan protein powder options available, including those made from peas, hemp, brown rice, soy, and other legumes and seeds. Personally, I prefer pea and hemp protein compared to soy protein, since the nutritional profile is a bit better.
Vegan protein can be plain and unflavored, or you can find many flavored varieties such as vanilla, chocolate, coffee, strawberry, birthday cake, and more! For this protein waffle recipe, vanilla protein powder is best (instead of unflavored). I recommend trying a few different protein powders in various flavors to find one you like best! Make sure you enjoy the taste.
How To Make Vegan Protein Waffles
You only need one bowl to mix the ingredients. The batter comes together in just a couple of minutes. Here are step-by-step instructions for making the protein waffles:
STEP 1: Whisk together the oat flour, vegan protein powder, cinnamon, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl until evenly combined.
STEP 2: Add the almond milk, maple syrup, creamy almond butter, and vanilla extract to the bowl with the dry ingredients.
STEP 3: Then, thoroughly stir all the ingredients together until evenly combined. The batter will be quite runny and thin at this stage, but it will thicken after a few minutes.
STEP 4: Heat a waffle iron (I used a Belgian waffle maker) and then spray it thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray. Be sure to coat the bottom and top of the iron to prevent sticking.
STEP 5: Scoop the waffle batter onto the preheated waffle iron. If necessary, use a spoon to encourage the batter into the edges of the iron, creating an even layer of batter for each waffle.
STEP 6: Cook the waffles for 3-6 minutes or as directed for your particular waffle maker. The waffles should turn golden-brown and form crispy edges without becoming burnt.
STEP 7: Once cooked, gently remove the waffles from the waffle iron using a knife or spatula to avoid burning your fingers. Transfer the waffles to a separate plate for serving, then continue making waffles until all the batter has been used. This recipe makes about 4 Belgian waffle "squares," as shown in the photos above.
TIP: If you want a larger batch of waffles, you can easily double the recipe to make 8 Belgian waffle squares instead of 4. This is a great idea if you are feeding a family, lots of kids, or want to have leftovers to eat conveniently throughout the week.
Healthy Waffle Toppings
The best part about making waffles is choosing which toppings to add! Here are some topping ideas that taste delicious with a stack of these fluffy waffles:
- Fresh Fruit - Add fresh blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, or apple slices to add some extra sweetness and nutrients to your waffles.
- Peanut Butter - Vegan peanut butter waffles are delicious! You can add a drizzle of peanut butter (or almond butter) on top of your waffle stack for extra protein.
- Maple Syrup - A drizzle of pure maple syrup makes for sweeter waffles.
- Chocolate Chips - Mix your favorite vegan chocolate chips into the waffle batter before cooking and then add a sprinkle on top for serving.
- Dairy-Free Yogurt - Serving yogurt with the waffles is a great way to make the waffles "heartier" and keep you full longer throughout the day.
- Dairy-Free Whipped Cream - A dollop of coconut whipped cream makes these waffles taste like dessert for breakfast, while still remaining quite healthy.
These vegan peach cobbler pancakes are another delicious option for breakfast. You can make the batter into waffles if you're not a big pancake fan. Or, for an even easier and more convenient recipe, these vegan Bisquick pancakes are so quick to make!
Expert Baking Tips
- Use vanilla protein powder - While you may use any type of vegan protein for these waffles, I recommend using a vanilla-flavored protein powder to add extra sweetness and flavor to the waffles. Otherwise, they can taste a bit too plain.
- Let the batter rest - Allowing the batter to "set up" for a few minutes after mixing creates a thicker batter and fluffier pancakes.
- Use a measuring scoop for the batter - It's helpful to use a ¼ cup or ⅓ cup measuring scoop to transfer the waffle batter to the waffle iron. This makes it easy to create waffles that are the same size.
- Adjust the sweetness - Since these are healthy, plant-based protein waffles, they are not super sweet. I personally love how they taste, but if you like to enjoy sweeter waffles, use 3-4 tablespoons of maple syrup in the batter instead of 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
I would say yes, they taste similar to Vans vegan protein waffles, described as having a "neutral whole grain taste." However, these waffles include 13 grams of protein per serving, whereas Vans protein waffles are only 10 grams per serving.
Yes! These waffles contain no butter, shortening, or oil.
I recommend using vanilla vegan protein powder, like this KOS Plant Protein or Orgain Protein Powder. Use your favorite protein powder because it will greatly influence the taste of these protein waffles. Don't use a protein powder that doesn't taste good!
These waffles are vegan, oil-free, dairy-free, and easily gluten-free. They are made with healthy ingredients like oat flour, which is full of healthy fiber, protein, and carbs to give you energy all morning. The high protein and low sugar content prevents a sugar crash and ultimately gives you the fuel to tackle the day.
Yes! These waffles are easy to make gluten-free since oat flour and (most) vegan protein powders are naturally gluten-free. Just double-check product labels to ensure the oat flour and protein powder are manufactured in a gluten-free facility.
Storing & Freezing
Store leftover vegan protein waffles in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. You may reheat them upon reserving to enjoy them warm. To keep them fresh as long as possible, it's best to store them without any toppings
To freeze the waffles, place them in an airtight container without any toppings and keep them in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Allow them to thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before enjoying them again. Then, consider reheating the waffles in the microwave to enjoy them warm and "fresh" after freezing.
More Vegan Breakfast Recipes
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Recipe
Healthy Vegan Protein Waffles (No Banana)
Equipment
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Waffle Iron
Ingredients
- ¾ cup oat flour gluten-free if desired
- ⅓ cup vegan vanilla protein powder gluten-free if desired
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or preferred plant milk
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup add more for sweeter waffles
- 2 tablespoons creamy almond butter or peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Optional Toppings
- fresh fruit
- pure maple syrup
- dairy-free whipped cream
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oat flour, protein powder, cinnamon, and baking powder until evenly combined.¾ cup oat flour, ⅓ cup vegan vanilla protein powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Add the almond milk, maple syrup, almond butter, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are well incorporated. The batter will be thin and runny, but it will slowly thicken after a few minutes.1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 2 tablespoons creamy almond butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Heat a waffle iron and thoroughly spray it with non-stick cooking spray. Be sure to spray the top and bottom of the iron to prevent sticking.
- Once heated, use a large spoon or ⅓ cup measuring scoop to pour the batter onto the waffle iron. If necessary, use the back of a spoon to smooth the batter to the edges of the iron, creating nicely shaped waffles.
- Cook the waffles for 3-6 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly crispy. Carefully remove the waffles from the iron with a knife or fork and place them on a separate plate for serving. Repeat this process until all the waffle batter has been used.
- Serve the waffles immediately with fresh fruit, maple syrup, dairy-free whipped cream, or other toppings as desired. Enjoy!fresh fruit, pure maple syrup, dairy-free whipped cream
Autumn says
Such a great healthy waffle recipe. So many breakfast recipes are packed with added sugar and leave me feeling sluggish which is never helpful. These waffles are different and leave me feeling satisfied and energized for the day. I made them gluten-free and I love the slightly sweet whole-grain flavor they have. They're SO yummy without being too overpowering. My family loved them, even my kids! I'll definitely make these again and will try a larger batch. We ate these so quickly!
Michelle says
These are totally delicious, I love the addition of almond butter!
Jacqui says
This turned into one of my absolute favorite waffle recipes! So filling, fluffy and delish!
nancy says
love that this recipe has no bananas, super healthy and easy to make!
Katie says
These are the most perfect waffles ever!!
MicheLe says
Love that this recipe has no bananas. I am allergic to bananas and so many low sugar recipes contain banana. Can’t wait to try