Healthy Protein Waffles
Banana protein waffles are the perfect breakfast recipe! These protein waffles are fluffy and naturally sweet! Ready in just 6 minutes, these gluten free waffles are packed with protein and are free from refined sugar or grains.
This post contains affiliate links. As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my policy and more about affiliate links.
Why this recipe works
- These waffles are packed with protein and the perfect way to start the day. Starting the day with protein can help you feel full and satisfied longer than traditional waffles
- These banana protein waffles are gluten free and refined sugar free and only take 6 minutes from start to finish.
- Top these waffles with your favorite toppings! Strawberry balsamic jam or cinnamon raisin peanut butter are both great on these waffles!
Ingredients
- Mashed banana – bananas add sweetness and also help to add moisture to this high protein waffle recipe. The riper the banana, the sweeter the waffle will be. If you find you don’t have a super ripe banana, peel the banana and put it in the microwave for 15-30 seconds to make it easier to mash.
- Egg whites – egg whites help to add structure to the waffles and also help make them high in protein while staying low in fat. If you want to use the whole egg instead, use 2 eggs.
- Vegan protein powder – these protein powder waffles are made with a vegan protein powder because it acts just like flour in the recipe. Using a vegan protein powder helps keep this recipe high in protein. I recommend a pea protein (like Nuzest) or almond protein powder.
- Gluten free flour – use your favorite gluten free flour or blend of gluten free flours. This helps to add a bit more structure to the waffles (the protein powder alone doesn’t provide quite enough structure). I like oat flour, cassava flour or tigernut flour best. You can also use your favorite gluten free flour blend. I have not tried this with coconut flour or almond flour.
- Baking powder – this helps the waffles stay nice and fluffy as they cook in the waffle maker.
How to make banana protein waffles
- Preheat the waffle iron. Mash the banana in a large bowl.
- Add the egg whites and combine them well with the mashed banana.
- Add the rest of the ingredients
- Stir well the batter well until fully incorporated. Stir in your favorite additions like chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips or fruit.
- Spray the waffle iron with non-stick spray (avocado oil works best) Add the protein waffle batter to the waffle iron
- Cook the waffle batter for 4 minutes.
What are the best waffle toppings?
- Fresh berries or sliced fruits
- Chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, peanut) or hemp hearts
- Nut butter (chocolate peanut butter)
- Peanut butter dip
- Jam or jelly (raspberry chia jam or apple butter is great)
- Homemade syrup (this blueberry syrup is epic)
- Honey or maple syrup
Common questions
What are protein waffles?
Protein waffles are just like regular waffles but are packed with protein! They are fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside! These are perfect for breakfast in the morning or on the weekends for brunch!
How to add protein to waffles
To add protein to these waffles, I used vegan protein powder instead of flour in the batter. Vegan protein powder absorbs liquid just like flour. I love to use Nuzest Pea Protein, as it doesn’t have any added sugar or sweeteners.
TIP: Whey protein and other forms of protein like collagen or egg white protein do no absorb liquid like vegan protein powder, so if you are using them, you will have to increase the flour in this recipe. You will likely need to add 1/3 cup of your favorite gluten free flour in place of the vegan protein powder.
How to freeze and reheat waffles
If you want to make a big batch of waffles and freeze them for later here are the steps you can take to freeze them.
- First, let the waffles cool completely.
- Once cool, wrap the waffles in plastic wrap tightly. Then wrap that in foil or freezer bag. If you don’t want to use plastic wrap you can also just remove as much of the air out of a stasher bag and forgo the plastic wrap.
- To reheat the waffles after freezing, first, defrost the waffles in the fridge overnight or let them defrost on the counter for 15-20 minutes.
- Heat the waffles in the toaster oven 5-7 minutes until crispy. If you don’t have access to a toaster oven, you can also use the microwave for about 1 minute.
How do you keep waffles warm when making a batch?
Preheat your oven to 250F. You can store the waffles in the oven to keep warm while you make the other waffles.
What is the best waffle iron?
I looked for a waffle iron for quite some time. I didn’t want one that was coated in non-stick coating. Instead, I found a waffle maker with ceramic plates! I love this waffle iron. It heats up quickly and is easy to clean!
Substitutions
- Banana – mashed banana adds sweetness and moisture to these banana protein waffles. If you don’t have banana on hand, you can add pumpkin puree (about 1/3 cup) + 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup for sweetness or 1/3 cup of unsweetened apple sauce.
- Egg whites – egg whites help to make these high protein waffles (the egg whites are the protein source for the eggs where the yolk are more fat than protein). If you don’t have egg whites or don’t want to waste the yolk, you can use 2 regular eggs in place of the 3 egg whites. Note: I have not had luck with using flax eggs or chia eggs.
- Vegan protein powder – vegan protein powder acts just like flour in this recipe so it absorbs the moisture from the banana and egg whites. I like Nuzest or almond protein powder, but you can use whatever your favorite vegan protein powder. If you are using collagen peptides, you may need to add about 1/3 cup of gluten free flour to replace the vegan protein powder. I don’t recommend using whey protein as the whey can dry out the recipe.
- Gluten free flour – use whatever your go to gluten free flour is. I like using cassava, oat flour or tigernut flour. You can also use a gluten free blend. Note: I have not tested this with almond flour or coconut flour.
If you love this recipe, you should try
- Protein pancakes
- Cauliflower waffles
- Parsnip waffles
- Vegan Protein Banana Bread
- Protein Chocolate Banana Bread
★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Healthy Protein Waffles
$2.72 Total/$2.72 ServingProtein waffles are the perfect healthy breakfast or brunch! These gluten free waffles are made with banana, egg whites, protein powder and gluten free flour. So easy to make and only 6 minutes to make! Great for meal prep too!
Print
Pin
Save
Rate
Servings: 1 waffle
Guided Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana - $0.33
- 3 egg whites - $0.27
- 1 serving vegan protein powder - $1.91
- 2 tbsp gluten free flour - $0.18
- 1/2 tsp baking powder - $0.03
Instructions
- Preheat the waffle iron
- Mash the banana in a bowl.
- Add the egg whites to the banana and mix well until fully incorporated
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the banana and egg mixture
- Stir well until the batter is fully incorporated. If you want to add and mix in's do it now
- Spray the waffle iron with non-stick spray (I like avocado oil)
- Add the batter to the waffle iron and cook it for 4 minutes.
Equipment
- waffle iron
Notes
This recipe uses vegan protein powder, which absorbs a lot of liquid. If you don’t want to use a vegan protein powder, replace it with 1/3 cup of gluten free flour.
To keep the waffles warm (if you are making more than one), heat your oven to 250F to keep it warm.
If you want to make multiple batches of waffles to freeze for the week:
- Allow the waffles to cool. Wrap the waffles in plastic wrap and then foil or store in a airtight bag.
- To defrost, defrost in the fridge (overnight) or on the counter (10-20 minutes)
- Reheat in the toaster oven (4-5 minutes) or in the microwave (1 minute).
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
303
Fat
2
g
Carbohydrates
42
g
Fiber
6
g
Sugar
16
g
Protein
32
g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?Let others know by rating and leaving a comment below!
Looks so delicious. Thank you
Can’t wait to try it. How many grams of protein powder in there? This is for only 1 waffle.
Hey Sharon! I link to the protein powder that we use in the recipe card so you can see exactly what the serving size is for the protein! If you look, Nuzest, the protein powder I use and recommend, each serving is 25 grams.
Cannot wait to try looks sooo yummy!!!