You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Every day, we are seeing several traditional recipes undergoing a nutritious transformation to fit any fitness journey.
Look no further than this homemade protein waffle recipe for health enthusiasts who are looking for a delicious yet protein-rich start to the day.
Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, waffles with a protein boost can be a game-changer for those who are looking to build muscle, improve their athletic performance, or lose weight. The best thing is that these waffles are incredibly easy to make, ensuring a wholesome breakfast (or snack).
So get ready and prepare your kitchen because here we have 4 delicious and healthy waffle recipes for you to make.
Are Protein Waffles Healthy?
Yes, protein waffles can be healthy. However, it depends on their ingredients, serving size, and how they fit into your overall nutrition and health goals.
High-protein waffles normally include ingredients such as eggs, milk (or milk alternatives), protein powder, cottage cheese, and whole-grain flour. Generally, homemade waffles tend to be a bit healthier than store-bought waffles as you can control the ingredients you use.
However, if you use added sugars, fats, or refined flour, they may be the same as store-bought waffles. As a consequence, this can detract from their nutritional value, which makes them a less healthy option.
For those who want to make their protein powder waffles healthy, here are some considerations:
- Protein content. Protein waffles can be a convenient way to boost your protein content at breakfast time or as a delicious on-the-go snack. Protein plays a crucial role in the body as it may help increase fullness levels and support muscle mass (1).
- Ingredients. Choose minimally processed ingredients, such as whole-grain flour, eggs, natural sweaters, or oats.
- Portion size. Pay attention to portion sizes to avoid overeating. While protein waffles can be nutritious, you still need to eat them in moderation to avoid an excessive calorie intake that can result in weight gain.
- Toppings. Be mindful of the toppings you use. Use fresh fruits, nuts, and Greek yogurt to add extra nutrients without adding too many calories. Avoid using sugary syrups, whipped cream, butter, or jam.
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How Do You Make Protein Waffles That Aren’t Dry?
Who doesn’t love a delicious and moist waffle? There’s nothing more unappealing than a dry waffle. Making protein waffles moist and fluffy can be easily achievable, depending on the ingredients and the cooking method.
Here are some tips to help you make the tastiest (not dry) waffles:
- Use moist ingredients. Add ingredients that can increase the water content of the batter. You can include Greek yogurt, pumpkin puree, applesauce, cottage cheese, or mashed bananas.
- Add fat. Include a small amount of healthy fats, such as coconut oil, almond butter, or olive oil, to keep the waffles moist.
- Don’t overmix. Overmixing can make the batter dense, which results in incredibly dry waffles. Make sure you combine all the ingredients and mix until necessary in order to avoid overworking the gluten in the flour.
- Allow the batter to rest. Give the batter a couple of minutes to rest before cooking. This will allow the ingredients to hydrate and help the gluten relax.
- Don’t overcook. Cook the waffles at low heat until they’re golden. Don’t let them turn dark brown as this may mean that you’ve cooked them for too long, which could result in dry waffles.
What Are the Macros of Homemade Waffles?
It’s difficult to determine the exact macros in homemade waffles as it depends on the ingredients in each recipe. However, here’s a general breakdown of the macronutrients in homemade waffles made with the most common ingredients:
- Carbs. On average, one waffle contains 20-30 grams of carbs. The main source of carbs is typically whole-grain flour, which makes it a high-fiber food. That being said, you can also get 1 to 3 grams of fiber per serving.
- Protein. On average, regular waffles contain 5-10 grams of protein per waffle. However, if you add high-protein foods to the mix, you can increase the protein content to 15 to 20 grams of protein per serving.
- Fat. Depending on the recipe, each waffle can have 5 to 10 grams of fat per serving.
It’s important to remember that these are rough estimates. The actual macronutrient content will vary depending on the ingredients, portion size, and any toppings you add to them.
For those who are tracking their calories: track each ingredient separately to get a more accurate calorie count and macro content.
Read more: Steamed dumplings: One Recipe That’ll Change Your Snack Game
Protein Waffles Recipes
Now it’s time for the good part. Here you’ll find 4 delicious protein waffle recipes to serve as a delicious breakfast or snack.
Original Protein Waffles Recipe
One serving of these protein waffles packs a punch of protein. Each waffle has 20 grams of protein and is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals to help improve overall health and wellness.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of whole-wheat flour
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1¼ cup of milk (or milk alternative)
- ¼ cup of unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron.
- Mix the dry ingredients (whole-wheat flour, protein powder, baking powder, and salt) in a bowl.
- In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients (eggs, milk, applesauce, vanilla, and coconut oil). Mix until everything is well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together until everything is combined.
- Scoop the batter onto your waffle iron and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once cooked, remove the waffle from the iron and serve immediately.
If you’re looking for a low-carb option, check out our Keto Waffles recipe, and if you’re looking for a different high-protein option, you’ll love our delicious Protein Blueberry Pancakes.
Protein Waffle Recipe with Oats
You can customize the following recipe by adding chia seeds, chopped nuts, or flaxseeds for an additional crunch.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup of milk (or milk alternative)
- 1 small banana
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Cooking spray
You can replace the banana with pumpkin puree and add pumpkin spice to make delicious high-protein pumpkin spice waffles.
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron.
- Add all the ingredients in a food processor or blender.
- Mix until everything is well mixed. However, make sure you don’t overmix.
- Lightly grease the waffle iron and pour the recommended amount of batter onto it. Cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Remove from the waffle iron and serve.
If you’re looking for another delicious gluten-free waffle recipe, check out our link below.
3-Ingredient Protein Waffles
For those who want an easier waffle recipe, here’s a delicious 3-ingredient waffle recipe that will help you cover your protein needs in an easy and convenient way.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 eggs
- 1 scoop of protein powder
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron.
- Mash the bananas in a bowl until they’re smooth. Add the eggs and protein powder to the bowl and mix together.
- Lightly grease the waffle iron and pour in the batter. Cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once cooked, remove from the waffle iron and serve.
Protein Waffles Without Protein Powder
All the waffle recipes we’ve seen have a high protein content due to protein powder. However, if you’re not keen on using protein powder, there are other ways to make a delicious fluffy protein waffle recipe without it.
So, let’s take a closer look at how you can make protein waffles with cottage cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- 1 cup of cottage cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron.
- Add all the ingredients in a blender and mix until everything is well combined.
- Lightly grease the waffle iron and pour the batter onto it. Cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once cooked, remove from the waffle iron and serve.
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How to Meal Prep Protein Waffles
One of the many benefits of high-protein waffles is you can meal-prep them. This can make it easier to grab a fast breakfast before you head out. Here are some ways you can meal prep protein waffles.
- Prepare the ingredients. You can mix all the dry ingredients together, ready to use, and keep them in Mason jars, which makes it easier to prepare waffles when you’re ready to make them.
- Cook and store. Another idea is to make the waffles and store them in the fridge or freezer. Once you’re ready to eat them, heat them in a toaster or toaster oven until they’re hot and crispy.
Read more: Cracking the Perfect Vegan Quesadilla Recipe
Yes, chicken has a lot of protein to offer. However, be careful about how you cook the chicken. Fried chicken can increase the calorie content and make it more challenging to promote weight management. This depends on the type of waffles you’re eating. Store-bought waffles tend to be ultra-processed, which means they don’t provide essential vitamins and minerals. However, if you make waffles at home using natural ingredients, they wouldn’t be considered junk food. Yes. As long as you eat them in moderation and as part of a healthy and balanced meal plan, you can enjoy waffles every day. However, remember to eat a varied diet to provide different nutrients to your body. Several factors can affect the dryness of waffles. Overmixing or the ingredients you use can result in dry waffles. If protein pancakes are too hard, this could mean that you’ve over-mixed or overcooked the batter, making them hard and inedible. FAQs
Does chicken and waffles have protein?
Are waffles junk food?
Is it good to eat waffles every day?
Why are protein waffles so dry?
Why are protein pancakes hard?
The Bottom Line
These protein waffle recipes are a testament to the fact that you can enjoy a delicious and healthy breakfast (or snack) while still eating all the things you love. There are several ways you can enjoy high-protein waffles. It all depends on the ingredients that you have available and your preferences.
Remember that while these waffles are healthy, you still need to eat them in moderation to avoid overeating and avoid leading to weight gain.
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