This holiday breakfast recipe is so scrumptious and festive—you're guaranteed to hear jingle bells with each bite!
Jump to:
❤️ Why you'll love it
- Full of sweet and spicy gingerbread flavor
- A delicious breakfast idea for special family time or brunch parties
- Makes the holiday season feel magical again, like when you were a kid
These delicious gingerbread waffles are so good, they'll make the entire family leap out of bed (even your sleepy teenager!) at the first scent of the luscious, warm spices.
They're perfect alongside this savory crockpot Christmas breakfast casserole with a steaming cup of Russian Tea!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients.
- Blend the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl.
- Spoon waffle batter onto a preheated waffle iron.
- Let each waffle bake until it's golden brown and cooked through.
🥫 Storage
Cooked waffles are best eaten hot off of the iron, but you can save them easily, too. We like to make a big batch and enjoy them for weeks during the most wonderful time of the year—and, sometimes, after it's ended!
Store leftover waffles in a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag. Freeze them for up to three months. Just like your kid's favorite boxed breakfast treat, you can easily warm up frozen homemade gingerbread waffles right in the toaster!
For best results, I don't recommend refrigerating or keeping the waffles at room temperature. It won't exactly ruin them, but they won't taste as good.
📖 Variations
- All-purpose flour is my pick for this gingerbread waffle recipe—it's just the tastiest! However, you can experiment with your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour, or substitute in a bit of whole wheat flour, if you prefer it.
- If you have a few extra minutes, you can make the waffles lighter by separating the eggs. Mix each egg yolk into the wet ingredients. Then, beat the egg whites until stiff and gently fold them in last.
- Stir in some fresh minced or candied ginger pieces if you really enjoy the flavor of ginger.
- Swap some bourbon in place of the vanilla for an adults-only treat! What's a perfect holiday breakfast without a little booze?
- Maple syrup pairs perfectly with the festive flavor of gingerbread, but you can also serve the waffles with whipped cream, caramel sauce, pomegranate arils, leftover cranberry sauce, a sprinkle of powdered sugar, or other favorite toppings.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip:The batter for these gingerbread waffles is thick. If you want to lighten it up you can separate the eggs and beat the whites until stiff and then fold them in last.
- Looking for a perfect way to keep waffles warm and crisp? Place them in a single layer on a cooling rack in the oven set at the lowest temperature setting. Stacking/overlapping the waffles makes them soggy.
- Newer ground ginger carries the best flavor, so make sure to pick up a container of it at the grocery store if the one in your pantry is a bit old. Great waffles start with great ingredients!
- Be sure to buy unsulphured molasses for the best, real flavor. Any of the varieties (light, dark, and blackstrap molasses) can have sulphur, so check the label carefully. Grandma's molasses is always a good bet.
- Some people swear by this tip: get extra fluffy waffles by letting the mixed batter sit for five minutes. However, if the batter rests too long, you'll lose the leavening power and the waffles won't rise at all—so don't get distracted while waiting!
- Use cooking spray to grease your waffle iron, but don't be too heavy-handed with it or your waffles will taste dense and oily.
- Though it's customary in some families to use melted butter to grease a waffle iron, most manufacturers don't actually recommend that method. Over time, it can leave too much residue behind.
👩🍳 FAQs
Nope, it doesn't keep very well. If you have extra, I'd recommend cooking it up and freezing the leftover waffles for the next time you get a craving for the festive, spiced breakfast!
Sure, there are plenty of ways to make your own buttermilk or substitute it with something similar, like sour cream. Check out this helpful post for the options.
Belgian waffles are generally a little bit thicker than traditional waffles. Older Belgian waffle recipes used yeast as the leavening agent, but most use baking powder now. You can make this great recipe in either a Belgian waffle maker or a traditional one.
Though the fluffy gingerbread waffles are the star of the brunch show, we enjoy a whole feast for Christmas morning breakfast. I'll usually cook large eggs into some sort of dish, fry bacon strips, heat sausage links, and cut up some fresh fruit for good measure. Scroll down to the "Serve With" section for some favorite recommendations!
📚 Related recipes
- Buttery and tender, No-Nut Gingerbread Snowball Cookies are packed with festive gingerbread spices and just seem to melt in your mouth!
- This easy Gingerbread recipe will whisk you away back to childhood holiday celebrations—it tastes nostalgic and spicy, moist, yet robust!
- With options for baking and frying, Homemade Gingerbread Donuts are the holiday treat you didn't know you were missing—until now, that is! They're light, flavorful, and topped with a perfect lemon glaze.
🍽️ Serve with...
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- American-style waffle maker or Belgian waffle maker
📞 The last word
I've always loved gingerbread and these easy waffles are full of warm fall spices!
I think they're perfect for any weekend breakfast in the fall and winter - but especially Christmas morning!
I like maple syrup on them but lemon curd, cream cheese, or fried apples are all good, too. In fact they make a great dessert waffle with vanilla ice cream.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gingerbread Waffles
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsulfured molasses, like Grandma's brand
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle chile, optional - adds a bit of spice
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Preheat your waffle maker.
- Mix the dry ingredients.
- Mix the wet ingredients.
- Stir them into the dry ingredients, just until well blended - don't overmix
- Ladle onto your waffle iron and bake until they stop steaming.
- Remove and serve immediately or keep warm in a low oven.
Notes
- The batter for these gingerbread waffles is thick. If you want to lighten it up you can separate the eggs and beat the whites until stiff and then fold them in last.
- Looking for a perfect way to keep waffles warm and crisp? Place them in a single layer on a cooling rack in the oven set at the lowest temperature setting. Stacking/overlapping the waffles makes them soggy.
- Newer ground ginger carries the best flavor, so make sure to pick up a container of it at the grocery store if the one in your pantry is a bit old. Great waffles start with great ingredients!
- Be sure to buy unsulphured molasses for the best, real flavor. Any of the varieties (light, dark, and blackstrap molasses) can have sulphur, so check the label carefully. Grandma's molasses is always a good bet.
- Some people swear by this tip: get extra fluffy waffles by letting the mixed batter sit for five minutes. However, if the batter rests too long, you'll lose the leavening power and the waffles won't rise at all—so don't get distracted while waiting!
- Use cooking spray to grease your waffle iron, but don't be too heavy-handed with it or your waffles will taste dense and oily.
- Though it's customary in some families to use melted butter to grease a waffle iron, most manufacturers don't actually recommend that method. Over time, it can leave too much residue behind.
Nutrition Facts
Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!
We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published October 6, 2012. Last updated November 6, 2022 for better images and editorial content.
Nicole Taggart
so when are you inviting me over for brunch?!?!? ha!
Marye Audet
Any time you show up! 😉
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
Heavenly! Perfect for a holiday breakfast!
Marye Audet
Thank you Cynthia!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Marye, thanks so much for rambling on as it was delightful to hear about your outing with your dad and those Christmas windows! I've been to NYC and seen the decorated windows at Macy's and I could stare for hours! BTW, these gingerbread waffles sound wonderful - gosh they must have smelled awesome!
Marye Audet
Aww thanks Shashi! I appreciate anyone who thinks my ramblings are delightful! LOL! Thank you so much.
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life
I bet your kitchen smelled like Christmas while these were cooking. What a fun holiday breakfast!
Marye Audet
Ha! It does all the time because Yankee Candles! But yeah... these are great for holiday breakfasts!
Catherine
Dear Marye, I love the sound of these gingerbread waffles...this would be a perfect breakfast for the holidays. Pinning for later. xo, Catherine
Marye Audet
They really are, Catherine! Thank you so much!
Michelle
Sounds like you have some special memories! It's fun to think back and remember things that made you so happy when you were young. 🙂 And these gingerbread waffles...yum! They sound absolutely divine, Marye!
Marye Audet
I have a life time of memories...LOL! It is fun... and these waffles are amazing! Thanks!
Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog
Gingerbread waffles sound amazing - definitely keeping this recipe handy for the upcoming holidays!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
Love these waffles Marye. A little spice for fall. PERFECT back to school breakfast!