This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles Recipe is going to be the star of the breakfast or brunch table! Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and full of pumpkin flavor these waffles are a cinch to make and always a hit.
Subtly sweet and perfectly spiced, these waffles are dairy-free, Paleo, and so good you’d never guess they’re made without flour!
Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles
These gluten-free and paleo Pumpkin Waffles are the real deal! This recipe has been on Lexi’s Clean Kitchen since 2015, and they have been made hundreds of times by so many! Fluffy and delicious, they’re made with simple ingredients and perfect for any morning, especially a fall morning.
These gluten-free waffles use my trusty blend of almond and tapioca flour as the base. We use this blend for a lot of our recipes like blueberry crumb bars, healthy carrot and zucchini bars, and gluten-free Thin Mints! Not only it it is simple and versatile, but it and creates Paleo-friendly recipes that are just like the originals in both taste and texture.
Guess what else I love about this recipe? It’s freezer-friendly. Make a double or triple batch now and have waffles for a quick morning breakfast. It’s a lifesaver!
With the upcoming holidays, you are going to want to keep this recipe at the ready. This is such a great breakfast or brunch idea to serve a crowd! Our recipe serves four. However, it can easily be doubled or tripled. Add your favorite toppings, and this recipe is guaranteed to be an instant favorite.
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
*Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe and ingredient list!
- Spices: Pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt add the perfect touch of warmth.
- Eggs: Adds structure, helping the waffles hold their shape. We haven’t tested this recipe with egg substitutes, and can’t guarantee your results if you do.
- Pumpkin Purée: Use homemade pumpkin purée or store-bought options. Just make sure to use pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling!
- Pure Maple Syrup: Adds sweetness and a rich, maple flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: To enhance the rest of the ingredients and add a subtle vanilla taste.
- Almond Flour and Tapioca Flour: The combination allows for soft, fluffy waffles with a crisp exterior. We do not recommend using other flours for this pumpkin waffles recipe!
- Baking Powder: Make sure it’s fresh, or your waffles won’t rise!
How to Make Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles
- Prepare: Before you begin, preheat your waffle maker according to the appliance instructions. We want it to get nice and hot!
- Whisk: Add the wet ingredients to a large bowl, and whisk until smooth.
- Incorporate the dry ingredients: Add both flours, baking powder, and spices to the bowl of wet ingredients, and whisk to combine.
- Cook: Grease the heated waffle iron with cooking spray, coconut oil, or melted butter. Pour the batter into the center, and cook until the waffle is lightly golden.
- Repeat: Transfer the waffle to a plate, and repeat, greasing the iron, and cooking the remaining batter.
Tips for Success
- Avoid overmixing. Be careful not to overmix the batter, or your waffles will be dense and tough. Whisk just until the batter is smooth. It’s okay if a few lumps remain!
- Allow the waffle iron plenty of time to get hot. The key to crispy waffles is to allow plenty of time for the waffle iron to heat. To test it it’s ready, flick a bit of water onto the griddle. If it sizzles and evaporates, it’s hot enough to cook. If not, wait a bit longer.
- Keep the waffles warm. If you’re making a large batch, transfer cooked waffles to a baking sheet in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit to keep them warm while you finish cooking.
Topping Ideas
Personally, I think this gluten free pumpkin waffles recipe is flavorful enough to serve on its own, but you can never go wrong with toppings! Some great options include:
- Chopped Nuts
- Maple Syrup
- Butter
- Pumpkin Butter
- Peanut Butter or Almond Butter
- Whipped Cream
- Fresh Fruit
How to Store and Freeze
Pumpkin waffles make for a great meal prep option! Allow them to cool completely. Then, follow the tips below to keep them fresh.
- Refrigerator: Transfer waffles to an airtight container or sealable bag, and store them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Flash-freeze the waffles on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once hard, transfer them to a sealable bag or freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To Serve: Reheat fresh or frozen waffles in a toaster or toaster oven just until heated through. You can also pop thawed waffles in the microwave, but they won’t be as crisp!
FAQs
The most common reasons waffles come out soggy are overworking the batter and not using a hot enough waffle iron. Be sure to whisk the ingredients just until no streaks remain, and don’t rush the cooking process!
Some people like to let their waffle batter rest to help create fluffier, crispier waffles, but I don’t find it necessary with this recipe.
Some waffles have a doneness indicator, which tells you your waffles are done cooking. However, you can also just watch for the batter to stop steaming, and check for doneness. If the waffles are golden brown they’re ready to eat!
More Delicious Waffle Recipes To Try
- Gluten Free Mini Waffles with Apple Cinnamon Topping
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Waffles
- Ham and Cheese Waffles (Gluten-Free)
- Gluten-Free Pancake and Waffles Mix
Watch the video:
Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup 98 grams almond flour
- 1 cup 120 grams tapioca flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch salt
- High heat cooking spray we use avocado oil spray, for waffle maker
- Pure maple syrup for serving
- Grass-fed butter or pumpkin butter for serving
Instructions
- Preheat a waffle maker according to the appliance instructions.
- Whisk together the eggs, pumpkin puree, maple syrup and vanilla extract in a large bowl until fully combined.4 large eggs, 1 cup pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add in the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt whisk to combine.1 cup 98 grams almond flour, 1 cup 120 grams tapioca flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, pinch salt
- Spray the heated waffle iron with a high heat cooking spray (we use avocado oil). Following the directions for your waffle maker regarding batter quantity and cook time, pour in the batter and cook the waffles until cooked through and lightly golden. Remove, and if needed transfer to a low oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.High heat cooking spray
- Serve the waffles hot and garnish with butter (or pumpkin butter) and maple syrup.
Notes
- Refrigerator: Transfer waffles to an airtight container or sealable bag, and store them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Flash-freeze the waffles on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once hard, transfer them to a sealable bag or freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To Serve: Reheat fresh or frozen waffles in a toaster or toaster oven just until heated through. You can also pop thawed waffles in the microwave, but they won’t be as crisp!
Nutrition
These were amazing!!!!! I don’t eat large amounts of eggs so I did one egg and one flax egg and still perfect. I will definitely make these again! Thanks for a great, grain free and gluten free treat!
Any other substution for the tapioca flour?
You can try arrowroot!
Do you have the nutrition information for this recipe?
Can honey be substituted for the maple syrup?
Yes.
These were really delicious but I wish the serving size would say 2. There’s no way this recipe would feed 4 people.
My kids just made these and said, “I’d have to say these are VERY, VERY good!”
Yay!!! Awesome report!
But we made two waffles from the recipe, so we’ll have to probably triple the recipe to feed the four of them.
Thanks!
So glad!!
Can coconut flour be used instead? If so, how much? Thank you!!
No, coconut flour is not a 1:1 sub!
I see it says it serves 4 – does it make 4 waffles, or does it make 2 and you are saying that 1/2 a waffle is one serving? Thank you!!
Depending on your waffle maker, it’ll make 8 pieces (or 2 big waffles), so 2 pieces each! Just accordingly 🙂
These are wonderful! I substituted sweet potato puree. My kids are not Paleo and they’re both picky, and they loved these waffles. It was great to make something fun we can all eat.
Thank you!
So glad they were great!
These were great! I made them nut free by subbing in an equal about of sifted ground sunflower seeds for the almond flour. Amazing texture! Thanks Lexi!
Did you forget the milk?
Nope, no milk in this recipe!
I’m making these for the 2nd time; I’ve been craving them like crazy all week. This is THE BEST waffle recipe – perfect texture & taste = pure waffle bliss! Thanks so much, Lexi! 🙂
Can this recipe be used for pancakes also?
They are AMAZEBALLS! And…paleo. What the what.
yum! We don’t have a waffle maker but I wonder if we could just try and make them into pancakes… worth a shot!
Could these be made into pancakes ?
Well, I see a million pics on this page of waffles, but I don’t see a recipe anywhere. Is there just a glitch in my computer, or has there been a major omission?
Never mind, it finally showed up. Guess it took a while to load all those pictures & the recipe, for some reason, was last. (I’m sorry, but multiple pics of the same food item is slightly annoying to me!)
Brilliant… But I don’t have a waffle maker. Still, I’ll be saving this for when I eventually get one!
Oh man! These look delicious! I’ll be making them in the coming week for sure! Also have the pumpkin sticky buns on my to-bake list.
Hi. Can arrowroot powder be substituted for the tapioca starch? Thx!
Yes, should be fine.