Cinnamon Pecan Waffles
By Ashley Melillo of Blissful Basil
Who doesn’t love a stack of warm waffles for breakfast? Especially Belgian-style ones that are crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Tasty enough to eat all on their own and yet welcoming to an array of toppings from vegan butter to fresh fruit to warm compote.
These vegan cinnamon pecan waffles tick all the boxes. Plus, they’re super easy to make, requiring just 10 minutes to prepare the batter and another 20 minutes to cook.
Restaurant worthy fancy waffles in 30 minutes flat. Need we say more?
To make them, you’ll start by whisking together a bit of ground flaxseed and filtered water to create a flax egg. This takes the place of a traditional egg and helps bind the waffles.
While the flax egg thickens, you’ll whisk together all-purpos flour, toasted pecans (see recipe notes* for a nut-free option), baking powder, cinnamon, and sea salt.
To the dry ingredients, add the flax egg along with plant-based milk, cane sugar, melted vegan butter, apple cider vinegar (for lift and fluffiness), and vanilla.
Whisk until no clumps or flour patches remain. Then, allow the batter to rest for 5 to 10 minutes as you preheat your waffle iron. This gives the baking powder time to begin activating, offering lift and airiness to the batter.
Once the waffle iron is hot, begin to cook the waffles. Each waffle takes about 7 minutes to cook, which offers you plenty of time to gather and prepare your toppings.
Toppings can be as simple as a bit of vegan butter and a drizzle of pure maple syrup but given that it’s summer, we suggest taking advantage of the wide array of seasonal fresh fruit.
Sliced stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums), fresh berries (strawberries, cherries, blackberries, blueberries), and sliced bananas are wonderful choices this time of year.
To adapt these waffles for cooler months, we recommend topping with warm fruit compote—apple compote and pear compote play off the cinnamon pecan flavors in the best of ways.
As written, this recipe is naturally vegan. We’ve also included notes on how to make it nut-free.
We hope you love these vegan cinnamon pecan waffles as much as we do. Happy breakfast-ing to you!
Cinnamon Pecan Waffles
Makes 3 large Belgian-style waffles | Preparation time: 10 minutes; Cooking time: 20 minutes; Total time: 30 minutes | Special equipment: Belgian-style waffle iron
vegan, nut-free option
Ingredients
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons filtered water
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup finely chopped toasted pecans*
1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups plain unsweetened plant-based milk, at room temperature*
1/4 cup organic cane sugar
1/4 cup (4 tbsp) vegan butter or virgin coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pure maple syrup + other toppings, to taste
Methods
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the ground flaxseed and filtered water. Set aside for 5 minutes to thicken.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, chopped pecans, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
To the bowl with the flaxseed mixture, add the milk, sugar, butter or coconut oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and whisk until no flour patches or lumps remain. Do not over-mix.
Let the batter rest for 5 to 10 minutes as you preheat your waffle iron.
Once the waffle iron is heated, add 1 cup batter to the iron (the surface should be nearly covered—you may need to use a heat-safe spatula to spread it since the batter is on the thicker side).
Close the waffle iron, flipping if your iron allows. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes for Belgian-style waffles (follow directions on your iron for other styles), or until golden brown and crispy.
When the first waffle is ready, spear it with a fork and transfer to a serving platter. Repeat until all batter is used.
Top the waffles as desired and drizzle to taste with maple syrup.
Serve immediately.
*To make these waffles nut-free, use toasted sunflower seeds instead of the pecans or omit the pecans. Use nut-free plant-based milk.
**To keep these waffles soy-free, use soy-free plant-based milk.
