Whole Wheat Waffles Recipe with Applesauce

Our family loves easing into our weekend with a fresh batch of waffles. While my husband and I have been making a variety of waffles together for the past 10 years (with these whole wheat Greek yogurt waffles being one of our original favorites), their appearance on our table has become pretty much bi-weekly since our daughter could start asking for what she wanted to have for breakfast! These lower calorie and lower fat whole wheat waffles with applesauce are a personal favorite, and my family always devours these when they’re on the table too! Our easy to follow directions and step-by-step photos will help you whip up a delicious batch of waffles in no time.

Because we enjoy these applesauce waffles so much, I almost always make a double batch so we can freeze some for busy days (see the Pro Tip under ‘How to Store and Reheat Waffles’ section for more info).

Plus, with their apple cinnamon flavor profile, these applesauce waffles (along with our pecan pumpkin waffles) are a great choice for a fun fall breakfast!

You’ll find we love baking with applesauce! It’s a great way to add moisture and natural sweetness to baked good and keeps the calories and fat down too. Try using more of the unsweetened applesauce you buy for this recipe in our healthy zucchini muffins recipe and our wheat germ muffins recipe too!

Whole Wheat Waffles Recipe Ingredients

• Salted butter. I grew up using salted butter in baking, and still do to this day. If you’d prefer to use unsalted butter, just replace it 1-for-1 with the salted butter in the recipe.
• Large eggs. Eggs help to form a stronger structure of bubbles when making waffles, which in turns helps the waffles to hold their shape once they’re cooked. Eggs also help your waffles have the perfect fluffy interior. 
• Unsweetened applesauce. Unsweetened applesauce is often acts like a fat would in baking and plays the same role as butter or oil does in baked goods. It helps to keep the flour proteins from mixing completely with the wet ingredients to create a lovely texture. Unsweetened applesauce also contains naturally occurring sugars reducing the amount of other sugars or sweeteners needed in baking recipes.
• Milk of choice. I use 2% or whole dairy milk when making these, but you can use a non-dairy milk if preferred!
• Pure maple syrup. Used to sweeten the waffle batter (in addition to the natural sweetness provided by the applesauce that is also used).
• Whole wheat flour. This waffle recipe uses regular whole wheat flour for the batter, resulting in waffles with a higher fiber content! Whole wheat flour also contains a greater variety of vitamins and minerals as compared to its all-purpose flour counterpart.
• Baking powder. We use baking powder as the leavening agent in this waffle recipe to create the perfect texture, resulting in super fluffy waffles.
• Ground cinnamon. Adding cinnamon into waffles is always a nice choice. In combination with the applesauce in this recipe, you end up with an apple cinnamon waffles vibe, which is just a delight.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Helpful Equipment

You will need a waffle maker to make homemade waffles.

• I used this mini waffle maker to make the round waffles shown in this post. This is a great option for those on a budget, people making waffles for one or two, and/or anyone with a small kitchen with minimal storage space.
• For those making waffles for a crowd, this Calphalon 2-Slice Waffle Maker or Breville 4-Slice Waffle maker both get high marks from a variety of sources

How To Make Whole Wheat Waffles With Applesauce

Preheat waffle iron. Preheat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Mix together wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, eggs, unsweetened applesauce, milk, and maple syrup until all ingredients are well combined.

Mix in dry ingredients. Slowly whisk in the cinnamon, baking powder, and whole wheat flour until a batter has been formed. (If preferred, you can mix your dry ingredients together in a separate bowl first and then slowly add them in. I like to use just one large mixing bowl and reduce the amount of dishes required). 

Cook the waffles. Using a ⅓ cup measuring cup, scoop waffle batter into the center of the preheated waffle iron, close the lid, and cook per the manufacturer’s instructions until your waffles are golden brown.

Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-5 days, or in the freezer for 2-3 months. See ‘How to Store and Reheat Cooked Waffles’ section below for tips!

Whole Wheat Waffles Recipe Variations

These delicious applesauce waffles vegetarian as written. You can make these into dairy-free waffles or vegan waffles with a few simple substitutions: 

• To make these into dairy-free waffles you will need to use a dairy-free milk like almond milk or oat milk. You will also need to substitute the butter. One option is to swap the butter with a vegan butter in a 1-to-1 ratio. You can also use vegetable oil or canola oil. To do so, use ¾ the amount of butter specified in the recipe (in this recipe, you would use 3 tablespoons of oil).
• Make this into a vegan applesauce waffles by using a non-dairy milk, using vegan butter (or the neutral oil option noted above), and replacing the eggs with flax eggs.

Topping Ideas for Applesauce Waffles

These delicious applesauce waffles are great waffle base for all of your favorite waffles toppings! Some of our favorite waffle toppings for these include:

• Butter and pure maple syrup
• Peanut butter and pure maple syrup (a personal favorite!)
• Nut butter and sliced banana
• Fresh fruit, like strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries
• Whipped cream and fresh berries
• Whipped cream and warm skillet cinnamon apples (what’s shown in the photos)
• Cinnamon apples
• Nutella
• Maple syrup and chocolate chips

How To Store Applesauce Waffles

In the refrigerator: You can store any remaining waffles in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.

In the freezer: You can store cooked waffles in the freezer for 2-3 months. Prior to freezing, make sure to cool your waffles completely and then place cooled waffles into a ziplock bag or freezer safe container. Placing a piece of parchment paper between the waffles will help them from sticking together.

How to reheat: Reheat refrigerated or frozen waffles in a toaster, toaster oven, or microwave.