Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles

Every Sunday morning, my little family comes downstairs (or “downdairs” as the toddler says) and heads to the kitchen. My husband starts working on a batch of French press coffee (if we don’t have any cold brew in the fridge), and the kid and I start working on breakfast. In the last month or so, Juni has really gotten into cooking with Mama, and it makes my heart so happy.

When I tell her we’re going to make pancakes or waffles or French toast or whatever we’ve decided on for breakfast, she climbs up on a little stool that we keep at the end of the kitchen island, puts on her apron (sometimes), throws her hands in the air and yells “BOOGIE CITED!!!” (Boogie=one of her many nicknames. Cited=excited). It’s maybe the cutest thing ever in the history of ever. Not that I’m biased or anything.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles

Cooking with a two year old requires a certain level of patience that I just didn’t even know was possible before I had a kid. When Juni “helps” make waffles, flour goes everywhere (she looovvvessss sticking her hand in the flour container), milk splashes out the side of the bowl while she stirs, and more than once I have to remind herย to only lick the spoon after we’ve finished mixing everything. If it wasn’t so much fun, it would be incredibly frustratingโ€”which I thinkย could be a campaign slogan of sortsย for parenting as a whole.

She isn’t quite old enough to do the more dangerous stuffโ€”cutting or cooking with heat mostlyโ€”so once the mixing stage is done, she normally climbs down off her stool and goes back to playing with her trains (the girl is obsessed with Thomas & Friendsย Minisโ€”it’s a thing). When she comes back to the breakfast table later, I have to remind her that she helped make what we are eating, and if you look closely, you can see just a little bit of pride on her face. That and a whole lot of maple syrup.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles

This waffle recipe actually comes courtesy of my oldest sister, who is known countrywide as maybe the best waffle maker on the planet. Because I can’t leave well enough alone, I takeย her amazing waffle recipe and make it with white whole wheat flour. You’ve heard me sing the praises of white whole wheat before, but just in case someone hasn’t heard about it, I gotta go over it again. White whole wheat flour (I really like Bob’s Red Mill Ivory Wheat Flour or King Arthur Flour’s Organic White Whole Wheat) is a 100% whole grain flourโ€”just like whole wheat flour.

The difference is that white whole wheat flour is ground from a lighter, milder flavored wheat berry. It results in a lighter color, texture, and flavor. Is it all-purpose flour? Nope, but it’s a nice halfway point between all-purpose and the nutty, heavy taste of whole wheat flour. It’s a GREAT flour to use if you are trying to get more whole grains into your family’s diet, but they are struggling with the (admittedly cardboard-y) taste and texture of regular whole wheat flour. You used to only be able to get white whole wheat flour at speciality stores or by grinding it yourself, but in the past year or so, most major supermarkets have started carrying it. Check your baking aisle!

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles

These pumpkin waffles are not only 100% whole grain, but they’re still fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside (just like a good waffle should be!). They are tinted orange and spiced with the perfect flavors of Fallโ€”cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a heavy hand of pumpkin. You can serve these up decadent style with whipped cream and maple syrup, or slather them with Greek yogurt and fruit for a healthy, autumnal breakfast.

Like all homemade waffles, these babies will freeze wonderfully. Just let the pumpkin waffles cool completely on a wire rack, then transfer to a plastic zip-top freezer bag. To reheat, just pop the waffle into the toast or toasted oven until warm and crispy. Enjoy!

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles

Yield: 4 waffles
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles are spiced with the perfect flavors of fall. They are fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, like a waffle should be.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

  1. Whisk the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and spices in a large bowl.
  2. Add the pumpkin puree, milk, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir just until there are no dry spots left. Rest for 15 minutes.
  3. Cook by pouring ½-1 cup of batter (depending on the size of your waffle iron) onto a ungreased waffle iron and cooking until brown and crisp.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1/2 waffle
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 298Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 441mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

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15 Comments

  1. These were really good. My husband and granddaughter lived them and they rose well and had good flavor. Like it that they actually have real pumpkin in them!!

    1. Thanks so much, Joan! We’re so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed the waffles. Having real pumpkin in your pumpkin goodies is one of the best parts of making your own!

  2. I just found your blog today while looking for a nursing pillow cover pattern/tutorial, and I’m loving it here! We’ve always tried eating healthy, but are constantly learning more and changing more, so I’m always on the lookout for new recipes and ideas. Breakfast usually has me the most stumped!

    Quick question – we don’t have a waffle iron. Would this recipe work ok for pancakes? It’s pumpkin spice season 365 days a year around here too, so I’m dying to try this recipe!

    1. You could try it! I think pancake batter typically has a little less fat than waffle batter, so you might want to cut back on the oil a bit, but I’m not sure by how much.

  3. I just made these this morning and they were delicious and super easy! I love that it’s just one bowl and no beating and folding in egg whites. I made a double batch and used a standard can of pumpkin purรฉe and although that’s about a half cup less than what the recipe called for, they were perfect! I also used whole wheat pastry flour as that’s what I had on hand. Thank you!!!

  4. Yum! Your ‘cooking with toddler’ tales reminds me of my kiddo. Delighted to find corn inside all those husks, he insists on having several bites of the newly-revealed cob. ….with every cob. Everyone likes their corn with a bite or two missing, right? Sigh.

  5. Yay for baking with Boogie! Nora is just getting into cooking too; most of her pretend play these days revolves around cooking and she likes to join me for baking and making smoothies (“zimmie!”) – oh, and I found a magic trick that might work for other toddlers! Whenever I’m cutting vegetables for lunch or dinner, she wants to sample everything and keeps coming back for more. So she ends up nomming on raw onion, raw garlic, raw cabbage, and other stuff she wouldn’t normally be into if I put it on her plate.

    1. Juni is that way with veggies, too! She was eating whole handfuls of raw green peppers the other day. She never would if it was on her dinner plate!

  6. Looks good and healthy too. Can the batter be made the night before? I’d like to make it tonight, first day of school is tomorrow.

    1. You know, I’ve never tried it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Just make sure to stash it the fridge. And let me know how they turn out!