Straight from my celiac grandma, this gluten free waffles recipe is the best! Dairy free waffle option.
Photos, video, and post updated 6/12/2021
Gluten Free Waffles recipe straight from my Grandma’s recipe box
My grandma makes the very best gluten free waffles.
I know EVERYONE says that, but I'm not kidding, it really is the best gluten free waffles recipe.
They have the perfectly crisp exterior with a tender bite.
My grandma has celiac disease (we all get it from her side of the family) so of course her waffles are gluten-free. Which is awesome!
Growing up, my family ate waffles or pancakes for breakfast every single Saturday. It was a tradition we got from my Grandma.
When my mom was a little girl they had waffles for breakfast on Saturday.
It was something we could do to feel close to my grandma, even though we lived thousands of miles away from each other.
When my family went gluten free (I was a teenager still living at home) I tried dozens of times to make really good gluten free waffles.
Waffles that were as good as my gluten-filled days.
Every time it wasn't quite right. They'd be way to dry and crumble all over the place, OR they would be gummy. I don't know which is worse.
I had all but given up, until my grandma made me her gluten free waffles for breakfast.
They were perfect.
Crispy on the outside, a bit fluffy on the inside, flexible and not crumbly or dry at all. They have great texture and great bite.
Of course my grandma had nailed a great gluten free waffle recipe. She had been making waffles every Saturday morning for decades.
I loved my grandma’s gluten free waffles so much, I asked her for the recipe. She gladly wrote her recipe down for me on a blank 3x5 card from her recipe tin.
Sometimes I miss the days of recipe boxes full of index cards. Do you? So much history, and great food.
How to make gluten free waffles from scratch
My grandma’s gluten free waffles are really easy to make! No whipping egg whites or other funky business makes this a very easy gluten free waffle recipe.
I can’t whip eggs whites until I’m at least on my second mug of coffee.
This gluten free waffle batter is quickly whisked together in a bowl or large measuring cup (my fave, it has a spout!) while your waffle iron preheats.
How do you cook gluten free waffles?
I use a Belgian waffle iron that I’ve had for years.
It gets the job done, but I’ve been eyeing a bigger square waffle iron so I can better keep up with my hungry kiddos. (Plus it has removable plates so it is easier to keep clean.)
I also want a waffle iron that will beep when the waffle is done. My kids will call me over to the kitchen table and I’ll get distracted and forget to go back!
How to make gluten free waffle batter
- Don’t skip the sugar. My mom always skipped it when we were kids. She thought, “we are pouring sugar all over our waffles, they don’t need it inside too.” As much as I love her, my mom was wrong. The sugar plays an important part in helping the waffles the brown as they cook. Without the sugar, you’ll have super pale waffles.
- Measure your flour by scooping it into a measuring cup with a spoon, then swiping off the excess. Don’t scoop the flour directly with the measuring cup, you’ll end up with too much flour.
- Make sure your baking powder is fresh. Old baking powder won’t raise your batter as much and you will have dense waffles.
- Waffle batter thickens as it sits, so you may need to add more milk. I already give a range (1 ½ - 2 cups) because depending on the humidity or where you live, some days you need more milk or less. I always end up using at least 2 cups because I live in the ultra-dry state of New Mexico. You should have a pourable batter that isn’t thin or watery.
- I like to use a spring-loaded ice cream scoop to measure my waffle batter. It is less messy than using a ladle or measuring cup. I will sometimes mix everything in a large measuring cup with a spout so that I can pour the batter directly onto the iron.
- One of my very favorite Sunday brunch waffle and pancakes is this pancake bottle. You can mix up the batter in the bottle usking a blender ball, just give it a good shake and then squirt out your batter. It works great for waffles too!
How to use gluten free flour
When baking with gluten free flour, your results will vary based on the gluten free flour you use.
Please read through my gluten free flour page for very thorough and detailed information about which gluten free flours work well, how to substitute one gluten free flour for another, and for my gluten free flour recipe.
How to measure gluten free flour
How you measure your gluten free flour is also very important.
To accurately measure your flour, use the “fork, spoon, knife” method.
First, mix your gluten free flour with a fork to ensure it is aerated and evenly mixed.
Then carefully spoon it into your measuring cup.
DO NOT scoop the flour with your measuring cup, you’ll compact extra flour into the measuring cup and then your gluten free baked goods will be dry and crumbly because they'll have too much flour.
Finally, level off your measuring cup using a knife.
Use room temperature ingredients
You’ll also have best results if all the ingredients are at room temperature, except for any ingredients that specify “cold” or “chilled”.
Using room temperature ingredients like eggs, butter, and gluten free flours helps your baked goods to bake evenly and correctly.
Think about it, if you use cold eggs, your batter will be colder.
And then it will change how it bakes, or may take longer.
For recipes that rise using steam, this is especially important.
If you are looking for a paleo waffle recipe, I think you'll fall in love with this recipe for Paleo Sweet Potato Waffles .
Have you tried keto? If you need a low carb recipe try these keto paleo almond flour waffles recipe.
Also keto, this chaffles recipe is going to rock your world!
When I have a waffle craving, nothing will satisfy it except for my grandma’s easy gluten free waffles. All they need is a nice pat of butter, a healthy drizzle of real maple syrup, and a few fresh strawberries.
Just one bite and I’m sitting at my grandma’s kitchen island, looking through her recipe box as the sun streams through the big bay window in the next room.
I love that not only did she pass her recipe on to me, I also get to share it with you.
So what are you having for breakfast tomorrow? I'm making waffles!
My grandma’s easy gluten free waffle recipe
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Waffles
Straight from my celiac grandma, this gluten free waffles recipe is the best! Dairy free waffle option.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups gluten-free flour blend
- 1 Tablespoons baking powder
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- ¾ teaspoons xanthan gum
- 2 eggs
- 3 Tablespoons oil
- 2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
Instructions
- Mix together the dry ingredients, gluten free flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, and sugar.
- Make a "well" in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the remaining ingredients to the well. These are the "wet" ingredients, eggs, oil, and milk. Use about 1 ½ cups of milk to start (you can add more if you need it.
- Mix together until it is all combined. If you batter is too thick to pour, add the remaining ½ cup of milk. Depending on the weather, and where you live, you may or may not need the entire two cups of milk. If you live somewhere dry, your batter may still be too thick. If this is the case, add more milk a little at a time until you get the perfect consistency for making your gluten free waffles.
- Cook according to your waffle iron instructions. I've found that gluten-free waffles take a little longer to bake than regular waffles.
Notes
My waffles took about 4 minutes to cook, and I used ⅓-1/2 cup of batter per waffle, but your waffle iron may be different.
A good guideline is to wait until the waffle stops steaming. I've found that gluten-free waffles take a little longer to cook than traditional waffles.
To make dairy free, use your favorite dairy free milk.
To make vegan waffles, use your favorite dairy free milk and also use an egg replacer. My go-to is Bob's Red Mill's egg replacer. You could also use 4-6 tablespoons of applesauce or mashed banana, and increase the baking powder slightly.
To make you waffles more fluffy and crisp, separate the egg whites and whisk them to stiff peaks. Prepare the batter using the egg yolks only. After the batter is mixed, gently fold in the egg whites.
Nutrition Information
Yield 10 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 206Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 41mgSodium 187mgCarbohydrates 31gFiber 1gSugar 4gProtein 6g
All nutrition info is a guestimate and will vary depending on the ingredients you use.
Nathi Talarico
Hi!
"gluten-free rice flour blend" is the same as rice flour?
Thank you! =)
Brianna Hobbs
Sorry for not responding sooner. My rice flour blend is here: https://flippindelicious.com/gf-supplies-and-flours
You are welcome to use a different blend, but straight up rice flour won't work. It will be gritty and won't work the same. Any good rice flour based gluten-free flour blend should work.
Jenna Peterson
What exactly is in her rice flour blend?
Jenna Peterson
What exactly is in her rice flour blend?
Brianna Hobbs
Sorry for not responding sooner. My rice flour blend is here: https://flippindelicious.com/gf-supplies-and-flours
Any good rice flour based gluten-free flour blend should work, but I like mine best. I use a higher percentage of starches than most other blends and I love how it makes my cakes and cookies soft and not at all gritty, which can happen if your rice flour isn't finely ground.
Pam Dunlap
Can these be successfully frozen and heated later in a toaster or microwave for later?
flippindelicious
Yes Pam, I've found that these waffles freeze very well. I normally throw all my leftover waffles in a ziploc bag once they cool and toss them in the freezer. When I want to eat them I just pop them in the toaster.
Clarissa
Is it 1 Tablespoon of Baking powder or 1 teaspoon? I'm making these right now and the first one is rising like crazy! It's super puffy! Is it supposed to do that?
flippindelicious
Hi Clarissa,
1 Tbs is what I use. It will puff up a lot, but then you get a light and soft waffle without having to go to the trouble of whipping egg whites and carefully folding them into the batter #nobodygottimefordat
If it over-fills your waffle maker you may just need to use less batter for each waffle. There is a sweet spot that you have to find as to how much batter you should use for each waffle. Because all models are different your waffle maker may need less batter than mine.
Jessica
I better is really thick even with 2 cups milk is that normal?
flippindelicious
Yes, the batter should be thick, but still pourable. If you feel it is too thick for your waffle iron just add a little more milk, maybe 1/4 cup to get the consistency that you want. Getting the right consistency for pancake and waffle batter can be tricky because the longer the batter it sits the more it will thicken as the flours absorb the milk.
Stephanie
I ended up doing a total of 21/2 cups milk
Brittanne
These were delicious! Not quite the texture I was after (I have made a GF crispy, less dense version before... but I couldn't find the recipe this morning). My husband (known for hating anything GF) ate them and really liked them.
I halved the recipe, added a splash of vanilla, and measured out the flour beginning with your rice flour blend (I had a 1/2 C or so left over):
1/2 C white rice flour
1/2 C brown rice flour
1/2 C tapioca starch
1/2 C potato starch (not flour)
flippindelicious
I'm so glad that you and your husband enjoyed them!
Sara
Wow, these baked up so thick they busted the latch off of my waffle iron! My daughter says it was with it though! Very good!
flippindelicious
They do expand as they bake, that is the baking powder at work! Try using less batter for each waffle. I've found that they bust out of my waffle iron when I put too much batter in. It is a tricky balance. Not enough batter and you get holes, but too much batter and you bust off the waffle iron's latch, like what happened to you.
Kristina
These look wonderful! But the links in the comments to the rice flour blend lead to error pages. I found a page that claims to have the rice flour blend, but the only blend recipe I find is a cake blend. ( https://flippindelicious.com/gf-supplies-and-flours ) Are they one and the same? Thanks!
flippindelicious
Hi Kristina, that actually is the right flour blend. I've been going back and trying to update and revamp some older pages and when I updated my flour page I didn't make it clear that it is the same flour blend. I'll change that! I'll also check the links. Thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Brittanne
These are so good! I wouldn't hesitate to pass these off as regular waffles. I added a splash of vanilla but otherwise followed recipe.
flippindelicious
I am so happy that you enjoyed them Brittanne! They are my favorite. The splash of vanilla sounds like an excellent addition.
Michael Coombes
Tried the recipe this morning and it's lovely. Didn't rise much though but nice a crispy.
flippindelicious
I am so happy that you enjoyed it, Michael!
Sheree
I tried this waffle recipe this morning. Light, airy, delicious!!! It is going in my fav GF recipe file. Thanks so much. You rock!
flippindelicious
Thanks Sheree! Grandma's really do know best. They turn out perfect for me every time!
Rob
Easter morning 2018. My wife says, I would like
Waffles. My daughter is celiac and my granddaughter won’t eat gluten free meals. However, this recipe is a homerun, everyone loves it. Thank you and Happy Easter
flippindelicious
So happy your family enjoyed it. Happy Easter! -Brianna
Andrea
If the flour blend used already has xanthum gum in it, do you still need the additional 3/4 t of xanthum gum?
flippindelicious
Hi Andrea,
If you are using a different blend that already has xanthan gum you should omit the xanthan gum in the recipe. My blend doesn't have xanthan gum because I prefer to add it to each recipe individually.
Happy Baking! -Brianna
Annette Gillespie
These look amazing, and I can't wait to try them! What oil do you use? Canola? Would melted butter work? Can I use powdered sugar instead?
flippindelicious
Hi Annette,
Just about any oil or melted fat will work. I have used canola oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, and even olive oil. Melted butter would absolutely work! Hope you enjoy them. -Brianna
Linda
Thank you to you and all your lineage - these waffles are the BOMB! Even my non-gluten sensitive husband couldn’t tell the difference. How generous of you to share this family recipe with the rest of us!
flippindelicious
Hi Linda, I'm so happy you and your family enjoyed my family recipe! I love sharing recipes so that no one has to feel left out, even if they eat gluten-free.
Happy Baking! -Brianna
Deloris Earnhart
So tired of buying expesive gluten free waffle mix. This recipe sounds delicious and cannot wait to try it. I always add chocolate chips and nuts to mine. My husband and family doesn't believe waffles should be made any other way.
flippindelicious
Hi Deloris,
Thank you for leaving a comment. Nuts and chocolate chips sounds yummy! I'll have to add them next time I make waffles. I hope your family enjoys this recipe! Happy Baking! -Brianna
MrsIncredible
Can I use this recipe for pancakes?