Apple Cinnamon Waffles | Easy Applesauce Waffles
These easy apple cinnamon waffles are soft inside, lightly golden around the edges, and full of cozy apple and cinnamon flavor. They are made with applesauce, spelt flour, and a few simple ingredients for an easy breakfast that feels especially good once apple season starts.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.
I especially love how simple this recipe is. There is no apple to peel or grate, no butter to melt, and no added sugar in the batter. The applesauce takes care of the apple flavor and gives the waffles a naturally mild sweetness.
The recipe makes just three waffles, so it is perfect when you want a cozy homemade breakfast without making a huge batch. Add Greek yogurt and fresh apple for breakfast, or go with maple syrup and nut butter when you want something a little more indulgent.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Cinnamon Waffles
- Easy apple flavor: Applesauce means there is no peeling, chopping, or grating needed.
- No butter or oil in the batter: The applesauce keeps the waffles soft and moist.
- No added sugar: Unsweetened applesauce gives them enough natural sweetness for breakfast.
- Small batch: The recipe makes three waffles, which is great for one generous breakfast or two smaller portions.
- Perfect for fall: Apple and cinnamon make this such an easy cozy breakfast recipe for apple season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You will find the exact amounts in the recipe card below. Here are the main ingredients worth knowing about.
Applesauce: This is what gives the apple waffles their fruity flavor and soft texture. I like unsweetened applesauce so you can decide how sweet you want the finished breakfast to be with your toppings.
Spelt flour: It has a mild, slightly nutty flavor that works really well with apple and cinnamon. If possible, weigh the flour so you do not accidentally add too much.
Sparkling water: A small splash loosens the applesauce batter and helps keep the waffles from feeling too heavy.
Cinnamon: Half a teaspoon gives these cinnamon apple waffles a warm flavor without overpowering the apple. Add a little more if you really love cinnamon.
You will also need an egg, a little milk, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Start by preheating your waffle maker. You want it properly hot before the first waffle goes in.
Use a whisk to mix the egg, applesauce, milk, and sparkling water together in a bowl.
. Add the spelt flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, then stir just until everything comes together.
The batter should be thick but easy to spread. There is no need to beat it completely smooth, and a few small lumps are perfectly fine.
Lightly grease your waffle maker if needed and cook the waffles until they are golden and release easily. Every waffle maker is different, so I would go by how the waffles look rather than one exact cooking time.
A Few Tips for the Best Applesauce Waffles
- Use unsweetened applesauce if you want to keep the waffles only lightly sweet.
- Do not overmix. Stir just until the flour disappears into the batter.
- Preheat the waffle maker well. This helps the waffles turn golden and release more easily.
- Give them enough time. Applesauce keeps the center soft, so opening the waffle maker too early can make the waffles tear.
- Keep finished waffles on a wire rack instead of stacking them if you want to keep the edges from getting too soft.
What to Serve with Apple Cinnamon Waffles
These apple and cinnamon waffles are only mildly sweet, which leaves plenty of room for toppings. I usually keep breakfast pretty simple with yogurt and fruit, but there are lots of good options.
- Greek yogurt or Skyr with fresh apple
- Warm cinnamon apples
- Fresh berries
- Peanut, almond, or cashew butter
- Maple syrup
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Homemade granola
For a really cozy fall breakfast, warm apples with cinnamon and a little maple syrup are hard to beat.
Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons (25 ml sparkling water)
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons (25 ml 1.5% milk or unsweetened plant based milk)
- ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon (100 g unsweetened applesauce)
- ⅔ cup (75 g spelt flour, or oat flour)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Ground cinnamon (to taste)
- 1 pinch of salt
Method
- Preheat the waffle maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Lightly grease it if necessary.
- Add the egg, sparkling water, milk, and applesauce to a mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth and evenly combined.
- Add the spelt flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- Stir gently until the ingredients are just combined. Avoid overmixing the batter.
- Divide the batter between the preheated waffle plates.
- Close the waffle maker and cook until the waffles are set, lightly golden, and easy to remove. The exact cooking time depends on your waffle maker.
- Serve warm with Greek yogurt, fresh apple slices, maple syrup, nut butter, or an extra sprinkle of cinnamon.
Equipment
Notes
Easy Recipe Variations
This apple cinnamon waffle recipe is simple enough that you can easily change the toppings and flavors without changing the basic batter.
More cinnamon: Add a little extra if you want a stronger fall spice flavor.
Add vanilla: A splash of vanilla extract works really well with the apple and cinnamon.
Apple pie waffles: Serve them with warm cinnamon apples and Greek yogurt or a little whipped cream.
Nutty apple waffles: Add chopped walnuts or pecans on top with a drizzle of nut butter.
Plant based milk: Unsweetened oat, almond, or soy milk can be used instead of regular milk.
Can I Use a Different Flour?
All purpose flour should be the easiest substitute for spelt flour and will likely give you a slightly lighter waffle. Start with the same weight and adjust with a small splash of milk if needed.
Oat flour may also work, although the waffles can become softer and more delicate. I would not replace the spelt flour one for one with almond or coconut flour because they behave very differently in waffle batter.
Storage and Reheating
If you have leftover applesauce waffles, let them cool completely before storing them. Keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I prefer reheating them in a toaster, air fryer, toaster oven, or regular oven. That brings back some of the texture around the edges. The microwave works in a hurry, but the waffles will stay much softer.
Can You Freeze Apple Cinnamon Waffles?
Yes. Let the waffles cool completely, then freeze them in a single layer until firm. After that, transfer them to a freezer safe bag or container with parchment paper between the waffles if needed.
They can be frozen for up to 3 months and reheated straight from frozen. This is especially handy if you double the recipe and want an easy apple breakfast recipe ready for another morning.
More Easy Waffle Recipes
If you love homemade waffles, try one of these next:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use sweetened applesauce?
Yes. The waffles will simply be sweeter. I prefer unsweetened applesauce because it gives you more freedom with your toppings.
Can I use homemade applesauce?
Yes. Smooth homemade applesauce should work well. If yours is much thinner or thicker than store bought applesauce, you may need to slightly adjust the milk.
Why are my apple waffles soft?
These waffles are meant to stay soft inside because of the applesauce. For more golden edges, make sure the waffle maker is completely hot and let each waffle cook until it releases easily.
Can I prepare the batter ahead of time?
I recommend mixing it shortly before cooking. The sparkling water and baking powder work best when the batter is fresh.
Can I double this apple cinnamon waffle recipe?
Yes. Simply double all of the ingredients and cook the waffles in batches. Keep finished waffles on a wire rack while you cook the rest.
How many calories are in one waffle?
One of the three waffles contains approximately 127 calories. Any toppings and oil used to grease the waffle maker are not included.
Final Thoughts
If you have a jar of applesauce in the fridge and feel like waffles, this is such an easy little breakfast to make. You get plenty of apple and cinnamon flavor without having to grate apples or add lots of extra ingredients.
Serve the waffles warm with yogurt and fresh apple, add some maple syrup if you are in the mood for it, and breakfast is done.
