Best banana waffles! This banana waffle recipe makes tender waffles that taste like banana bread.
When you have a bunch of overripe bananas and don’t want to make banana bread, homemade banana waffles are a great way to use up those ripe bananas!
These simple banana waffles have some sweetness from the bananas and the caramelized pearl sugar bites. They’re a tasty twist on regular waffles.
This homemade waffle recipe is perfect for breakfast, a great brunch recipe, or a fun change from the classic waffle recipe on your waffle bar.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Buttermilk: Regular or low-fat buttermilk is ok. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a homemade buttermilk substitute.
- Bananas: You’ll want to use overripe bananas like you would when making banana bread. I like to use bananas that are yellow with a fair amount of brown speckling on them.
- Pearl Sugar: Pearl sugar can be difficult to find. It’s available online through retailers like Amazon and in specialty stores. If you can’t find pearl sugar, you can break sugar cubes into small chunks in place of the pearl sugar, or you can omit the pearl sugar.
How to make banana waffles
Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk the buttermilk, vanilla, mashed banana, and melted butter together until well-combined.
Tip >> I recommend mixing the batter by hand with a whisk.
Step 2: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and whisk in just until combined.
Step 3: Grease the waffle iron, and cook the waffles according to your waffle iron’s directions.
Step 4: Carefully remove the waffle. The sugar will caramelize and be very hot.
Recipe Tips!
- Dairy-free: To make the waffles dairy-free, substitute vegetable oil or coconut oil for the butter and use nondairy milk, like almond milk, to make the buttermilk.
- Vegan: To make the waffles vegan, substitute oil for the butter and use nondairy milk, like almond milk, to make the buttermilk.
Topping suggestions
The natural banana flavor and sweet flavor of the sugar give these fluffy waffles enough sweetness that you may want to skip toppings. If you’d like to top the waffles, you could try your favorite toppings or
- Fresh fruit like sliced banana or berries
- Chocolate chips
- Real maple syrup
- Whipped cream
- Powdered sugar
- If you want to add a little extra deliciousness, banana bread waffles are fantastic as a waffle sandwich with a little peanut butter or cream cheese spread in between them.
How to freeze
These fluffy banana waffles freeze well, and freezing is a great way to store leftover waffles. After cooking, place the cooked waffles on a cooling rack to let them cool to room temperature. Place the cooled waffles in a freezer-safe container like a freezer bag.
If stacking the waffles, place a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper between the waffles to keep them from sticking. I reheat homemade waffles in the toaster oven.
More breakfast recipes!
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Banana Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2-3 large bananas)
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons pearl sugar or about 6 sugar cubes broken into chunks
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together buttermilk, vanilla, bananas, and melted butter.
- Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to buttermilk mixture, and stir until just combined.
- Spray waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray and add batter according to waffle iron’s directions (I have a 4-square waffle iron, and I used 1 cup of batter per waffle).
- Sprinkle waffle with pearl sugar or broken sugar cubes.
- Cook waffles according to your waffle iron’s directions.
- Be careful removing waffle from iron – the sugar will caramelize and will be extremely hot.
Notes
- Buttermilk: Regular or low-fat buttermilk is ok. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute with this easy recipe.
- Bananas: You’ll want to use overripe bananas like you would when making banana bread. I like to use bananas that are yellow with a fair amount of brown speckling on them.
- Pearl Sugar: Pearl sugar can be difficult to find. It’s available online (Amazon) and in specialty stores. If you can’t find pearl sugar, you can break sugar cubes into small chunks in place of the pearl sugar.
- Freezing: I like to place the waffles on a cooling rack to let them cool to room temperature before freezing.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Originally published 3/27/13.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Ed says
Hi Kate!
I’ve made these banana waffles twice, and I love them.
I do leave out the brown sugar and sugar cubes, I don’t
need them, since I use a little maple syrup.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you’re enjoying them!
Wayne James says
This recipe looks amizing!!
Keep up the good work.
Linda says
Hi Kate
Mine came out very tasty, and I love that it contains banana, but they are rather moist. I like it when the waffle is moist on the inside, but think a waffle needs to have a crispy exterior. I tried ensuring the waffle iron is really hot before starting, and even tried crisping them up in the oven a bit afterwards, but it still stayed quiet soggy. Is that just the nature of banana and buttermilk waffles, or do you have any ideas?
ps. you left out adding salt in the method section of the recipe.
Kate says
Thank you! My waffles come out crisp, but they aren’t super crispy like I get with a yeasted waffle. Also, these waffles do soften if sitting. To help avoid that, I place the waffles on a wire cooling rack to avoid condensation from the heat as they sit.
Sam says
?
Kate says
Thanks! =)
Del says
Delicious! Super easy and very pleasing to the whole group.
Kate says
Thanks! I’m so glad to hear that! =)
Jessica says
Wonderful recipe! My kids went crazy for the waffles. This will be a Sunday morning tradition at our house.
Kate says
Yay!! I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for commenting. =)
adrienne says
tried your recipe this morning. you don’t say where to add the brown sugar and i notice you don’t use eggs for this recipe?
i ended up adding the brown sugar to the flour mixture and added an egg. my hubs enjoyed the waffle.
Kate says
Thanks! I fixed the brown sugar part. I didn’t use eggs in it. The banana works as a binder in the recipe, but it sounds like adding in an egg works, too! Glad he enjoyed the waffles! =)
inc1961 says
Love making waffles!
Have you found Pearl Sugar in the USA?
Tx
kateheartseating says
Me too! =) Yes, but it can be difficult to find. I’ve bought pearl sugar at IKEA and through Amazon. I wish it was more widely available though!
B. Scott Finley says
It is. At Michaels craft stores
Kate says
Thanks! I’ve never seen this sugar at Michael’s. I wonder if it’s a regional thing.
Diana Rambles says
Yum! I love big fat waffles!
kateheartseating says
Me too!! Waffles are great! =)
Christie - Food Done Light says
Your waffes sound insanely good. They would be fantastic for brunch. I’ll be featuring them tonight on Thursdays Treasures.
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much! They make a great breakfast or are great as snacks. Thanks for the feature! =)
Jamie says
Thanks for sharing these at Give Me The Goods Monday.
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much for the feature!! That’s awesome! =)
Sarah says
GAH these look amazing! I love banana *everything*, so these are a must try! Thanks for sharing! Saw you on the Gingerbread Blog :)
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! I hope you enjoy them!! =)
Linda@With A Blast says
Yes thank you! I’ll have some ;-) {Pinned!} Thank you for sharing at our ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS party !
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! =)
Jessie says
Okay I’m going out to buy a waffle iron tomorrow! These sound too good to miss ;) Thanks for the awesome recipe!
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! Have fun with your new waffle iron! We love ours. =)
Michelle says
These look wonderful. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday.
kateheartseating says
Thanks! =)
Jamie says
Wow, this looks amazing! Gonna have to try this one too. My kids love banana bread and waffles. Thanks for linking up to Give Me The Goods!
Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com
kateheartseating says
Thanks! I hope you all enjoy them! =)
Lois Christensen says
Looks so good. I love banana bread and never thought to make waffles with them! Thank you for joining Foodie Friends Friday! Please come back on Sunday to VOTE!
kateheartseating says
Thanks!! I will. =)
danielle says
Yum- I wanted to let you know that I featured this today in my “What I Bookmarked This Week” post – stop by and see!
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much!! I’ll have to check that out. =)
danielle says
I wanted to let you know that my daughter is making these right now. My house smells awesome – I snuck a taste too – yum!
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much for coming back to let me know! You just made my day!! =)