There’s something truly magical about waking up to warm, cozy waffles infused with holiday spices — that’s exactly what makes the Festive Christmas Waffles with Spices Recipe a must-try this season. Imagine a waffle with the perfect balance of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg wrapped in a soft, slightly chocolaty hug. It’s quick, easy, and brings that festive cheer right to your breakfast table!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I have to confess—these Festive Christmas Waffles with Spices Recipe have become my go-to holiday morning treat. The warming spices instantly transport me to cozy winter mornings, and the slight hint of cacao adds an unexpected richness. Making them feels like giving yourself a little hug, and your kitchen will smell like Christmas itself.
- Built-in Festive Flavor: A beautiful blend of Christmas spices and cocoa powder means every bite feels like a celebration.
- Quick and Easy to Make: You’ll have batter mixed and waffles cooking in no time, perfect for busy holiday mornings or last-minute guests.
- Flexible Ingredients: Whether you prefer honey or maple syrup, butter or oil, or want to add a splash of dark rum, this recipe adapts to your taste.
- Great for Meal Prep and Freezing: Make a batch ahead for stress-free holiday breakfasts that still taste fresh and delicious.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this recipe has a special job to bring out the best in these festive waffles. I like to use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free mix for a fluffier texture, but plain all-purpose flour works just as well. The spices add seasonal warmth, and the cacao powder gives a subtle chocolatey depth that’s really surprising in a waffle. Here’s why these ingredients make this recipe shine:
- Flour: Provides structure; gluten-free mix keeps waffles soft without crumbling.
- Christmas spice (or gingerbread spice): The heart of this recipe — cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves bring that holiday vibe.
- Cacao powder: Adds a gentle chocolate flavor that pairs beautifully with spices.
- Baking powder & baking soda: Help the waffles rise and get perfectly fluffy.
- Eggs: Bind the batter and add richness.
- Honey or maple syrup: Natural sweetness that complements the spices.
- Melted unsalted butter: Adds moisture and a buttery flavor; you can substitute with oil too.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances all the other flavors with its sweet aroma.
- Sea salt: Just a touch to balance sweetness and deepen flavors.
- Dark rum (optional): Adds warmth and complexity — I love adding it for holiday brunches.
- Buttermilk: Tenderizes waffles and adds a subtle tang; easy to make vegan by mixing plant milk with lemon juice.
- Cooking oil spray (avocado or your favorite): Prevents sticking and helps waffles crisp up nicely.
Make It Your Way
This recipe feels like a foundation you can really make your own. Over the years, I’ve learned that swapping out a few ingredients or topping these waffles differently keeps things fresh and fun. You’ll find yourself experimenting and loving each new version even more!
- Dairy-Free Variation: I swap buttermilk with a mix of almond milk and apple cider vinegar, and replace butter with coconut oil – the waffles come out just as tender and delicious.
- Adding Fruit: Toss in some fresh or dried cranberries into the batter for a tart surprise—I love that texture.
- Spice Adjustment: Feel free to boost the cinnamon or add a pinch of ground cardamom if you want to get creative.
- Rum-Free: Just skip the dark rum to keep it kid-friendly or alcohol-free without losing flavor.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Waffles with Spices Recipe
Step 1: Whisk Dry Ingredients Thoroughly
I start by mixing the flour, Christmas spice blend, unsweetened cacao powder, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. It’s crucial to get the spices evenly distributed so every waffle bite tastes consistent. Plus, sifting in the baking powder and soda avoids little lumps that can cause uneven rises.
Step 2: Blend the Wet Ingredients with Care
In my biggest bowl, I whisk together eggs, honey (or maple syrup), melted butter, vanilla extract, sea salt, and the optional dark rum. After everything’s combined, I add the buttermilk to create the base. This mixture should look silky and rich — perfect for binding those fragrant dry ingredients.
Step 3: Combine Without Overmixing
Now the trick is to gently fold the dry mixture into the wet in two batches. I whisk just enough so the flour disappears but stop while the batter still has some lumps. Overmixing means tough waffles, and trust me, you want fluffy and tender every time!
Step 4: Preheat Waffle Iron & Cook
Once your waffle iron is hot (medium heat is perfect to avoid burning), I spray it lightly with avocado oil or brush with melted butter. I scoop about ¼ cup of batter per waffle, but this depends on your iron’s size — you want waffles just thick enough to crisp outside and stay plush inside. Cook each waffle about 3-5 minutes until golden brown and aromatic.
Step 5: Keep Warm and Crispy While You Finish
I like to put cooked waffles in a 200°F preheated oven, spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet. This keeps them warm and crispy without getting soggy while you finish cooking the rest of the batch. Patience here really pays off!
Top Tip
Making these festive waffles has been a journey of perfecting texture and flavor for me, and a few key tips have made all the difference. I’m sharing these so you can jump straight to waffle bliss without the trial and error.
- Don’t Skip the Rest Period: I like to let the batter sit for 5-10 minutes before cooking — it helps the spices bloom and the leavening work magic.
- Medium Heat Works Best: Too hot and the waffles burn outside but stay raw inside; too low and they turn out pallid. Medium temp nails that golden crisp.
- Oil Your Waffle Iron Generously: I spray or brush the iron after every waffle — it keeps sticking at bay and keeps the exterior nice and crunchy.
- Check Doneness Visually and By Smell: Golden color and that fragrant Christmas spice smell tell me it’s ready before the timer even buzzes!
How to Serve Festive Christmas Waffles with Spices Recipe
Garnishes
My favorite toppings are creamy Greek yogurt swirled with a spoonful of nut butter (almond or peanut works great), fresh winter berries like raspberries and cranberries, and a drizzle of pure maple syrup. Sometimes I add a light sprinkle of powdered sugar or chopped toasted pecans for crunch. These layers balance sweetness and spice perfectly.
Side Dishes
I love pairing these waffles with a simple salad of citrus segments and pomegranate seeds or a hot spiced apple cider. For a heartier brunch, crispy bacon or smoked turkey sausage sides complement the spicy-sweet waffles beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
At my holiday brunches, I’ve stacked waffles into mini towers with layers of fruit and cream, securing them with a festive cocktail skewer. You can also use cookie cutters to create star or tree shapes before serving for a fun seasonal touch kids love.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I let leftover waffles cool completely on a rack to prevent sogginess, then stack them with parchment paper in between to store in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay delicious for 2-3 days—perfect for quick breakfasts.
Freezing
Freezing works wonderfully! I flash freeze my waffles on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When you want a festive breakfast, pop waffles from frozen directly into the toaster or oven — they heat up crispy and fresh, no sogginess in sight.
Reheating
I reheat waffles in a toaster oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes or until warmed through and crisp. Avoid the microwave as it can make them rubbery. This way, you can enjoy that just-made texture even on busy mornings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! I use Bob's Red Mill gluten-free 1:1 flour mix and the waffles turn out just as fluffy and flavorful. Just make sure your baking powder and other ingredients are gluten-free as well.
You can easily make vegan buttermilk by mixing 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of unsweetened plant-based milk (like almond or soy) and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes until slightly curdled. This mimics the acidity and works perfectly in the waffles.
While you can prepare batter ahead, I recommend mixing the dry and wet ingredients separately and combining them just before cooking. The leavening agents start working as soon as liquid is added, so batter can lose its rise if left overnight.
To keep waffles crispy while serving, place cooked waffles in a single layer on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven. This keeps them warm and prevents sogginess as you finish cooking the rest.
Final Thoughts
These Festive Christmas Waffles with Spices Recipe bring so much joy every time I make them. Beyond just a breakfast, they’re a comforting ritual that brightens chilly mornings and brings the spirit of the holidays right to your plate. Give them a try — I promise you’ll fall for that perfect blend of spice, chocolate, and buttery warmth, just like I did. Now, go ahead and make your kitchen smell like Christmas!
Print
Festive Christmas Waffles with Spices Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Enjoy a festive twist on breakfast with these delicious Christmas Waffles, packed with warming spices and rich cacao flavor. Perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these waffles are easy to prepare and ideal for holiday mornings or brunch gatherings.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Christmas spice blend (or gingerbread spice)
- 2 tablespoon cacao powder
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)
- 3 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon dark rum (optional)
- 2 cups buttermilk
For Cooking
- Cooking oil spray (avocado oil or 1 tablespoon cooking oil for brushing)
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, Christmas spice, cacao powder, baking powder, and baking soda. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, honey, melted butter, vanilla extract, sea salt, and dark rum if using until well combined.
- Add Buttermilk: Pour the buttermilk into the wet ingredients and whisk again until smooth.
- Mix Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, whisking gently until just combined. The batter should have a few lumps; avoid overmixing.
- Preheat Waffle Iron: Heat your waffle iron to medium and lightly spray or brush it with oil to prevent sticking.
- Cook Waffles: Spoon approximately ¼ cup of batter per waffle onto the iron, adjusting based on waffle size. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until golden and cooked through, following your waffle iron's instructions.
- Keep Warm: Place cooked waffles on a baking sheet in a single layer and keep them warm in a preheated oven at 200°F to maintain their crispiness while you cook the rest.
- Serve: Enjoy the waffles warm with toppings like yogurt, nut butter, berries, or your favorite accompaniments.
Notes
- These waffles are freezer-friendly and great for meal prep—just reheat gently before serving.
- To make vegan buttermilk, mix 2 cups of plant-based milk with 2 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
- If you don't have Christmas spice, gingerbread spice or a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves can be used as a substitute.
- Adjust the amount of honey or maple syrup to your desired sweetness level.
- Use cooking oil spray or brush your waffle iron to prevent sticking without adding excess fat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2-3 waffles
- Calories: 526 kcal
- Sugar: 19.4 g
- Sodium: 619.4 mg
- Fat: 15.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 8.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 85 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 11.8 g
- Cholesterol: 129.4 mg
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