Easy Pumpkin Waffles

Fluffy Pumpkin Spice Waffles Recipe

How to Make Pumpkin Waffles with Pumpkin Puree & Fall Spices

A deliciously fluffy, easy pumpkin spice waffles recipe for a Belgian waffle maker! Made with a simple batter using minimal ingredients, it’s an irresistibly flavorful and convenient warm breakfast that you can whip up quickly. Learn how to make pumpkin waffles with real pumpkin puree and fall spice in just 15 minutes. Or, pan fry the batter to make pumpkin pancakes!

If you love the comfort of fall flavors all year long, this pumpkin spice waffle recipe is the perfect way to enjoy a dose of pumpkin anytime. Made with either homemade or canned pumpkin puree, every fluffy bite is bursting with sweet, pumpkin-y goodness. And, combined with some prune juice, the batter is naturally sweet with no added sugars!

Best of all, these easy pumpkin waffles taste undeniably homemade, but they’re as simple to make as a store-bought boxed waffle mix. Just combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, then pour the batter onto a hot waffle iron. In 4-5 minutes, you’ll have scrumptious pumpkin Belgian waffles ready to douse in syrup and devour!

What is the difference between a Belgian waffle and a regular waffle?

Typically, Belgian waffles are lighter, fluffier, and have deeper pockets than American-style regular waffles. They’re cooked in a waffle iron with a larger, deeper grid pattern—making perfect pockets for pools of maple syrup! Though they were traditionally made with yeast, modern Belgian waffles use a leavening agent like baking powder or soda for fluffiness.

How can I add flavor to my waffles?

These simple pumpkin waffles get their fall flavor from real pumpkin puree, plus comforting spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ground ginger. For other fun flavor options, consider adding some mix-ins to your batter. A few tablespoons of blueberries, chopped banana, chocolate chips, or even nut butter could all be delicious in this recipe!

Pumpkin Spice Waffles Ingredients

• Flour. Personally, I love homemade waffles best when they’re made with all-purpose flour! Though I haven’t tested it myself, this recipe should also work with wheat flour, and it may also work with a gluten free all-purpose flour. (Try my gluten free pizza waffles recipe for an option made with brown rice flour!)
• Baking Powder. This is an essential leavening agent that gives these easy pumpkin waffles a crave-ably fluffy texture! I don’t recommend omitting or substituting for it.
• Spices. I like the combination of cinnamon, cardamom, ground ginger, and salt to give these fall waffles some comforting flavor. You can keep it even simpler by just using cinnamon and a dash of salt, or feel free to add even more spices that you enjoy!
• Pumpkin Puree. This is the source of real pumpkin flavor, adding some natural sweetness and acting as a natural fat substitute. You can make homemade pumpkin puree if desired or needed, or use my favorite option: store-bought canned pumpkin puree.
• Prune Juice. Rather than milk, I decided to make these pumpkin spice waffles with prune juice for natural sweetness and a dose of fiber. That means no refined or added sugars are needed!
• Egg. Also an essential ingredient, the egg acts as a binder to hold the final product together. I haven’t personally tried to make this recipe with a flax egg, but you’re welcome to experiment with it.
• Toppings. Of course, maple syrup is my go-to topping for these pumpkin waffles, along with some whipped cream and pumpkin seeds. You could also add a pad of butter on top, some chopped dried fruit or prunes, sliced banana, chocolate chips, a drizzle of nut butter—anything you like!

How to Make Pumpkin Waffles with Belgian Waffle Maker

• Separately, whisk together dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another.
• Add dry into wet mixture, stirring well to combine.
• Preheat waffle iron as indicated on machine’s instructions. Spray with cooking spray once heated.
• Scoop ½-1 cup of batter onto hot waffle iron. (My 7-inch round Belgian waffle maker requires 1 cup batter, yielding 2 waffles. Some smaller waffle irons use only ½ cup.)
• Close, flip, and cook according to machine’s specifications. (Or, cook on a pan or griddle to make pumpkin pancakes!)
• Serve pumpkin spice waffles warm with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Why is a flip waffle maker better?

Generally, a flip waffle maker will cook waffles faster and more evenly. After pouring the batter onto the preheated waffle iron, the bottom begins to cook and spread. Then, once you flip the iron, the batter flows to the other side, heating and cooking immediately. The result is a fluffier, perfectly cooked pumpkin spice waffle that’s ready in 4-5 minutes!

Why are my pumpkin waffles not crispy?

Thanks to the flour and egg in this recipe, these pumpkin waffles turn out lusciously fluffy with crisp edges! If your waffles are less crispy than you like, try leaving the waffle on the iron to cook for an extra 30-60 seconds or so. In general, too much moisture results in less-crispy waffles. So, if you like extra-crispy waffles, you could also slightly reduce the amount of juice in the batter.

Are pancake batter and waffle batter the same?

Overall, both waffle batter and pancake batter feature the same basic ingredients: flour, eggs, liquid, a leavening agent, and maybe some flavorings. Sometimes the ratio of ingredients may vary, but they’re very similar. Thankfully, you can cook this pumpkin waffle recipe in a waffle iron or on the griddle as fluffy pumpkin pancakes! A great option to switch up your breakfast routine.

More homemade waffle and pancake recipes:

• Gluten Free Pizza Waffles
• Egg Waffle Recipe
• Fluffy Oat Flour Pancakes
• Fluffy Vegan Pancakes
• Keto Pancakes with Almond Flour
• Keto Coconut Flour Pancakes
• Pumpkin Protein Pancakes
• 3-Ingredient Vegan Pancakes

See how to make these pumpkin waffles in my Easy & Fun Breakfasts video!