Wake Up To Mmm! This 3-Ingredient Banana Waffle Recipe Preps Fast In Your Blender

The overripe bananas sitting on your kitchen counter might seem like a waste, but don’t toss them out just yet! While that brown fruit may be too mushy to snack on, they’re ideal for adding naturally sweet flavor to all sorts of treats. One of our favorite uses for overripe bananas? Waffles! Mixed right in the batter, they’re a sneaky way to give the breakfast classic a healthy upgrade. That said, some mornings we’re short on time — that’s why we flipped when we discovered an easy recipe that requires just 3 ingredients (and one of those is water!) yet tastes so, so good. We’re sharing it below, along with our favorite traditional banana waffle recipes for a deliciously easy breakfast.

Why use bananas in waffles

Super-ripe bananas are packed with natural sugars, so they infuse waffles with a subtle sweetness, and in many instances, that means you can cut back on (or even skip) added sugar. Plus, the mashed fruit has a soft yet chewy consistency, giving the waffles irresistible texture once cooked.

How to make 3-ingredient banana waffles

For a quick way to enjoy the fruity goodness of banana waffles, we love cooking up a batch of 3-Ingredient Banana Oat Waffles from the Cooking With Plants YouTube Channel. The batter consists of an overripe banana, rolled oats and water — that’s it! So it’s also great for those looking for a dairy-free, flour-free option. (If you’re avoiding gluten, just be sure to use gluten-free oats.) Simply blend up the ingredients and cook in a waffle iron. It’s a foolproof recipe for golden brown waffles that are slightly sweet, nutty and delicious for enjoying with maple syrup and fruit.

Along with the waffles’ flavor, you’ll savor nutritional perks thanks to health-boosting banana, which is brimming with potassium and calcium to help regulate healthy nerve function and reverse bone loss. Plus, the rolled oats in the waffles are full of soluble fiber that aids digestion and blood sugar control — a win-win. (Click through to learn more about high fiber foods and potassium-rich foods.)

3-Ingredient Blender Banana Waffles

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 large banana
• 2½ cups of water

Directions:

• Total time: 25 mins
• Yield: About 6 square waffles (2 to 3 servings)

1. Preheat electric waffle iron following manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Peel banana and add to blender or food processor with oats and water. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes until fully combined and thick batter forms.
3. Once waffle iron is preheated, coat with nonstick cooking spray. Pour enough batter to coat grates. Close appliance and cook for about 5 minutes or until waffles are golden brown.
4. Remove waffle from appliance and place on serving platter or cooling rack. Repeat with remaining batter until all waffles are cooked.
5. Serve waffles with fresh fruit (if desired) and maple syrup. Enjoy!

How to make traditional banana waffles 

For mornings when you have more time or days when you want an extra-indulgent breakfast, traditional banana waffles are the perfect treat. They’re made with standard ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, milk and baking powder — mixing in banana just adds an extra layer of sweetness. And to guarantee delicious results, all you need are two simple tricks: mix a bit of cornstarch into the batter and whip your egg whites before adding. According to recipe developer Karly Campbell, founder at Buns in My Oven, both of these steps are key as “the cornstarch helps make the waffle crispy on the outside, and the egg white makes it light and airy inside.”

For the cornstarch, whisk it with the dry ingredients before adding it to the wet mixture. In her recipe for Belgian waffles, Campbell uses 1:3 cornstarch to flour ratio for the most tender and golden waffles.

As for adding egg whites to the batter, this is the last step done prior to cooking. It involves separating the egg whites from yolks and whisking them until stiff peaks form. Afterwards, the whites are gently folded into the batter, creating a light and airy consistency.

2 traditional recipes for banana waffles

Our test kitchen shares two easy banana waffle recipes that turn the overripe fruit into a sweet sensation. The first recipe is plain, so that allows you to get creative with toppings for added flavor. The second one features Nutella for a chocolaty treat. Ultimately, both of these banana waffles recipes are simple to whip up and always win rave reviews!

Plain Banana Waffles

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, separated
• 2 overripe bannas, mashed
• 1½ cups milk
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 3 Tbs. sugar
• 1 Tbs. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. salt
• Cooking spray
• Desired syrup and toppings

Directions:

• Total time: 45 mins
• Yield: 6 servings

1. Heat waffle maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Whisk together eggs yolks, mashed banana, milk, melted butter and vanilla extract. In bowl, mix flour, cornstarch sugar, baking powder and salt. Make well in center of dry ingredients; pour in egg mixture. Whisk until smooth and then set aside.
3. In separate clean bowl, whip egg whites with whisk or electric handheld mixer until stiff peaks form, around 5 minutes. Carefully fold egg whites into batter, ensuring the mixture stays fluffy and airy.
4. Ladle ¼ cup to ½ cup batter into preheated waffle maker that’s been greased with cooking spray. Cook until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes, before placing cooked waffle on plate. Repeat with remaining batter.
5. Top each waffle with drizzle of syrup and toppings. Enjoy!

Nutella Banana Waffles

Ingredients:

• 1¾ cups milk
• 2 bananas, mashed
• 2 eggs, separated
• ¼ cup Nutella
• 1 tsp. of vanilla extract
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• Desired syrup and toppings
• Cooking spray

Directions:

• Total time: 45 mins
• Yield: 6 servings

1. Heat waffle maker to medium-high heat waffle maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.
2. In first bowl, mix milk, mashed banana, egg yolks, Nutella and vanilla extract together; set aside. In second bowl, stir flour, cornstarch sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Stir wet and dry bases together until fully combined. Set aside.
3. In third clean bowl, beat egg whites by hand or with electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Gently fold egg whites into main batter.
4. Once waffle maker is preheated, grease with cooking spray and ladle ¼ cup to ½ cup batter into machine. Cook waffle about 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown and risen. Transfer waffle to plate. Repeat with remaining batter until all waffles are cooked.
5. Drizzle each waffle with syrup and serve with toppings. Enjoy!

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