Easy Gluten Free Oat Waffles
These crispy and fluffy oat flour waffles are the very best! They're light, healthy and gluten free. Best of all, they only require one flour—oat flour!
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on September 5, 2024
I’m pretty particular about my waffles. I want light, whole grain, crisp-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside, Belgian-with-deep-pockets, quintessential WAFFLES. No soggy waffles allowed! Bonus points if they freeze well so I can pop them in the toaster like Eggo’s.
These waffles meet all of the aforementioned qualifications. After tweaking five batches of these waffles, I can confirm that oat flour waffles are the waffles I’ve been searching for all along. Oat waffles are the waffles of my dreams.
Best of all, these waffles are gluten free! That means that I can share them with all of my friends.
This gluten-free waffle recipe is so simple that I have it memorized. It only requires one flour—oat flour—which is the easiest flour to make at home. Just toss some old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats in your blender or food processor and blend until they are a fine flour.
Watch How to Make Gluten Free Waffles
The secret to these waffles’ success is letting the batter rest for 10 minutes while your waffle iron heats up. The resting time gives the oat flour time to soak up some of the moisture, so you get crisp, fluffy waffles when it’s go time. I learned this trick with my banana oat pancakes, a recipe that has quite a few fans.
I love these waffles so much that I included this recipe in my cookbook. I’m re-sharing the recipe today with better photos in case this recipe has slipped by you over the years.
If you, like me, have been disappointed by other gluten-free waffle recipes in the past (or waffle recipes in general, really), give these a try! They’re just right. Please let me know how they turn out in the comments.
Oat Waffle Variations
You can also make flavored versions of these waffles—check out my Gluten-Free Banana Oat Waffles and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Oat Waffles.
Oat-Based Pancake Recipes to Try
If you don’t have a waffle iron at home, you can make oat pancakes in a regular skillet. Try these recipes:
Easy Gluten Free Oat Waffles
These light, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside, gluten-free waffles are my favorite waffles! They’re heart healthy, too. This waffle recipe requires just one flour, oat flour, which you can easily make yourself (see note). Recipe yields 3 to 4 round, 7-inch Belgian waffles, or 6 small, square Belgian waffles (the size shown here).
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (128 grams) oat flour*, certified gluten-free if necessary
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of cinnamon, optional
- ¾ cup room temperature milk of choice (light coconut milk, nut milk, cow’s milk)
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: oat flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: milk, melted coconut oil or butter, eggs, maple syrup and vanilla extract. (If your coconut oil solidifies on contact with cold ingredients, gently heat the wet mixture in the microwave in ten seconds intervals, until it melts again.)
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a big spoon until just combined (the batter will still be a little lumpy). Let the batter rest for 10 minutes so the oat flour has time to soak up some of the moisture. Plug in your waffle iron to preheat now (if your waffle iron has a temperature/browning dial, set it to medium-high).
- Once 10 minutes is up, give the batter one more swirl with your spoon. Pour batter onto the heated waffle iron, enough to cover the center and most of the central surface area, and close the lid. Once the waffle is deeply golden and crisp, transfer it to a cooling rack or baking sheet. Don’t stack your waffles on top of each other, or they’ll lose crispness. If desired, keep your waffles warm by placing them in a 200 degree oven until you’re ready to serve.
- Repeat with remaining batter. Serve waffles with maple syrup and nut butter, or any other toppings that sound good!
Notes
Recipe based on my oat pancakes and coconut waffles recipes.
*Make your own oat flour: Simply blend old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats (be sure to buy certified gluten-free oats if necessary) in a food processor or blender until they are ground into fine flour. You’ll need to blend roughly 1 ½ cups oats to make enough flour for these waffles (you will probably end up with a little extra). Once you’ve blended the flour, measure it using the spoon and swoop method.
Make it egg free: You can omit the eggs. The waffles will be slightly more delicate, but they’ve turned out great for me.
Make it dairy free: Use non-dairy milk and coconut oil.
Make it vegan: Use non-dairy milk, coconut oil and omit the eggs.
Freeze it: These waffles freeze beautifully. Just store in freezer-safe plastic bags and pop individual waffles into the toaster until warmed through.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Awsome
Thank you, Monika!
I’m just wondering if you think it would be okay to prepare the batter two days ahead of cooking?
Heading away for a wedding this weekend and hoping to make the batter Saturday before we leave for a Monday waffle breakfast.
Thank you, the recipe sounds amazing!
I wouldn’t recommend preparing the batter that far in advance. These waffles to freeze really well, so that could be a great option!
What is the calorie count, nutritional breakdown for these delicious waffles?
Hi Debi! The nutritional information is below the notes of the recipe. Make sure you allow cookies in your browser.
Delicious! Whole family loved them. Doubled the recipe to get 6 round waffles in our deep belgian style waffle maker.
Made it vegan with 2 flax eggs and 1 mashed banana, and almond milk. It had to be removed gently from the waffle maker but stayed intact with crisp edges.
Thanks for sharing, NB!
Another great recipe. I made it as directed and it turned out perfect.
Great, Kim!
I put 2 cups oatmeal in my food processor and pulsed until powdery, added the other ingredients and mixed until smooth. I used a tsp of cinnamon and 1/4 tsp ground ginger and replaced the maple syrup with molasses. They were wonderful.
I make these waffles at least once a week. Easier than oatmeal and basically the same thing. The only difference is my kids eat all of the waffles without me having to tell them to. I make them with flax eggs, rice bran oil, rice milk and gluten free oats. Perfect dad breakfast
Hi! I’ve made these waffles twice since Sunday and my husband and son have LOVED them. I have too of course. These are some seriously delicious waffles… oh my!
I have a question though, I cant get them to crisp up. I didn’t rest them the whole 10 minutes the first time (hangry toddler) but the second time around I did and they were still not crispy (not that we minded but still got me wondering…). I didn’t use milk that was at room temperature, might that do the trick?
That’s so great! Make me some, too. The trick for me (outside of the instructions of course), is to make sure my waffle iron is hot enough and to let them stay in there long enough. Depending on your model, I would set to maybe medium or medium high. It can vary based on type. I hope this helps!
I tried this recipe it was PERFECT! A first time for me. So excited to finally eat something tasty without having an allergic reaction following. Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you loved it, Joanna.
Great recipe! Super easy and tasty! It makes amazing pancakes too. I use applesauce and a little bit of stevia instead of syrup.
Thank you, Sarah!
These waffles are amazing! I always double or triple the recipe and freeze the leftovers. They’re even better toasted the next day!
I’m glad you loved them, Lindsay.
Thank you for the wonderful recipe! I used melted ghee and decided to throw in some wild blueberries for my waffles…fantastic! My daughter didn’t like the texture because I made my own oat flour. She felt the need to add some ice cream and whipped cream but ate almost the entire big waffle. I consider that a win.:-) I have a copper/titanium belgian waffle maker from Aldi ($19.99) and it performs beautifully! I definitely recommend and will be making again!
Thanks for sharing, Donna! The key to the oat flour is making sure it is ground fine enough. Maybe try blending it a little longer next time. That should help with the texture.
I have made the GF oat waffle recipe many times with continuing success. They are crisp and taste-full! Passed recipe on to all my gluten careful friends.
Thanks.
Love to hear that! One of my favorite go-tos. Thanks for your review, Linda.
If we can’t use butter or coconut oil, is there something else we can use. Or can we omit it? Family member is diabetic and has heart issues. Would love to serve waffles once in a while. This seems the best recipe that doesn’t involve me grinding up 3 or 4 kinds of flour.
You need oil for these to work. Can you do olive oil? That should work ok too.
Just enjoyed waffles for dinner! I do dislike people who change a recipe and then rate it but here I go and do it…sorta! I made the flour but found I was a little short…I had pulled a bag of pecans out of the cabinet to get to the oatmeal so decided to grind up some to make up the amount of total flour. I sifted it and set the larger piece of nuts aside, which later I put on top of my waffles. I loved them…we have cut all sugar and breads for 4 months now and have found gluten does not agree with me..so these were heavenly dinner for me…my husband was not such a believer. But that is because his mind saw the nut flour go in and decided he would not like them as he is not a nut lover like myself. Used a Belgian waffle iron and struggled with the timing on the first batch….made fresh blueberry compote to top them and it will go in my fav recipe book! Thanks so much for your blog and sharing simple but tasty things that we can enjoy……I know I will make a batch just to freeze as this did not make but 6 small Belgian waffles…the recipe will also go to work. Tomorrow as I have a friend whose mother is diabetic and I know these are better than the store ones she buys her now….
I appreciate you sharing what you did, Debbie!
Thank you for being who you are; a beautiful creation of the Divine, a creator of vegetarian and gf recipes, by necessity- that I love and use.
The creamy scrambled eggs, the Oat waffles, the creamy Avocado dip!
David B in Oregon
Thank you, David! I appreciate your review.
I loved your waffle recipe and even more for being gluten-free. It seems to be easy to make and very delicious too. Thank you for the tips.
Thank you for sharing, Emily!
Excellent, excellent recipe. I just made this and both my husband and I ate them up. I added pecans to one of them (nice addition). It was fun watching the mixture kind of bubble up as the oat flour absorbed the wet mixture during the 10 minute wait. Fun and delicious!
I’m glad you loved them, Anita!
Delicious! I had all ingredients on hand. Easy to make and tasted great. Thankful for simple ingredients and no complicated gf flour combos. Thank you for another awesome recipe!
You’re welcome, Suzanne!
These waffles are AMAZING!! My kids love them, too Thank you for the recipe!
You’re welcome, Dinka!
Hi What milk do people think works best in these waffles?
Light coconut milk is from a can?
thanks!
Jen
It didn’t work for me. :( I was looking forward to crunchy waffles.
Hi Marie, I’m sorry you didn’t love them! Were they just not crunchy enough? Did you leave them long enough or was it the flavor you didn’t like?
Thank you for the recipe! I made these with lemon zest and poppy seeds and they turned out fantastic. Oat flour is one of my new favorites. I added some tapioca flour too, and mixed in whipped egg whites at the end, and the waffles turned out perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Excited to try more of your recipes!
You’re welcome, Ayan! Thank you for your review.
I made these at my sister’s house and they were a huge hit. I don’t have a waffle maker. Can these be cooked as pancakes?
I wouldn’t recommend this for a pancake version. You could try this instead:https://sooka.info/pumpkin-oat-pancakes/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Thank you for the recipe. Do they work with say grated apple in them? I’m trying to get my little one to eat more fruit. Many thanks,
I haven’t tried it! I’m hesitant that the juice from the apple might not allow it to get to the consistency or crispiness. Let me know if you try it!
Made these for the 20+ time, this time with buttermilk. And have passed the recipe along to anyone I know who eats GF. They are the best. Thank you so much!!!
I love to hear that, Linda! Thank you for sharing.
You are the waffle and pancake QUEEN. These are my go-to waffles always; I have tons of other waffle recipes Bookmarked on my computer but just can’t bring myself to cheat on these ;)
Current fave way to enjoy them is to make up a quick roasted strawberry sauce (just 2 cups sliced strawberries with 1 tbsp maple syrup and a dash of vanilla, in the oven for around 20 minutes at 375) plus lots of peanut buttah! Thanks Kate!!
You’re welcome!! Thank you for your review, Nicole.
These are awesome! I mixed a batch with a bit of buckwheat ( also gluten free) adding a bit more “weight”. Love this recipe, being a celiac, I tire of the regular rice type flours. And, Yes I have to check labels for those oats that are processed in a factory without wheat, but there are enough out there at least in the States that are processed in a gluten free environment. So glad I stumbled onto this recipe thanks again !
Thank you for sharing, Cynthia!
Hi, would this work if I substitute the oat flour for a store bought gluten free flour?
I found this recipe back in 2016 when I was looking for some gluten free breakfast options. My kids loved the waffles as much as I did. This recipe has been made many, many times these past several years and always turns out perfect. Thanks so much!
I’m happy this recipe is a hit with your family, Leslie! Thanks for your review.
I made these. Used steel cut oats in a blender – not completely pulverized plus gluten free flour. They were spectacular! Highly recommend not chopping all the oats into flour.
If omitting the eggs, you said that the waffles will be more delicate…how delicate? Will it just fall completely apart when removing them from the waffle iron?
They will be a little more delicate, but they turn out!
These are amazing and my new favorite waffle!
I made these and I believe the baking soda made the have a foul taste. Not sure what it was but had to throw them out. Let me know if you know what I should eliminate
Hi Farah, I’m sorry these didn’t turnout for you. Unfortunately, I think your use of baking soda caused these to not work. You need baking powder for this recipe.
Really liked these, a great gluten free option. But both my daughter and I found a tad too sweet when topped with maple syrup like we usually would, so I think next time will only use 1 tbsp of maple syrup in the recipe. Keep up the great recipes Kate!
I’ve tried quite a few healthy waffle recipes and I’ve thoughtbsome were pretty good. All the recipes I’ve tried pale in comparison to this recipe. I’d recommend doubling the batch and I did more than a pinch of cinnamon and was happy.
Absolutely outstanding waffles. And the directions and insights really complete this perfect delivery.
Thank you so much.
You’re welcome, Kyle!
I’ve been making this recipe for a few months now. I add flax meal and chocolate chips and freeze them so that every morning the kids can pop one in the toaster and eat it on the go. They smell delicious, taste even better and are gone way too fast! The texture is perfect!
I love it! Thank you, Leila!
This is one of my favorite go-to gluten-free waffles. I have a mini Belgian waffle iron, and these make perfect breakfast sandwiches. I do have to run some Spectrum shortening on the iron and leave it in the iron about an extra minute so it will come out and be crispy, but that’s the iron, not the recipe.
This recipe came out delicious! I replaced maple syrup with honey, and threw everything in the blender (and let it rest!) I used half the recipe and it made 2 large waffles. I ate both… Lol. Kate, the nutrition information, is that per 1 mini waffle using light coconut milk and coconut oil? I used sugar free light coconut milk and coconut oil instead of butter so just wondering where my waffles stand in terms of calories. Thanks.
Hi Samira, thanks for your review! The nutritional information is for one serving, with the ingredients I listed. If you changed those, then your values will be different. Please see my nutrition disclaimer here: https://sooka.info/nutrition-disclaimer/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Love this recipe. I got tired of my previous recipe using coconut flour. Definitely a make again.
I used this recipe with my “new” Favorite-Piqua cast iron stove top waffle maker. The waffles are awesome. No one would guess they are gluten free……just delicious
I love that! Thanks, Lanet.
Excellent recipe ! So easy to make.
Just made it and it’s gone within 15 mins. My kids just loved it.
Thanks for sharing. It’s a gd recipe to keep.
I’m glad you and your kiddos loved it!
I just returned from Bruges, Belgium. I had an oat waffle that was off the chart. I came home last week, found your recipe and it’s every bit as good. Well done!
Question, how can I make the waffles more crispy?
Thanks again,
Steve
Soo yummy! All my kids love them even when i added flax meal and a little brewers yeast.
I just made these with my 7 year old and he said they were the best ever. We have made many different healthy versions of waffles and I agree, these were amazing. I also made her coconut whipped cream and tropical granola to go with them! Wonderful combination. I didn’t used vanilla yogurt and my son had the whipped cream. He used a tiny bit of maple syrup but I didn’t need any with the sweetness of yogurt and granola. Super yummy! I have shared your cookbook and website with lots of friends. My favorite part about your recipes is that they are easy to follow and foolproof. I quickly learned not to mess with them as I am usually tempted to do! Thank you!
Thank you for sharing! I’m glad you both enjoyed them. I really like your combination, too!
I have made this recipe countless times and am at it again – a breakfast favorite around here!! As always, I’m using your cashew milk recipe – something I just can’t get enough of!! With three kids under 5, I double or triple this and freeze for a super easy morning down the road. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
You’re welcome, Rachel!
made today’s breakfast, came out well and crunchy too. Thanks!
You’re welcome! Thank you for your review.
I really was hoping to like these waffles as good gluten-free waffles are few and far between and the 4.8 star rating certainly implied excellence. I followed the recipe precisely, including letting the batter rest. I found the flavor to be average to average-plus. However, as with most gluten-free recipes involving flour, the waffles pretty much fell apart once syrup was poured on top. I will go back to another recipe I use: 1cup ground oats, 1 cup cottage cheese, 2 eggs, blend. I would rate these a solid 4+ stars. Thank you, though, for the recipe, it’s always fun to try new ones.
I don’t know what happened. I attempted to follow the instructions using coconut oil. Accidentally added too much salt and cinnamon so took out extra as I could. They were so thick to mix. Came out like cookie dough. Let it sit for 10 mins, added more milk to still thicker than pudding. Cooked one batch which crumbled so badly it was challenging to get out. Tasted terrible. I can see this is a great recipe but I don’t know how it could have gone so terribly wrong.
Hi Stephanie! I have made these more times than I can remember and haven’t had that happen. How did you measure the flower? Did you use baking powder?
Hello Katie. Thank you for sharing so many wonderful recipes.
Sometimes I make this recipe to my breakfast kids, and they love it.
Do you can recommend me a waffer machine?
Tank you
Hi! See my cooking essentials. I have the link to the one I use there:https://sooka.info/healthy-kitchen-essentials/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I love this recipe! Of course I didn’t have all the ingredients and used my own. So I used 1% buttermilk instead of milk. Also used a mix of avacado oil and melted butter. Honestly my waffles turned out lovely! I was skeptical they would be crispy but they were, and not heavy considering the oat flour. I’m new to type 2 diabetes cooking. Thank you, these are excellent.
I’m happy to hear you were able to make these work with what you ad on hand. I appreciate your review, Jana!