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Weekends and Breakfast…
These Gluten-Free Applesauce Belgian Waffles are delicious! I believe weekends are made for big breakfasts and hot coffee. There is nothing better than a lazy weekend with good food. I have wanted to make-over a recipe like this for some time and it took awhile to find what worked best.
Original Belgian waffles are so good but not the healthiest breakfast items…..and while I have no problem with a splurge every once in a while, I love these too much to only have them for special occasions. So, why not create a recipe I feel good about and still be able to enjoy these waffles more often.
Healthy lifestyle
I really think the most approachable and sustainable way to healthy eating is baby steps. I don’t believe in “diets”, just switching to a healthy lifestyle. Yes, this means maintaining it all year round, but slowly swapping out a few foods is a great way to begin. Balance is key. I eat with the 80/20 rule in mind. That is 80% healthy food and 20% room for anything else.
It has really worked great for us! I believe the bad thing about diets is that you commit to it for a short amount of time, limiting yourself from a ton of foods, and then once you lose weight and try to have anything off your list you gain weight. You are basically teaching your body that a sweet treat or any “splurge” food is bad.
That isn’t necessarily true. If you follow more of an 80/20 rule you can eat whatever you want 20% of the time. That 20% isn’t enough to make a dent in the 80% healthy food you eat. This teaches your body that food isn’t the enemy and you won’t feel deprived. You won’t gain weight from a sweet treat. Moderation is key.
Gluten-Free Applesauce Belgian Waffles
This is the reason I like to makeover traditional recipes and swap out a few ingredients to add more nutrition. It is a really easy way to incorporate your favorite foods more often.
These Gluten-Free Applesauce Belgian Waffles are something we make almost every weekend. They are so good! Coconut sugar and butter from greasing the pan, give these waffles a crispy edge while the inside is light and fluffy. The applesauce and a hint of cinnamon make these taste so indulgent while still making them healthier choice.
Healthy recipe swaps
These Gluten-Free Applesauce Belgian Waffles do not taste “healthier” but they are. Here are a couple of ways to swap out ingredients in cooking or baking:
-A great swap in waffles or muffins is to switch out oil for applesauce. This will cut out some fat but leave the end result fluffy and moist.
-I also try and swap white flour or whole wheat flour for a gluten-free blend whenever I can. I just do a 1:1 swap and most of the time I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten free all-purpose blend.
-A great swap for processed white sugar is using coconut sugar, honey or maple syrup…depending on what you are cooking or baking. At the end of the day sugar is still sugar but I try to stick to the most natural sources.
-When a recipe calls for regular milk, I always swap it for a dairy-free kind. There are too many reasons to go into here, but I prefer using an un-sweetened vanilla almond milk the most! Coconut milk is another great option. When I’m already cooking or baking with sugar, I love knowing my milk isn’t adding more. Most conventional dairy milks out there do contain added sugar. Read your labels!
-Another thing I added in this recipe is cinnamon. Not really a swap but I love adding cinnamon into pancakes and waffles. It isn’t enough to be over-powering but it adds great flavor, not to mention the anti-inflammatory properties.
-The combination of coconut sugar and cinnamon in this recipe is so good! I can even eat them plain and they taste like a doughnut! So good! Not to mention the fact I can eat these waffles more often than I normally would because they are a little “healthier.” We usually have them every few weeks and keep the extras in the fridge for a quick morning breakfast. Just heat them up and enjoy. You can also freeze them. If you love them as much as we do though, they will go fast!
Social Media
Let me know what you think of this recipe and rate them below. I hope you enjoy these Gluten-Free Applesauce Belgian Waffles, and they become a great addition to your mornings on your path to healthy eating!
Be sure to follow me on social media to stay informed on my latest recipes and other health and wellness tips. You can follow me on Instagram @motivate.educate.repeat or use the direct link HERE.
For another healthier breakfast treat, check out my Gluten-Free Chocolate Donuts recipe HERE.
Gluten-Free Applesauce Belgian Waffles
These Gluten-Free Applesauce Belgian Waffles are a great addition to a healthy lifestyle. The combination of applesauce, cinnamon and coconut sugar make these waffles delicious! Breakfast is one of the best meals, especially on the weekend. This recipe takes the traditional waffle recipe up a notch, adds some healthier ingredients, and allows you to enjoy them more often. Who wouldn’t want that?
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Gluten-Free All-purpose Flour Blend (I like Bob’s Red Mill)
- 4 Tsp Baking powder
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/4 Cup Organic Coconut Sugar
- 2 Whole Organic Eggs
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- 2 Cups Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
- 1 Tsp Vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, Melted
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, add all wet ingredients (excluding the butter) and stir until combined.
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In a separate bowl, mix all dry ingredients together using a whisk.
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Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir in until well incorporated.
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Preheat Waffle Maker. While that’s heating, melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Brush melted butter inside waffle iron on top and bottom and make sure to coat entire thing. This makes removal easier.
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Cook for recommended time according to your waffle iron. Most waffle irons have a light that will indicate when it’s ready. Usually cook time is 2-3 minutes.
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Top with fruit, maple syrup and powdered sugar.
Oh my goodness. These look delicious. And I love your concept of swapping out ingredients for a more healthier lifestyle. Great way to “have your cake and eat it too”
Thank you! 🙂
Welp. I’m trying this over the weekend. Can not wait. Love your creative arts with food.
Thank you! 🙂 Let me know how you like them. They are so good!
Oh wow, I know what I want to make for breakfast tomorrow morning! These sound incredible!
Thank you! 🙂 They are one of my favorites for sure! Let me know if you try them.
These look delicious! I’ll have to try them out one day!
Hello! I tried making these this morning and the batter is much thinner than previous GF waffle recipes. I added 1/3 cup more flour and that helped but it is still very runny. Also, the middle doesn’t seem to be cooking all the way. The outside turns out a delicious crispy golden brown but the middle is still raw (maybe it’s my waffle maker??)
Hello! Thanks for the comment. It could be the waffle maker but not sure. I always use a big Belgian waffle maker for these. The middle is usually pretty soft and moist due to the applesauce in the recipe, but it should still looked cooked. My batter is thin also. You could always swap the applesauce for melted butter if you prefer. I just try and keep the recipe a little healthier so I’m used to the texture. Maybe add a little extra cook time. Hope you’ll give them another go and let me know how it turns out. 🙂