I originally published this keto waffle recipe when we just got back from a beach vacation, and I couldn’t stop talking about how much I missed my almond flour and coconut flour. Low carb breakfast options when traveling are pretty much limited to eggs, bacon, cheese, veggies, and low carb fruit. Needless to say, I was looking forward to coming back to make low carb pancakes, keto French toast, and these keto almond flour waffles! And, if you’re looking for extra protein, try my protein waffles next!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for this almond flour waffle recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Egg – An essential ingredient for making these low carb waffles fluffy… and we’re only using ONE, so they won’t be eggy. Unfortunately, egg substitutes won’t work here, because we’re separating the white from the yolk and whipping the white to help with lift and airy texture. Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour – Choosing high quality almond flour is a must for fluffy keto waffles. It needs to be blanched and finely ground like the Wholesome Yum brand. If it happens to be clumpy, sift it! Do not use almond meal, which is grainy. Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Adds the perfect just-like-sugar sweetness to these waffles. Other keto sweeteners like erythritol can make the waffles gritty. Almond Milk – The milk in these grain-free waffles thins out the batter to the right consistency. I used unsweetened almond milk, but any keto milk is fine. Coconut milk beverage will work, but may impart a very subtle coconut flavor. If you don’t care about these being paleo or dairy-free, you could even use half & half or heavy cream. Almond Butter – Nut butter improves the flavor and texture! You can also use runny peanut butter if you prefer — just make sure it’s natural and sugar-free. Butter – Adds flavor and richness. Butter is definitely keto, but on paleo people have differing opinions. Some people include grass-fed butter as part of this lifestyle, while others avoid it. If you don’t want to use butter, ghee or coconut oil are fine replacements, and the latter is also a great option for dairy-free keto waffles. Baking Powder – Keto waffles with almond flour tend to be dense, so to prevent this, we’re using more than a white flour recipe would. Don’t confuse baking powder with baking soda, which is not the same and would cause your waffles to be bitter. Sea Salt – Balances the sweet flavor. Vanilla Extract – Use the best quality variety you can.
How To Make Keto Waffles
This section shows how to make almond flour waffles, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below. Unlike many keto waffles recipes, these are pretty airy inside — the way real waffles should be. Many others don’t crisp up the same way that wheat flour does, or turn out dense due to the almond flour. To keep these keto waffles light and airy, I used the technique from my favorite keto bread: Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks first, stir together the rest of the ingredients, and finally fold in the whites. The result was a light, fluffy batter, and the best almond flour waffles I’ve ever made.
Add-In Variations
This easy keto recipe is the perfect base for any kind of keto waffles you like. I have grand plans for making flavored ones out of them. Some flavors may require modifying ingredient ratios, but extracts and add-ins that simply get stirred in and stay whole are a safe bet. Try these variations: Now, let’s talk about the most important aspect of this low carb almond flour waffles recipe: how to get them crispy and airy! It’s a nice change of pace from other keto waffle recipes. Here are my tricks for doing just that:
Don’t skip the nut butter. I got this idea came from my flourless almond butter waffles recipe, which has no flours at all (not even gluten-free or low carb flours) and gets its crispness from almond butter. This time, we’re making almond flour waffles so they do contain flour, but I still included some almond butter to help get them crisp. Fold in the egg whites, don’t stir. Whipping the egg whites is the key to airy waffles that aren’t dense, and you don’t want to break them down when incorporating them into the batter. If you stir instead of folding, the air bubbles in the egg whites will collapse and the waffles will be more dense. After combining, the batter should be light and fluffy. Let the waffles rest. Even with the almond butter, the keto waffles are somewhat soft when you first open the waffle iron. They crisp up as they go from hot to warm, which is why I suggest turning off the iron and letting the waffle sit in there for a minute or two to cool a little. That also makes it easier to remove without tearing. Toast for extra crispness. This is not required, but if you want them extra crisp, you can pop the waffles in the toaster or even the oven for a couple minutes. A toaster oven should also work if you have one.
For an extra crispy waffle, try keto chaffles instead!
Chocolate Chip – Add a few tablespoons of sugar-free chocolate chips to the keto waffle mix. Lemon Blueberry – Add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and some blueberries. Cranberry Orange – Mix 1 teaspoon of orange zest and sugar-free dried cranberries to the keto almond flour waffle batter. Banana Nut – Add 1/2 teaspoon of banana extract and some chopped walnuts. Cinnamon – Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
If you want to know how to make almond flour waffles in a particular flavor, let me know! I love requests and can add it to my list. That’s right before you fold in the egg whites. This way, you’re not stirring the mixture unnecessarily after the whites are folded in.
Topping Ideas For Keto Waffles
Sugar-Free Maple Syrup – My absolute favorite is Wholesome Yum Keto Maple Syrup (shown below), which comes ready to use, and my friends and kids don’t believe it isn’t real maple. 😉 If you prefer to make your own, I also have a homemade sugar-free syrup recipe here. Sugar-Free Jam – Try chia jam made with strawberries, or blackberry jelly. Butter – Nothing wrong with a simple pat of butter! I prefer grass-fed, but any kind works. Berries – While blueberries work better than other fresh berries as add-ins, any kind of keto fruit is fair game for topping. Another thing I like to do is create a berry sauce with fruit like raspberries, similar to the kind used for topping low carb cheesecake.
Like many low carb almond flour recipes, this one is very filling! The recipe makes large, Belgian-style keto waffles. You can easily have a half serving (half of the waffle) at a time — especially if you add toppings.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Freeze: Make these into freezer waffles! Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Reheat: Reheat keto waffles frozen straight from the freezer, or simply from the fridge, by popping them in the toaster.
More Keto Waffle Recipes
For a basic recipe, these are the best keto waffles. When you’re ready to switch up the flavor, try these other keto recipes using a waffle maker! Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. These are very filling and the recipe makes large Belgian style almond flour waffles. You can easily have a 1/2 serving (1/2 of the waffle) at a time if you add toppings.
