Light, crisp, and full of flavor, these cinnamon waffles with yeast are a wholesome twist on classic diner-style waffles. The yeast creates a tender interior with crispy edges and adds a subtle depth of flavor you simply can’t get from quick batters. Even better? You can prep the batter the night before for an easy, stress-free morning.
Made with white whole wheat flour (or a flour-oat blend), these waffles deliver whole grain nutrition while still tasting soft and fluffy. A teaspoon of cinnamon ups the game for more flavor and fun!
Must-Know Cooking Skill to Level Up Your Kitchen Game
To make this recipe even easier, check out these videos to learn how to:
Learn how to slice and dice like a pro in our Knife Skills 101 course!
Culinary Tips for the Best Cinnamon Waffles
- Keep the water temperature warm (<120°F), not hot, or you will kill the yeast!
- Be sure to measure the flour correctly. Fluff, spoon, and level! Packing it into the cup will result in dense waffles.
- If you tend to use a lot of syrup to top your waffles or you just prefer a less sweet waffle, use 1 Tablespoon of sugar. If you like to top it with fresh fruit, plain yogurt, and/or nut butter, use 2 Tablespoons.
- Don’t overstir the batter! Too much mixing can result in tough waffles. Stir gently until all ingredients are moistened; the batter should be slightly lumpy. If the batter looks a little too thick, add more milk. If too thin, add a spoonful of flour.
Ingredient Swaps & Substitutions
- Yeast: use active dried or instant yeast.
- Sugar: substitute brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, or agave. Mix liquid sweeteners in with the wet ingredients.
- Milk: If you want to make vegan whole wheat waffles, use soy milk.
- Butter: substitute canola, avocado, or melted coconut oil. However, there’s just no replacing the flavor of butter!
- Vanilla Extract: substitute ½ teaspoon of almond or coconut extract.
- White Whole Wheat Flour: substitute whole wheat pastry flour or spelt flour. You can also substitute regular whole wheat flour, but the flavor, color, and texture won’t be quite as light. If you don’t have white whole wheat flour, you can substitute half all-purpose flour and half whole wheat flour, although this will slightly decrease the fiber content. You can also substitute 1 cup of old fashioned oats as indicated in the recipe. To make gluten-free waffles, use a gluten-free flour mix, such as Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Flour, but note that the fiber content may decrease.
- Cinnamon: Did you know that there is more than one type of cinnamon? Try different varieties based on your preference. Cassia is the common kind, but Saigon, a To Taste favorite, is more intense.
- Eggs: substitute two flax eggs or ½ cup fruit puree. To make two flax egg, mix 2 Tablespoons ground flaxseeds with 6 Tablespoons water. Let sit for 10 minutes or until thickened.
Recipe Variations
Add some more spice, like cardamom, nutmeg, or cloves for more flavor or a handful of dark chocolate chips, always a fan favorite at our houses.
Looking for yeast waffle inspiration?
Try our base recipe, explore our variations, and then have fun experimenting with your favorite ingredients to suit YOUR taste!
Equipment Recommendations
Make sure your kitchen is stocked with these tools for easy preparation!
Check out our essential equipment guide to stock your kitchen with ALL the tools you need to prepare anything and everything!
Are cinnamon waffles with yeast healthy?
Ours definitely are! Featuring whole wheat flour and less added sugar, they already surpass store-bought mixes and most other recipes online when it comes to health. Whole wheat flour adds fiber, which is usually very minimal in sweet breakfast items.
Whole Wheat Flour
Whole wheat flour is a good source of fiber, B vitamins, Vitamin E, trace minerals, and phytonutrients. Replacing refined grains (i.e. white flour) with whole grains (i.e. whole wheat flour) may reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Confused about the pros and cons of gluten? Check out our gluten article that provides evidence-based information about this controversial protein!
Low Added Sugar
High sugar consumption is not good for health, and in general, most Americans eat way too much. Men should aim to consume less than 9 teaspoons (~36 grams) of sugar per day, and women should aim to consume less than 6 teaspoons (~24 grams) of sugar per day. This entire recipe only contains 1 Tablespoon of added sugar, which is only about 1.5 grams per waffle (depending on your waffle iron size)!
Learn more about hidden sugars in this article.
Cinnamon
Using spices decreases the need for salt, which may help reduce hypertension risk, and therefore promote heart health. Cinnamon has compounds that contain anti-diabetic and glucose-lowering effects. These effects may promote steady blood sugar levels after a meal.
Explore our Ingredient Guide for more tips on choosing the freshest, most flavorful picks for your recipes. Because great ingredients = great food! 🌟🍴
How to Serve
Hold the cinnamon waffles in a warm oven (170 ºF) or the warm setting in a microwave until ready to eat.
Serve with Greek yogurt, fruit, nuts or nut butter, or a side of scrambled eggs for a balanced breakfast full of healthy carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
Storage Tips
Want cinnamon waffles from scratch every morning? Cook once, and eat all week! Multiply the recipe by your desired final yield, cook, and cool. Place cooled waffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Frozen cinnamon waffles are great for a quick “reheat and eat” breakfast. For best quality, place cooled waffles in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze for 1-2 hours, then place in a freezer-safe container. This helps prevent the waffles from sticking to each other. Reheat in the toaster for a nice crispy exterior until warmed through.
Want more cinnamon loaded breakfast ideas?
Check out these other delicious recipes, and as always, make to YOUR taste!
Chocolate Chip Waffles with Oats and Cinnamon
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FAQ Questions:
How do I keep waffles crispy?
Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?
What toppings go well with cinnamon waffles?
These waffles pair well with fresh berries, sliced bananas, maple syrup, Greek yogurt, whipped cream, toasted nuts, apple com
pote, or a light dusting of powdered sugar.
Can I make these waffles dairy-free?
Yes. Replace the milk with your preferred plant-based milk and use a dairy-free butter or neutral cooking oil. The waffles will still be flavorful and fluffy.
Why are my yeast waffles not rising?
If the batter doesn’t rise, the yeast may be expired, the liquid may have been too hot or too cold, or the batter wasn’t kept in a warm place long enough for fermentation.
Cinnamon Waffles with Yeast
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- ½ cup warm water
- 2 cups whole milk
- 6 Tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour (or 1 cup flour + 1 cup old fashioned oats)
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine yeast, sugar, and water. Set aside for about 5 minutes or until foamy.
- Add milk, unsalted butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk until combined.
- Add flour and cinnamon, and whisk until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand 2 to 3 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Heat waffle iron. Whisk eggs into waffle batter. Stir until combined.
- Using a pastry brush or paper towel, lightly coat the iron with oil or melted butter. Add about ½ cup of waffle batter to the iron for each waffle. Cook waffles until golden and crisp. Enjoy!
