Wow ’em Waffles
Dreena Burton is one of the pioneering vegan cookbook authors. Vegan for 25 years, Dreena is also a mom to three “weegans.” She has charted her journey as a plant-based cook and mother of three through five bestselling cookbooks. Dreena has also collaborated with renowned plant-based physician Dr. Barnard on The Cheese Trap and coauthored their most recent Cookbook for Reversing Diabetes. Dreena’s recipes have been featured with groups including PCRM, Forks Over Knives, Blue Zones, and The Food Network. Dreena was also the Culinary Coordinator with The Food Revolution Network’s Whole Life Club. Connect with Dreena’s online kitchen and community at dreenaburton.com.
Ingredients
1 cup nondairy plain or vanilla yogurt
1 cup sliced ripe banana (see note)
1 cup oat flour
1/2 cup almond meal (see nut-free note)
11/2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat your waffle maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Put the yogurt and banana in a blender (or in a deep cup if using an immersion blender) and blend until smooth. In a mixing bowl, stir together the oat flour, almond meal, baking powder, and salt. Add the yogurt-banana mixture to the dry ingredients along with the vanilla. Mix to combine fully.
When the waffle maker is ready, ladle about 1/2 cup of the batter into each waffle mold. Close the lid and let the waffle cook and set for 41/2–5 minutes (the time will depend on the brand of waffle maker). Check at the end of this time, and if the waffles need a little more browning, allow them to cook for about another minute. When ready, remove and transfer to a cooling rack.
Repeat with the remaining batter.
Banana Note: The banana doesn’t have to be overripe, as when making banana bread, but it should be ripe enough to have natural sweetness. You’ll need 2 small to medium bananas to yield 1 cup sliced bananas.
Nut-Free Note: For a nut-free version, replace the almond meal with a mix of 1/4 cup pumpkin meal plus 1/4 cup hemp seeds.
Serving Suggestions: These waffles are tasty straight up because they are lightly sweetened with the banana and vanilla. Try serving with fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup, and maybe a dollop of vegan whipped cream—or, better yet, with a big spoonful of Dessert Cashew Cream (recipe in Dreena’s Kind Kitchen) or Coconut-Date Caramel Cream (recipe in Dreena’s Kind Kitchen).
Recipe Note
Many people think waffles can’t be tasty if they are vegan. Not so! These waffles have a gorgeous golden color, and are just lightly sweet with a crispy-tender texture. Time to wow ’em!
