Cozy pumpkin oatmeal waffles are perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. These waffles are full of pumpkin spice and whole oats then they're topped with maple syrup and candied pecans.

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Breakfast or brunch in our home on a fall October morning usually consists of something pumpkin and lately we’ve been craving waffles of all kinds. These pumpkin oatmeal waffles are they perfect way to start the day.

The waffles are fluffy and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and more. They are best served warm with a cool drizzle over maple syrup over top but they can be stored long term and short term. If you have a sweet tooth you’re going to love these.

Why You'll Love These Pumpkin Oatmeal Waffles

These healthy pumpkin waffles are perfect for fall. They're made with fresh pumpkin, spiced with pumpkin pie spice, and contain whole rolled oats. Each bite is full of flavor that will leave you wanting more.
They're super easy to make. You only need two mixing bowls, a large spoon for mixing, and a non-stick waffle iron. Don’t worry about doing a ton of dishes with this recipe.
This recipe is so good on its own but it's very versatile which means you can make it your own by topping it in creative ways or adding mix-ins. Whether you like butter, maple syrup, honey, or chocolate chips there are so many things you can do with these. More on that later.

What You’ll Need to Make These Pumpkin Oatmeal Waffles

Eggs - keep these at room temperature for the best results
Milk - the milk you usually keep in your fridge is fine, that can be skim milk, 2%, whole, or a dairy free variety.
Vegetable oil - fat is an important part in waffles, vegetable or canola are a great choice because they're mild in flavor.
Vanilla extract - use a good quality extract for the best flavor and results
1/2 cup pumpkin puree - be sure to choose pumpkin puree without any sweeteners or cinnamon
All purpose flour
Baking Powder - to help with the fluffiness of the waffles
Sugar - adds a little bit of sweetness
Salt - brings out the flavor and sweetness in the waffles
Pumpkin pie spice - a spice blend that contains cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger
Whole oats - adds fiber, helps keep you full longer, and adds protein to the waffles

How To Make Pumpkin Oatmeal Waffles

Step 1. In a medium sized bowl add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree. Whisk together until well combined. Be sure that the eggs are completely broken up before moving forward.

Step 2. In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until well combined. Then, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter may still be lumpy, that’s okay, just make sure there are no more flour streaks. Once done, fold in the whole oats until they’re evenly distributed in the batter.

Step 3. Heat the waffle iron and spray with cooking spray if needed. Pour 1/2 cup of the batter onto the waffle maker and close. Cook until the waffle iron says your waffles are ready. Remove the fluffy pumpkin waffles and serve with maple syrup and fresh berries.

Can The Pumpkin Oatmeal Waffles Be Made Gluten Free?

Wondering if these pumpkin oat waffles can be made gluten free? The answer is yes, most of the time baked goods can be made gluten free. However, the gluten free flour you choose could lead to different results since not all flours are created equally.

I personally have not used a gluten free flour to make these, however, after doing some research on the topic I have a few pointers to send you in the right direction if you're trying to make this recipe gluten free. You may already know that not all gluten free flours are the same. Many times simply substituting the all purpose flour for a gluten free flour won’t typically give you the best results without adjusting another ingredient or two.

The best way to do this would be to choose an all in one gluten free flour blend. These are gluten free flours that mimic regular flour and have been tested for their versatility and they overall do a great job. Something that makes them a great choice over another gluten free flour (like oat flour) is the fact that they're made with stabilizers. This makes it to where it can be substituted for regular flour in a 1 to 1 ratio. It doesn’t get easier than that.

All in one gluten free flours are especially great in wet batters like this one. You may not even notice much of a difference. Next time you're at the store try to get one of these. They are commonly found at large grocery stores. Make sure you see a 1 to 1 baking flour note on the front to be sure you’re getting the right type. If you try this swap to make gluten free pumpkin waffles let me know how it goes!

How to Freeze Pumpkin Oatmeal Waffles

If you’re not feeding a large family you may end up with leftovers. Short term storage in the refrigerator is easy but it’s only good for up to a week. If you're interested in long term storage I suggest you freeze the waffles. It’s super easy and they’re good for up to 3 months.

To freeze the oat waffles, first let them cool completely. Then place on a sheet pan evenly spaced apart. The biggest thing here is to not let them touch. Place the sheet pan into the freezer and let freeze completely. This may take a few hours. Once completely frozen place them in a freezer bag and return back to the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat the easy pumpkin waffles you can place in a preheated oven at 350 degrees and bake for 5-10 minutes or until fully thawed and warmed through. My personal favorite way to enjoy these is to reheat in the toaster. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for an on the go breakfast in the morning.

Making Pumpkin Oatmeal Waffles In A Blender Vs. A Mixing Bowl

Something I’ve seen a lot of lately are blender waffles recipes. They're known to be fast and easy. If you have a blender and love to use it, you may try it with this recipe but keep in mind you may end up with different results. Since baking is a science, every step matters so let’s talk about the differences between making the batter in mixing bowls versus a blender.

I typically don’t go the blender method with this pumpkin waffles recipe because it’s so easy to over mix the batter in a blender. It’s important to mix the dry and wet ingredients separately first and then add the two together. When adding the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients it’s important to mix just until you no longer see white flour streaks to avoid over mixing.

Over mixing can cause your batter to lose its airy light texture in the middle. It can also make the waffles more dense and chewier. On the other hand if you want to use your blender, use it to blend the wet ingredients together separate from the dry ingredients and then pour into a mixing bowl and combine with the dry ingredients.

Is This Recipe Vegan?

This pumpkin spice waffles recipe is not entirely vegan since it uses eggs and milk. It's very easy to substitute a non-dairy milk like almond milk for this recipe with little to no difference in the results. Replacing the eggs on the other hand is not something I have tried. I have seen many recipes use flax eggs in place of eggs or increase the oil content to make up for the eggs but I have never tried that with this recipe.

Are The Oatmeal Pumpkin Waffles Heathy?

Are these pumpkin waffles healthy? I would have to say so! Pumpkin alone is a very nutritious fruit. It’s packed with potassium, vitamin A, and iron. It’s been known to lower the risk of certain types of cancer, boost immunity, help with hypertension and more.

The whole oats are also packed with nutritious benefits. They’re full of fiber, help keep you full longer, protect the body from carcinogens and also boost immunity. They don’t overwhelm the spiced pumpkin waffles batter, there’s just enough.

If you're looking to make these pumpkin oatmeal waffles a little healthier you can try substituting regular dairy milk for a non-dairy variety such as unsweetened almond, oat, or soy. This will cut back on sugar, cholesterol, fat, and more! You can also substitute the all purpose flour for a whole wheat flour instead to increase the fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Mix-In Ideas for Pumpkin Oatmeal Waffles

These waffles are perfect and delicious on their own, however, you can make them even better with additions to the batter. Consider adding the following:

Sweet Ideas
Chocolate chips
Dried cranberries or other dried fruit
Walnuts or pecans
Cocoa powder
Peanut butter
Apple cider in place of milk
Chai tea in place of milk

Ways to Top Pumpkin Oatmeal Waffles

There are so many ways to top the pumpkin oatmeal waffles. You can stick with the typical syrup and butter if you want to but I encourage you to try something you’ve never tried before. Whether you’re making this pumpkin waffle recipe for breakfast or dessert, they are so good when topped the following ways.

Fresh fruit and powdered sugar (try something seasonal like pomegranate seeds, cooked apples, or sliced pears)
Chocolate drizzle and candied nuts
Ice cream
Nutella
Apples and cinnamon
Fruit jelly, jam, or compote
Honey
Caramel drizzle

There’s so much you can do with this healthy pumpkin waffles recipe. Take the pumpkin and oatmeal waffles up a notch by adding any of these. Let me know if you try any of these variations.

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