Brunch is not complete without a stack of these crispy Keto Waffles. They have the perfect texture and a lightly sweet flavor. And only 4.2g net carbs per serving!
Nothing beats a freshly baked waffle with butter and maple syrup. It used to be one of my favorite things to order when we went out to brunch. Especially if I knew it would be perfectly light and crispy.
That’s why I’ve been working overtime to perfect a recipe for keto waffles. I’ve probably tested several dozen variations of them over the past few months, tweaking them slightly each time. I started with the batter for my keto pancakes and adjusted a little here and a little there until I had nailed it.
And I am finally happy with results! These easy almond flour waffles are everything I want them to be. And I plan on keeping them on hand all the time.
Why you must try this recipe
Truly good waffles need to be both light and airy, but also crispy. That’s no easy feat using keto ingredients like almond flour and non-nutritive sweeteners. My pancake recipe makes pretty decent waffles as it is, but I wanted to see if I could get them lighter and crispier.
I found a few things really help. One is the addition of some protein powder, to lighten them up. Yes, it’s true. The same trick I use for all of my keto cake recipes works for waffles too! But too much protein powder, and they become overly dry. So you need to use the right amount.
I also replaced one of the eggs with two egg whites instead. Again, it makes them lighter, and it helps to crisp them up. Finally, allowing them to sit in a warm oven for a bit after they come off the iron crisps them up even more.
I honestly believe that these keto waffles are as close to the real deal as you can get. And they store well, and have only 4.2g net carbs per serving. Plus 15g of protein so you can enjoy them as a high protein breakfast too!
Ingredients you need
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- Eggs: Using some egg whites in addition to whole eggs helps make the batter a little lighter and fluffier. You can use carton egg whites.
- Low carb milk: I use unsweetened almond milk but you can also use a mixture of half cream and half water. Don’t use heavy cream alone as it will make the batter too thick.
- Avocado oil: Choose any neutral flavor oil for this recipe.
- Almond flour: These keto waffles work best with a finely ground almond flour like Bob’s Red Mill or Wellbee’s.
- Protein powder: The addition of protein powder in this keto waffle recipe helps them rise a little better. Whey protein or whey protein isolate is your best bet for these waffles. Egg white protein and plant based protein should work as well, but collagen protein will make them very soft.
- Sweetener: For crispy waffles, you need an erythritol-based sweetener, with no allulose. I like using the new Swerve Monk Fruit Blend (just erythritol and monk fruit) but make sure you check out the Expert Tips for more sweetener options.
- Pantry staples: Vanilla extract, baking powder and salt.
Step-by-step directions
1. Whisk the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg whites, almond milk, oil, and vanilla until well combined.
2. Add the dry ingredients: Add the almond flour, sweetener, protein powder, cocoa powder, baking powder, spices, and salt and and whisk until smooth. Let the batter rest 5 minutes.
3. Add to the waffle iron: Meanwhile, preheat the waffle iron and grease it lightly. For mini waffles, add about ¼ cup of the batter to each section. For classic round waffles, you will need more like ⅓ cup.
4. Cook the waffles: Close the lid and let cook until puffed and golden brown on both sides. The time will vary depending on your waffle iron. They will crisp up more as they cool.
5. Crisp them up: To crisp them up even further, you can place them in a warm (200ºF) oven for 10 minutes on a wire baking rack.
Expert Tips
Waffle irons come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, which means that how many waffles you get and how long they take to cook depends on the iron. Classic waffles are thinner and usually come in 8-inch rounds. Belgian waffles are deeper and can come in squares or circles.
I adore my Dash waffle iron that holds 4 at a time. I think they make the perfect keto waffles and I’ve gotten rid of all my other waffle irons now. I use it exclusively!
The waffles do come off the iron rather soft but they crisp up as they cool. For extra crispy waffles, place in a warm (200F) oven for 10 minutes after cooking.
Sweetener Options
For the waffles to be truly crisp, you need an erythritol based sweetener. It can be combined with some monk fruit or stevia, but it cannot contain any allulose or xylitol. Not only will allulose keep them from crisping up, but it will also cause them to brown too much and too quickly.
I do like the new Swerve that’s combined with monk fruit (not the one with allulose!). But other brands include Lakanto, So Nourished, and Whole Earth. Each of these brands also makes versions that contain allulose so make sure you check the ingredients!
Frequently Asked Questions
This keto waffle recipe has 7.7g of carbs and 3.5g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4.2g net carbs per serving.
Leftovers can be kept on the counter for up to 4 days in an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Most definitely! Make sure to wrap them up tightly to avoid freezer burn. They will last for 2 to 3 months.
What to serve with keto waffles
- Keto syrup: I found that these almond flour waffles went spectacularly well with a little of my sugar-free maple syrup. They are also delish with some Keto Blueberry Syrup.
- Keto caramel sauce: I love drizzling a little of my sugar-free caramel sauce over gingerbread flavored treats!
- Whipped cream: Lightly sweetened whipped cream is a perfect waffle topper, especially if you add a few berries.
- Peanut butter: Need a quick breakfast as you head out the door? Add a quick smear of peanut butter or my sugar-free Nutella and away you go!
Keto Waffles Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg whites (can use cartoned egg whites)
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk (or another low carb milk)
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1¾ cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup unflavored whey protein powder
- ¼ cup Swerve Granular
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg whites, almond milk, oil, and vanilla until well combined.
- Add the almond flour, sweetener, protein powder, baking powder, and salt and and whisk until smooth. Let the batter rest 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the waffle iron and grease it lightly. For mini waffles, add about ¼ cup of the batter to each section. For classic round waffles, you will need more like ⅓ cup.
- Close the lid and let cook until puffed and golden brown on both sides. The time will vary depending on your waffle iron. They will crisp up more as they cool.
- To crisp them up even further, you can place them in a warm (200ºF) oven for 10 minutes on a wire baking rack.
Lana McQuown says
These waffles have an amazing flavor, so reminiscent of a belgium waffle. The outside wasn’t as crisp as I would like and that was after 10 min in the oven, but it has been ages since I have had a belgium waffle, that I am probably over estimating how crispy they actually were. The only change I made was that I used vanilla whey protein as that was all I had. I used a 1/4 c measuring cup to portion, cooked for 4 minutes, and ended up with 13 waffles. These are perfection and my search for a waffle recipe is officially over. Thank you so much for creating and sharing such an a fantastic recipe.
Leila Chalk says
These waffles are the best! It is very easy to make. Great recipe!
LaWanda says
Hi Carolyn! Can I use monk fruit sweetener and flavored protein powder?
Marlene says
Can you use the waffle recipe for pancakes too?
Carolyn says
Please search my website for my pancake recipes…