Last Updated on June 8, 2021 by Chef Mireille
Healthy Whole Wheat Carrot Waffles are the best homemade waffles that are as delicious as they are healthy. Infused with warm spices and fresh carrots, these easy instant waffles make a great weekend brunch. Pair it with applesauce as a healthier alternative to syrup!
Have you ever seen those commercials advertising breakfast or waffles that look more like dessert than a way to start the day off?
Syrup and compotes and whipped cream with sugar upon sugar upon sugar. I don’t even want to look at the calories in one of those plates!
However, I love pancakes and waffles and when you skip all the sugar laden accoutrements, it’s a actually a pretty healthy breakfast.
In this version, I have paired Healthy Waffles made with whole grains and carrots with a mango applesauce. Infused with the spices we find in carrot cake, these waffles are a great way to have your cake and eat it too!
The mango applesauce is such a great complimenting condiment that really, the syrup is not necessary. However, if you want to be more decadent, especially for a weekend brunch – you can still serve it with syrup.
What if you don’t have a waffle iron? No problem – you can easily make Healthy Carrot Cake Pancakes with this same waffle mix.
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Table of Contents
When I was a nursery school chef, our goal was to provide kid friendly delicious recipes that were healthy too. We had to adhere to strict health guidelines to make sure each meal was balanced with protein, fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
To that end, we served pancakes and waffles with applesauce instead of syrup. The kids never complained and grew to love this healthier combination. Teaching kids to eat healthy is all about starting young.
If they were older kids who had already been accustomed to eating breakfast food loaded with syrup, it would have been a lot harder for them to adjust to eating their pancakes and waffles with applesauce. However, at 2-3 years old, it was easy!
Inspired by that combination, I created this Healthy Carrot Cake Waffle Breakfast, albeit a little more upscale and gourmet than we provided at the nursery school.
Homemade Mango Applesauce is also a great snack for kids, on its own.
This Healthy Breakfast consists of:
- Eggless Whole Wheat Carrot Waffles
- Vanilla Bean Mango Applesauce
The applesauce is so good it can be enjoyed as dessert all on its own!
Versatile Carrots
Carrots are one of those ingredients most of us always have in the fridge. They are inexpensive to purchase in bulk and they last a very long time when stored in the refrigerator.
They are also one of the most versatile ingredients. Not only is it commonly included in Soups and Stews but you can make anything from Carrot Muffins to Carrot Hummus with carrots. With its mild natural sweetness, carrots can be used in both savory recipes like this Smoky Pork Stew or in sweeter recipes like this Haitian Plantain Porridge.
They can easily be eaten raw or cooked.
Not only are they convenient to have around and easy to prepare, but carrots are also full of health benefits.
Benefits of Carrots
Carrots are good sources of:
- Fiber
- Vitamin A
- Biotin
- Vitamin B6
- Potassium
- Vitamin K1
- Beta Carotene
- Antioxidants
With all of these vitamins and minerals, carrots are a good natural source of energy and aids in bone health, eye health and blood coagulation.
For this reason, including carrots in as many recipes as you can is a good idea.
Meal Plan Recipe
If you meal prep or meal plan, this is a great recipe to include in the weekly repertoire. You can easily make a big batch and then freeze these and then just pop them in the toaster – the same like you would any supermarket freezer waffles.
Serve them with the Mango Applesauce or fresh fruit and breakfast is ready in just a few minutes.
Freezing Homemade Waffles
- Let waffles cool completely.
- Place each quarter of a round waffle in an individual freezer bag or wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
Ingredients for Carrot Cake Waffles
- whole wheat pastry flour
- cornmeal
- baking powder
- salt
- ground cloves
- ground ginger
- firmly packed brown sugar
- grated ginger
- carrots
- milk
- oil
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How to make Easy Homemade Waffles
- Cook carrots and mash them.
- Mix all of the dry ingredients together.
- Mix all of the wet ingredients together.
- Combine and mix until just combined.
- Cook in your waffle maker, according to package instructions.
So the next time you have some extra carrots about, try these Healthy Waffles!
You can choose to enjoy it with or without syrup!
This combination of flavors worked even better than I thought they would. The ginger in the waffles really complements the mango in the applesauce, when they are in your mouth together. A big spoonful of the applesauce on every bite of waffle and you will be delighted! No one will be asking for syrup.
Healthy Carrot Cake Waffles
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup carrots peeled & boiled until very soft (about 30 minutes), drained and mashed
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ginger grated
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup oil
Instructions
- Cook carrots in boiling water until very soft.
- Drain carrots and mash them.
- In a bowl, combine pastry flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, sugar, cloves and ground ginger.
- In another bowl, combine carrots, fresh ginger, milk and oil. Beat well.
- Add to dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Preheat and grease waffle iron and cook, per your waffle maker instructions.
- For my round Oster waffle iron, I used approximately 3/4 cup of batter for each waffle and cooked about 6 minutes each.
Notes
Nutrition
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Jayanthi
Love waffles but never made it at home. I need to get waffle iron first. Carrot and ginger gives a mind blowing combo (On a side note, I love carrot-ginger juice from Jamba juice), so can relate to that taste. Lovely color on the waffles Mir!!!
Smitha
sounds yummy…i have been wishing for a waffle maker…hopefully i will get it soon…mango applesauce sound delicious!
Srivalli
Love that combination, I am sure it tasted great..have not tried making waffle at home..carrot in that makes it very healthy..glad to know that you have been blogging non stop..congrats on the achievement..
A Kamalika Krishmy
Congrats on reaching your milestone, Chef..This waffle is loaded with the goodness of Carrot ..Apple sauce makes it doubly delectable
Priya
Congrats Mireille,thats really great, Waffle looks simply yummy with loads of flavours..loved that sauce.
Hooney Macarooney
I love the idea of a gingered carrot waffle… going to try this soon!
vaishali sabnani
wow Mireille this is grt..kudos on this marvellous acheivement…even I planned to post non stop…but..ah..dont think with so much going on in life it's my cup of tea..oh ya..loving this unique combo of sauce..super waffles!!
foodiliciousnan
Waffles look so pretty but I've never had them! Neither do I have a waffle. Iron…maybe should try using this batter for a dosa! The addition of mango to applesauce sounds lovely…and congrats on the30 day achievement 🙂
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just take out the oil and add water and I am sure it would make a delicious dosa!
foodiliciousnan
yes Mireille 🙂
Nalini's Kitchen
Congrats dear….Such a flavorful and healthy waffles,looks yummy….
rekhas kitchen
what a combination mango and apple sounds fantastic and waffles loos so yummm….
sushma
Carrot waffels…sounds good
Harini-Jaya Rupanagudi
Same pinch I posted similar waffles today. I love the mango apple sauce. Should try out some time. Congrats on your achievement.
Sangeetha
wow…Congrats Mireille!! that's great…carrot waffles sounds interesting….great recipe!!
Spicy Treats
vidhas
Lovely combo. I have never tried waffles. congrats!!!
Sumee
Sauce looks delicious.! What a nice combo.. thnx for linking up
Prabha Mani
Congrats !! Interesting Waffle..Never heard it before.Thanks a lot for linking to the Event 🙂
Prabha's Cooking
Ongoing Event : EP Series ~ Ginger and Pepper
Rajani S
Congrats on the milestone! Its really something great :).
The waffles look great too!
Crystal
This is so creative! Would’ve never thought to do this, especially with the apples sauce!!!
Chef Mireille
Yes it’s a way to use a lot less syrup so reduces the sugar content a bit!
Dre Moore
Healthy carrot cake waffle? I meant what else would one asked for to make Sunday funday brunch extra special! I live how simple it was to follow the directions.
Chef Mireille
I’m so happy you liked them and made your Sunday brunch a little healthier 🙂
Robin
You have expertly combined two foods I adore – of course the results were scrumptious.
Chef Mireille
I am so happy you enjoyed the combo! It’s one of my faves!