For a delicious breakfast, try these gluten free vegan oatmeal waffles. Containing no egg, they use only oats, bananas and plant milk. So healthy and easy to make!
(This recipe was first published on November 22, 2018. Updated May 2023.)
I'm obsessed with oats in breakfast recipes. Some of my favourites include overnight oats, baked oatmeal and banana oat pancakes.
But my absolute favourite? Waffles! And these are the easiest waffles you've ever made. Much as I love spending a lot of time in the kitchen coming up with new concoctions, sometimes it's the simple recipes that do the trick.
And these 3 ingredient oat waffles do just that. Chewy, satisfying and delicious, they're the ultimate vegan gluten free waffles without all the extra rubbish thrown in.
Made in minutes with just oats, bananas and plant-based milk (plus any extras you wish to add), they're a great option for healthy gluten-free breakfasts or just as a snack. Top them with fruit and coconut whipped cream and you're good to go!
Don't have a waffle iron? No problem. Use this 3 Ingredient Vegan Pancake Recipe instead.
Why you'll love these oat waffles
- No eggs, no flour, no sugar. Suitable for those who are gluten free, vegan, dairy free, and sugar free.
- SO easy. These blender waffles just mix oats, banana and milk to form a batter, which then gets cooked. It's that easy!
- Great texture and taste. They're crispy on the edges, soft inside, and make a hearty breakfast!
- They're really healthy. These 3 ingredient waffles contain only whole foods and no fillers, binders etc.
Ingredients
Oats - Any type of rolled oats work well as they're going to be blended anyway. I use quick or slow cook. Use gluten free if needed. I don't recommend substituting a different type of flour as the texture will change a lot.
Banana - Slightly overripe bananas work best here as they're sweeter!
Milk - I use dairy free milks like oat, almond or soy, but any milk works.
Coconut oil (optional) - Helps to grease the waffle iron so the waffles don't stick.
Note: as these healthy waffles are made with just oats, bananas and milk they don't have the light, airy consistency of store-bought waffles. They're crispy and delicious, but do be aware that they're a little heartier than regular waffles made with flour!
How to make
1) Blend oats on high power for 30 seconds until a fine flour forms. Stir briefly to loosen.
2) Add banana and milk (and any other optional add-ins) and blend for 30 seconds on high, until mixture is smooth and lump-free.
3) Switch waffle iron on and allow to reach cooking temperature. Using kitchen towel, thoroughly coat all cooking surfaces with coconut oil.
4) Spoon about ½ cup batter evenly into the centre of the waffle iron, being careful not to overfill.
5) Close lid and cook for 6-7 minutes (or until steam coming out reduces).
6) Open iron SLOWLY, and leave waffle in place for 30 seconds (to avoid sticking) before gently removing with a flat knife.
7) Repeat process for remaining batter - greasing iron between each waffle with coconut oil - and store waffles on a plate in a warm oven until ready to eat.
Check out my web story showing you how to make these oatmeal banana waffles.
How do I stop my waffles sticking to the waffle iron?
1) Don't overfill it with batter! This is so important. It can cause the waffle to become too thick to cook properly, meaning it'll get stuck to both sides of the iron.
You ideally want to make these oat waffles smaller than the size of your waffle iron for easy removal. I use about ½ cup batter for each which gives me small to medium waffles in my 8-inch iron.
2) Coat the surfaces with enough oil prior to cooking. This is also really important - don't skimp on oil! It will make your waffles much easier to remove.
3) Use coconut oil to grease the waffle iron. You can use other oils but I recommend coconut as for some reason it seems to help these oatmeal waffles avoid sticking.
Expert Tips
Make them high protein waffles. Want to make this vegan waffle recipe extra filling? Add a scoop of protein powder. (I'm a big fan of Omega Nutrition's Pumpkin Protein Powder - not sponsored at all, I just find it has a really subtle taste and I digest it easily.)
Add chocolate chips or blueberries! These add a delicious flavour boost and make the waffles taste like dessert.
Storage
Any uneaten oatmeal waffles can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to three days.
They can also be frozen in a sealed bag for up to one month. To reheat, cover the waffles in tin foil and cook in the oven on 400°F/205°C until heated through.
FAQs
I do strongly recommend using them as they are what helps the waffles bind, but if you have to avoid them I would try using applesauce and ground flax as an alternative.
I don't recommend using other types of flour in this recipe, purely because I'm not sure how well they would work. Oats have a very thick texture and make these waffles bind well.
Stress less. Cook fast. Eat well.
No time to cook? In my 20 Minute Vegan Dinners ebook you'll find 10 satisfying meals that take just 20 minutes to make. Never be hungry again!
More healthy breakfast recipes
3 Ingredient Oatmeal Waffles (vegan, gluten-free)
Special Equipment
- Blender
- Waffle iron
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats - use gluten free if needed (160g)
- 2 medium bananas (about 1 tightly packed cup in total)
- 1 cup your favourite plant-based milk (240ml) (see recipe note below)
- (Coconut oil to grease waffle iron)
Optional
- ½ teaspoon baking powder (if you want fluffier, crispier waffles!)
- 1 scoop vegan protein powder (to make waffles extra filling)
To serve (all optional)
- Coconut whipped cream
- Maple syrup
- Fruit
Instructions
- Add in banana and milk (and any other optional add-ins) and blend for 30 seconds on high, until mixture is smooth and lump-free.
- Switch waffle iron on and allow to reach cooking temperature.
- Using kitchen towel, thoroughly coat all cooking surfaces of waffle iron with coconut oil to avoid sticking.
- Spoon about ½ cup batter evenly into centre of waffle iron, being careful not to overfill. (Amount used depends on size of machine: I use ½ cup in my 8-inch iron, which gives me smallish waffles that don't reach all the way to the edge, making them much easier to remove. I strongly recommend making smaller waffles with this recipe - see note below.)
- Close lid and cook for 6-7 minutes (or until steam coming out reduces).
- Open iron SLOWLY, and leave waffle in place for 30 seconds (this will help avoid sticking) before gently removing with a flat knife. (If waffle is still sticking to iron, see my tips!)
- Repeat process for remaining batter - greasing iron between each waffle with coconut oil - and store waffles on a plate in a warm oven until ready to eat.
- Serve with any of the following: maple syrup, coconut cream, bananas, berries, and cinnamon. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition per serving
If you’ve tried this oat flour waffle recipe, please leave a comment or tip for others below. I'd love to know how you’ve made it your own!
Follow Vancouver with Love on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook!
Luke
I cannot believe that these waffles only have 3 ingredients. They are sooo tasty
Elizabeth
So glad you like them!
Magdalena
I absolutely love this recipe! And highly recommend it to anyone who tries to keep it on a healthier side :)❤️
Elizabeth
Thank you SO much Magdalena! Your comment made my day - I'm so glad you love the recipe as much as I do. 🙂
Carr
Delicious!
Elizabeth
Thank you!
Georgina
Such tasty waffles! Only 3 ingredients and they are so good 🙂
Elizabeth
Thanks Georgina! I so appreciate you leaving a comment. 🙂
Lacey
I was happy to find this recipe because my toddler can’t have dairy but loves waffles. I find these are slightly gritty in texture from the oat flour (totally expected) but they are tasty for a simple vegan recipe. We added some cinnamon and chocolate chips for extra flavour. They were crispy and delicious when we toasted them the next day. Great way to use up overripe bananas. Will definitely make these again.
Elizabeth
Thanks for such a lovely comment Lacey, I so appreciate it! So glad you liked them. Great to know they reheated well the next day too. Yes, they are a little heavier/grittier because of the oat flour - to be expected. Love that you added chocolate chips though - that must have been delicious! Need to try that myself. 🙂
Zep
These did not stay together at all in the waffle maker. I added some ground flax meal to help it stick but there was zero bind to them. Flavour was good but more like Cooked oatmeal than a waffle. Need a binder to help them stay.
Elizabeth
Ah I'm sorry to hear that! They've worked so well for me and others everytime we've made them. The waffles should stick together really well with just the three ingredients - strangely I've sometimes noticed when I add flax to some recipes it can make them more cakey and less able to stick together (despite being a binder). Also, ensuring the oats are well blended can help if you're having trouble with the mixture sticking together.
Michelle
These are perfect and so easy to adapt by adding different protein flavours!
Elizabeth
I'm so glad you liked them Michelle! I Love the idea of using different protein flavours too. 🙂
Gabbie
Excellent, thank you for this recipe! I made them the first time and they turned out fine. The second time around, I added a more oat flour to the mix to make it thicker because the bananas were larger and I also added blueberries and maple syrup.It turned out perfect!!
Thanks again?
Elizabeth
Hi Gabbie - I'm so glad you liked it! I've tried adding blueberries too - it's delicious isn't it? And maple syrup ALWAYS makes everything better. 🙂
Sciutto
Can these be frozen ?
Elizabeth
They can! I recommend only reheating them for a short time after freezing so they don't dry out too much. 🙂
Liana
I am not vegan but I would love to try this recipe because it sounds delicious and also like it's a lot healthier than normal waffles. But sadly I don't have any oat milk, or alternative plant based milk in my house right now. So I was wondering if normal milk or water would work as well in the recipe because I would love to try it out today instead of waiting till I can get to the store ♡ but I will for sure try with plant based milk as well at some point when I can♡
Elizabeth
Hi Liana,
So glad you want to try the recipe! You're right, it's quite a lot healthier than other waffle recipes. Yes, regular milk would work well instead of plant milk. I would avoid using water as it might be a bit too thin. Have fun!
Liana
I'll actually probably end up trying this tomorrow or another day. But it would still be great to know if I can use water and or normal milk and get the Same results because I don't always have plant based milk in the house, although I do Love many. I have friends who are vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian. And me I just love good wholesome healthy food and am mindful of what I eat. So I Love vegan and vegetarian recipes♡ and I think this would be great to share with my best friend if I end up liking it. Which I'm pretty sure I will.♡
Elizabeth
I really hope you do like it! I totally agree, wholesome food and recipes are for everyone. See my reply to your previous comment regarding the milk (I would avoid using water as it's so thin). 🙂
Liana
Sorry I accidentally sent that Last one twice?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️?♀️
Elizabeth
No problem at all 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comments!
Marjorie
Hi. Is the banana used as a binder or for flavor? My toddler has to be on a low histamine diet with minimal ingredients. 3 ingredient waffle is perfect, but I'd likely have to swap the bananas. Would you recommend chia/flax seeds, or preferably a different fruit? Thanks in advance!
Elizabeth
Hi Marjorie, the banana is used for flavour and for binding. I haven't used another fruit instead so can't guarantee results, but I'd probably try using applesauce (stewed apple) mixed with some ground flax as an alternative. Good luck! 🙂
Carla Holden
Super lovely! Mooreish... I managed to get these chewy on the outside and slightly gooey on the inside... just wonderful. Thank you!
Elizabeth
Ah I'm so glad you liked them Carla! Gooey on the inside is the best. :))
Yumi
This was so good! Thank you for the recipe!
Elizabeth
I'm so so glad you liked it Yumi! Glad to hear it. 🙂
Fatima
Hi, I am lactose intolerant. Excited to try the recipe but what can I use in place of the vegan powder?
Elizabeth
Hi Fatima! You don't need to use the protein powder at all, it's totally optional. It just helps add a bit of extra protein to the recipe. You can omit it and it won't affect the recipe 🙂
Anne
Had these this AM— YUM!!!!❤️❤️ Will keep this recipe on hand 🙂
Elizabeth
I'm so glad you like them Anne! They're so simple aren't they? I love an easy breakfast 🙂
Grace
I love this recipe. I have an old blender so I use my coffee bean grinder to blend the oats into oat flour. I add 1 Tbls of flax seed meal and 1 tsp cinnamon to the mix and sprinkle walnuts over the batter before closing the lid. I set the timer and make sure the batter sits the full 10 minutes before I put the first one in the waffle iron. I love that it is dairy, egg and wheat free. They are delicious
Elizabeth
I love that Grace! Really love that you add your own twists to the recipe - that's what makes it! And walnuts sound incredible. Excellent tip on the timing too 🙂
Cristina
I love these waffles!! Very delicious and easy to make.
Elizabeth
That makes me so happy to hear! I love them too - I've been making them a lot as pancakes recently but I need to get back into the waffles again as they're so good. 🙂
Misty
It did not work for me either. Maybe my waffle iron is a piece of crap. Idk. My SO makes normal waffles just fine but I can't get any of these healthy recipes to work. I also added the flax egg and sprayed the iron really well.
I said screw it and used the remaining batter for pancakes. The pancakes were delicious (though a bit flat) but the broken waffles were pretty bland. I think I'll just add baking powder next time and use this recipe to make pancakes!
Elizabeth
Sorry to hear that Misty! I do find that this recipe can sometimes stick more in old waffle makers. So glad you rescued it and turned it into pancakes though! That's always my failsafe if I'm using an old (read: nonstick) waffle iron. 🙂
Lisa
Wow!
My husband and I just finished making and then devouring these amazing oatmeal waffles. He’s quite the chef and was a little skeptical at first. After trying them, he’s definitely a fan. We will never go back to ordinary waffles again. We switched to an organic plant based diet in 2015. There are a few foods we miss eating, waffles can now be taken off the list. Thank you so much for this awesome recipe!
Elizabeth
Thanks so much for that glowing review Lisa! It makes me so happy to know that you loved them as much as I do. The first time I tried it I wasn't sure that 3 simple ingredients could turn out so well either, but they did! Please feel free to leave a rating on this recipe too, as it helps others find it! Thank you! 🙂
Stephanie Phillips
These are wonderful. I purchased a 4 inch waffle maker from Aldi this week, and am using it this morning to make these--lovely little 4 inch rounds. Tomorrow I am going to crisp some of them up, then top them with applesauce and cinnamon, and perhaps a bit of peanut or almond butter. I might even use them for a sandwich! This recipe has endless possibilities. Thanks so much!
Elizabeth
That makes me so happy to hear Stephanie! I'm so glad you loved them. Applesauce sounds like a great topping and I LOVE the idea of making them into a sandwich! 🙂
Tracey
Love this recipes is so simple and can easily be customized.
Elizabeth
Thanks so much Tracey!
Amy
I'll be trying these tomorrow! So excited.
Elizabeth
Yay! Really hope you like them Amy. 🙂
Katie
Love that these are only 3 ingredients!
Elizabeth
Thank you! That's my favourite part too. 🙂
Chef Dennis
I hope it's breakfast soon! This is heaven!
Elizabeth
Ah thanks so much Dennis!
Oscar
Wow, this looks amazing. Waffles are my favourite. Making this for breakfast today.
Elizabeth
Wonderful! Really hope you enjoy them Oscar. 🙂
Max
It's not terrible, but could certainly be better. The high ratio of bananas results in a 'doughy' inside irrespective of how long I cooked it. I think I'd steer someone looking at making these to add a vegan binding agent, because it's really missing one.
Elizabeth
Hi Max, I'm so sorry you had trouble. I've always found that the recipe works really well without a binding agent as the bananas act as one, but different waffle irons do cook batter differently so it's possible some could struggle.
Susan Strough
you can't mess this up. easy peasy.
Elizabeth
I'm so glad you like it Susan! I love that it's so simple too.
Sharon
I have Irish oats I order on Amazon (amazing) and I also have organic oat flour. Just wondering…Can I just use oat flour instead of oats? And how much?
Elizabeth
Hi Sharon,
You can definitely use oat flour instead of oats! I haven't tested it in the recipe yet myself, but I would suggest using just over 2 cups of oat flour instead (as 2 cups oats usually yields a little more than 2 cups flour).
Pamela Lussier
we LOVE this recipe! - my kids ask for these waffles all the time!
Elizabeth
That makes me SO happy to hear Pamela! (And always great to know they're kid-approved.) 🙂
Mary
Can one use frozen bananas? Sorry my email address was wrong in the last Q lol
Elizabeth
Hi. No problem. 🙂 You can, but I'd recommend bringing them to room temperature before using so that it doesn't affect the recipe.
Sally
Can you make these in the oven. using a waffle mold?
Elizabeth
Hi Sally, I haven't tried but don't see why it couldn't work.
Victoria
Worked great!
Elizabeth
So happy to hear it! 🙂
Terri Laughlin
These waffles are so delicious! I only use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free ground rolled oats, because of my daughter’s celiac disease. Bob’s Red Mill has never caused a nasty reaction when my adult daughter has them. I’ll spare you the details?. Often oats are marked “certified gluten-free “, but the reaction my daughter’s body gets says different. Nothing in our house has ever seen gluten.
I added a tablespoon of flax seed, a tsp of cinnamon, and a tsp of maple to the recipe.
Thank you so much for this recipe!.
Elizabeth
I'm SO glad you loved them Teri! Your poor daughter, I can only imagine how awful the reaction must be, and it's great to know that the Bob's oats don't give her a flare-up. So happy you enjoyed!
Shivani
They came out so fluffy!! Perfect sugar free lunchbox recipe for my preschooler!☺️
Elizabeth
That makes me so happy to hear. I hope they were kid-approved. 🙂
Kate
These were great! Heart healthy, cruelty free, and delicious all at the same time, thank you! I added blueberries and walnuts, my partner had chocolate chips. I did have have to let them cook a little longer (my bad, I preempted the instructions), and I think I'll try the baking powder next time for added crispness. Nevertheless, these were a hit and I'll definitely be making them again.
Elizabeth
I'm so happy to hear that Kate. Yes, sometimes different waffle makers etc can change the cooking time slightly, so really glad you were able to work around that. So happy you loved them! 🙂
Judi Barton
Has anyone ever used an apple or applesauce in place of the banana? I’m not s huge banana fan and I’ve made these a couple of time and really like them over all. I make extra and freeze them and when I want one I pot it in the toaster. But I’d really like to loose the banana flavor sometimes.
Elizabeth
That's a great question and totally fair about not wanting the banana taste. I haven't tried it, but I would guess it works as applesauce and banana have similar textures. Would love to hear if you try it!
Dee
I added the baking powder along with a dash of cinnamon & vanilla to this recipe. I'm a spice addict lol. I did follow your suggestion for making the waffles a bit smaller. Great suggestion. Great tasty waffles.
Elizabeth
Excellent! I love the spice too. And yes, the smaller waffles can really help them not to stick. 🙂
Dük MaKarün
Best recipe I’ve ever come across!! My kids love and it’s hella easy to make. I like to keep the batter in the waffle iron until it’s nice and crispy and it turns out perfect!
Elizabeth
That makes me SO happy to hear! I'm so glad you love them. Crispy waffles are the way to go! 🙂
Erikas Saukalas
Excellent recipe! Thank you very much! Great results from the very first waffle 🙂 I had some difficulties understanding the measurement of a cup but I figured it out 🙂 Can other flour (e.g. coconut or almond) be used instead of oat flour?
Elizabeth
I'm so glad you loved the recipe and got there with the measurements! I haven't tried using other flour, and I would be concerned that coconut or almond might not bind in the same way. If you decide to try it, I would start by just subbing in a small amount of those flours so see how they work in the recipe. 🙂
Lindsay Howerton-Hastings
These turned out great! I used the nonstick spray with flour and had no issues.
Elizabeth
So glad they worked out so well for you Lindsay. 🙂
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
These waffles are so good!! My husband wants them every morning!!
Elizabeth
Oh I love that Helen!
swathi
I like this three ingredient oatmeal waffles great breakfast idea. This is going to be in my sun breakfast menu.
Elizabeth
Glad to hear it Swathi.
Stephanie
3 ingredients and SO delicious! I never use my waffle iron so this was a fun recipe. I added vanilla yoggu, granola, strawberries, maple syrup and a sprinkle or cinnamon on top of these and wow. Thank you!
Elizabeth
Your version sounds better than mine! I need to try adding granola. I agree that Yoggu is SO good with them.
Darcey
Loved these!! Used coconut milk, since the kids prefer it. Turned out delicious.
Elizabeth
I love coconut milk too - so glad they loved it!
Ramona
These waffles are so easy to make and I love how you only need 3 ingredients. I have made them several times by now and these are now a regular in my household. Perfect for any day breakfast. Delicious!
Elizabeth
Excellent! I agree - 3 ingredients is where it's at.
Nora
Those oatmeal waffles turned out perfectly ! The whole family loved them! Thanks for this easy and delicious recipe!
Elizabeth
So glad you loved them Nora - they're one of my favourite recipes, I make them again and again!
Mary
These turned out perfectly! Thank you. I didn't need to use any oil on my machine. I think the plates are ceramic. Anyway, they came off super clean and easily. I did use the baking powder and also added some wild blueberries.