Waffle recipe without milk – easy dairy free waffles

This waffle recipe without milk will save your life one day or another.

Picture this: It’s Sunday morning, the kids are up before the first rays of light and obviously full of energy. You’ve promised waffles. Seemed like a good idea last night, so now it’s time to work your magic. You’re all set, mixing bowl out, flour, sugar, but then – boom – you open the fridge. And what do you see? An empty space where the milk should be. None from the cow, rice, almonds or whatever else can create milk these days. The kids start to bicker and ask when their breakfast is ready while you start to panic and wonder if dry cereal still counts as fun weekend breakfast. 

But don’t worry, fellow milk-free warriors, I’ve got you! These milk-free waffles are the perfect solution to your Sunday morning worries. Golden brown on the outside, fluffy texture on the inside, this homemade waffle recipe is just as sweet and delicious as we need it to be.

In our house, we have one little helper who absolutely loves to mix, crack eggs and flip whatever she can. It’s one of those moments where you need to let some egg shells make their way into the food to teach your kids some independence. (Hot tip here: Crack the eggs into separate bowls. It really helps rescue any bits of shell that will otherwise make their way into your food.)

The other one likes to be involved, but loses interest within a minute. She is however happy to be sent on her way and get all the plates and bowls out to make the table look pretty. Whichever child you have at home, get them involved in a few of the steps, even if it’s just setting the table. I feel it really helps  in getting through the morning routine (and waiting time while your waffles bake), and makes you life (hopefully) a little easier. 

So let’s get cooking. 

Ingredients 

All purpose flour. I like to mix in a little whole wheat flour for extra nutrients. 

Melted butter. You can use vegan butter or a mild tasting vegetable oil instead. Personally I stay away from coconut oil, as it seems to overpower the taste of my waffles. 

Sugar. I like using white sugar in waffles. 

Eggs. If possible, use eggs that have come to room temperature. Separate the egg yolks from the whites for whisking. This makes for a much fluffier batter.

Water

Vanilla extract

Salt

Baking powder

Baking soda

Cinnamon

How to make my waffle recipe without milk

This is a great recipe to get the kids involved, especially if they are getting a little rowdy in the mornings. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients and give them a good mix to combine. Start by adding the flour, then sprinkle sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon over the top. 

Separate the eggs and place the egg whites into another large bowl. Using an electric whisk, whisk the egg whites until they are stiff and form small peaks. Set them aside.

Place a small saucepan on low heat to melt your butter. Once melted, set it aside to cool a little before adding it to the batter. We don’t want the hot butter to cook any part of our eggs, so cooling it to touch is always a good idea. 

To bring the batter together, have your electric hand whisk or stand mixer ready. Use a bowl that fits whichever one you use. 

Add the water, egg yolks and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Mix until everything is well combined, then add the cooled butter. Keep mixing until fully incorporated. 

Take the bowl off your mixer and add the egg whites. Use a hand whisk or wooden spoon to gentry fold the egg whites into the batter. You’ll need to be gentle in this step and keep folding until your batter looks light and airy. You might still have a few small lumps, but that’s ok.

Now to the best part, making crispy waffles! 

Heat up your waffle iron as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Brush a little butter over it to ensure your waffles won’t stick. You can use a cooking spray instead if you prefer. 

Next, add a cup of batter, or as much as you’ll need to fill the waffle iron. 

Once baked, place the waffle on a wire rack to cool. Repeat the process until all batter has been used up. 

Serve these deliciously light waffles with a little bit of maple syrup, fresh berries and any of your other favourite toppings. I have topped mine with roasted rhubarb. Add a cup of fresh lemon verbena tea on the side for a cozy morning.

You can store any leftovers in an airtight container or freezer bags in the fridge for a few days. They’re also a great option to take to work or school for lunch the next day. 

Other breakfast favourites to try

Tips and tricks 

Use water or dairy-free milk. While my waffle recipe without milk is specifically written out to use water, you can use any dairy-free milk instead. To achieve a similar taste and texture, replace water with almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk. 

Add extra fat. Because water doesn’t have the same fat content milk has, you can add a little extra fat like butter or a mild olive oil to make the batter a little richer. 

Incorporate flavours. I’m sure your waffle toppings will be delicious, but consider adding a number of flavour enhancers to your batter to make up for the flavours your milk would usually add. Easy additions are vanilla and cinnamon, but you can also sweeten with a little sugar, or incorporate a dash of maple syrup or honey. 

Consider carbonated water. Carbonated water already comes with tiny little air bubbles, which will make your waffles extra fluffy. Replace the water content of the recipe 1 for 1 to turn this homemade waffle recipe into fluffy dairy-free waffles. 

Check consistency. Without milk, your batter might be a little thicker or thinner than what you are used to. Adjust the consistency by adding a little extra liquid or flour to make the batter feel just right. 

Frequently asked questions

What can I substitute milk for in waffles?

No milk? No problem! Cooking is thankfully one of those tasks where ingredients can be easily swapped without for a number of substitutes. If you find ourself out of whole milk on waffle morning, you have a huge range of choices to substitute and still create the perfect waffles. The most popular choices to use in place of milk are non-dairy milk alternatives like soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk or cashew milk. Rice milk and unsweetened almond milk can also be used. If your home has neither one of those stocked, use water and my waffle recipe without milk. Keep these swaps in mind for milk free pancakes, as they work just as well in pancake batter. 

What can I eat with waffles if I don’t have syrup?

Waffles are delicious any day of the year, and are traditionally serves with maple syrup. To change things up, you can also try topping your fluffy waffles with fresh fruit and chocolate chips, peanut butter, top them with ice cream or sprinkle them with brown sugar or coconut sugar. For a savoury alternative, a few large eggs and tomato relish are also delicious.  

Are waffles better with milk or water?

A delicious waffle needs some kind of liquid in the waffle mix, but you don’t need milk to make the best waffles ever. A few simple ingredients and a little water to your wet ingredients whip up a dairy-free waffle recipe your family won’t be able to resist. But what is the best way to make waffles you ask? For best results, it really doesn’t matter if you use milk or water. It all comes down to what you yourself prefer and have in the house. While I traditionally use milk for my waffle batter, I found that this waffle recipe without milk tastes just as delicious. Even my leftover waffles were delicious when re-heating them the next day. So next time you make a batch, give both versions a try and see which you prefer.