Pumpkin Waffles with Cinnamon Maple Syrup

Fluffy homemade Pumpkin Waffles are the perfect breakfast treat for fall. Topped with a stellar cinnamon maple syrup, these Pumpkin Waffles with Cinnamon Maple Syrup are sure to be a family favorite. Makes 10 waffles.

Love pumpkin for breakfast? You’ve got to try Pumpkin Overnight French Toast Casserole and Easy Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Nutella Swirl.

2024 Update: This recipe was originally shared in October 2015. The recipe and post include more tips and tricks. I hope you love these waffles as much as we do!

I was late to join the pumpkin bandwagon… this year and in life because I assumed I disliked pumpkin because I don’t like pumpkin pie. Turns out, it’s the nutmeg that I don’t like. 

So it’s officially the time of year for all things PUMPKIN, and I’m happy to share that if you give me pumpkin with ample amounts of cinnamon, I’m a happy girl.

So this pumpkin season, we’re celebrating a delicious breakfast with warm spices: homemade and EASY pumpkin waffles!

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Why I love this recipe:

These waffles are all about the pumpkin and that delicious pumpkin flavor! They’re the perfect fall breakfast and soooooo light and fluffy.

Instead of involving pumpkin spice, we highlight cinnamon. (That said, I’m sure you could easily add in the pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon if you’re into that.)

In addition to the awesome pumpkin and cinnamon flavor, here are a few highlights:

• This pumpkin waffles recipe makes dairy free waffles. (You can use cow’s milk if you can drink that, though.)
• They’re naturally sweetened with maple syrup.
• The Cinnamon Maple Syrup is super simple and ridiculously delicious.
• You don’t have to whip the egg whites into stiff peaks to get these fall waffles to be the right texture.

So obviously, I think it’s fair to say that if you make these waffles? You’re winning at the breakfast/brunch game.

You can make ’em for an at-home brunch because this recipe makes 10 waffles! (Looking for a classic waffle recipe? Try out The Best Waffles, Buttermilk Waffles or Chocolate Chip Waffles!)

Other pumpkin recipes for breakfast: Pumpkin Spice Pancakes | Vegan Pumpkin Muffins | Vegan Pumpkin Biscuits with Maple Butter | Easy Pumpkin Spice Bread | Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Looking for a dish to make and share this fall? Check out my Fall Recipe Index for more ideas.

What you need to make this recipe:

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• A waffle iron. (If you’re looking to feed a crowd quickly, check out this Double Belgian Waffle Maker.)
• Saucepan
• A cream pitcher or a syrup pitcher to serve the syrup
• Mixing bowl
• Liquid measuring cup
• Cooling rack

Here’s what you’ll need to make these homemade waffles:

• Cinnamon sticks — we’re going to need these to steep in the syrup to give it wonderful cinnamon flavor! It might seem like an extra step, but trust me when I say it’s totally worth the effort and time.
• All-purpose flour — we keep unbleached all-purpose flour in our house, but you can use the regular kind. I have not tried these waffles with a gluten free substitute. 
• Leaveners — we use baking powder and baking soda to give our waffles some lift.
• Kosher salt — I like to use a medium grain kosher salt for baking recipes like this one. You can also use sea salt.
• Ground cinnamon — this is the spice that’s gives us all the fall warming flavors. You may substitute it with the same amount of pumpkin pie spice if you like that and have it on hand.
• Pumpkin puree — make sure to read the canned pumpkin label and confirm that it’s NOT pumpkin pie filling. Why? Pumpkin pie filling is pre-spiced and sweetened, and we’re adding our own seasonings and sweetness to this.
• Unsweetened cashew milk — you can use another unsweetened non-dairy milk (like almond milk or soy milk) OR regular milk, too.
• Eggs — not only will these give our pumpkin waffle recipe some structure, but they’ll help them become fluffy, too.
• Pure vanilla extract — the real deal makes such a huge impact on flavor and adds some vanilla essence to our waffle batter.
• Coconut oil — you can use refined or unrefined coconut oil. You should melt it before adding it to the batter. I prefer refined because it does not have a distinct coconut taste. You could use another neutral oil, like vegetable oil or avocado oil. 
• Pure maple syrup — please use the real deal, as it’s going to make a huge difference in the flavor. We need it for both the waffles (as a sweetener), as well as the cinnamon maple syrup. We’re using this in place of granulated sugar or brown sugar, which you find in various waffle recipes.

How to make Pumpkin Waffles with Cinnamon Maple Syrup

Make the Cinnamon Maple Syrup. Measure the maple syrup and cinnamon sticks into a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until it’s time to eat. 

Combine the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, measure in the flour, baking powder, baking, salt and cinnamon. Whisk together.

Combine the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl or a liquid measuring cup, combine the pumpkin puree, milk, egg, vanilla extract, melted coconut oil and maple syrup. Stir until smooth.

Mix the waffle batter. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Do not overmix. 

Preheat the waffle iron. Be sure to spray it lightly with your favorite nonstick cooking oil to prevent sticking. 

Cook the waffles. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into the warm waffle iron, spreading with a rubber spatula until at the edges. Cook per the manufacturer’s instructions. 

Enjoy! Once all the waffles have been cooked, serve warm with the cinnamon syrup and your favorite toppings. (It would be excellent with a dollop of honey butter if you eat that!)

How to store:

Leftover waffles store and freeze well! Store leftover waffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or a toaster oven on a lower heat until crispy.

To freeze, line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Place the leftover waffles in a single layer. Transfer to the freezer, and freeze until frozen. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months.

To reheat frozen waffles, defrost in the refrigerator OR defrost for 30 seconds in the microwave, then toast until crispy.

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

Pumpkin Waffles are the perfect fall breakfast or brunch.

Making waffles for a crowd requires a little patience, planning and working ahead. If you’re like me, you’re not going to want to make each waffle individually for your guests.

However, if you do want to make them for each guest, you might consider borrowing a waffle iron or two from a friend to make this a quicker endeavor.

Here are a few tips and tricks to transforming these waffles into a brunch centerpiece:

• Depending on the amount of people you’re serving, you can double this recipe.
• Make the waffles before guests arrive, and keep them warm in the oven. We put ours on baking sheets* (affiliate link) and keep them warm in a 200°F oven. You could also reheat them in a toaster oven for an extra crispy exterior.
• Transform your table into a waffle bar! Offer various toppings, like real maple syrup (or a flavored syrup, like vanilla syrup), butter (or homemade honey butter), fresh berries (like strawberries, blueberries and raspberries) and more. Let guests dress their waffles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick tips and tricks to the best Pumpkin Waffles

• Double the recipe for a crowd. Keep ’em warm in a 200F oven until it’s serving time.
• Switch up the spices. If you love pumpkin spice, use that in place of the ground cinnamon in the waffle batter.
• Freeze the leftover waffles. Place them on a wax paper-lined baking sheet, and transfer to the freezer until frozen solid. Transfer to freezer bags for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or toaster oven.

Looking for more pumpkin breakfasts?

We adore Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips, as well as these Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese and Nutella Swirl and this Pumpkin Brown Butter Streusel Muffins with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze.

Interested in more waffle recipes? The Best Waffles, Banana Waffles and Chocolate Waffles are three of our year-round favorites.

Scroll on down to learn how to make these waffles at home!

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