
Today’s gingerbread waffles come together with a handful of basic kitchen ingredients, plus plenty of deep, warm gingerbread spices. They’re crisp and light right out of the waffle maker, and taste fantastic with maple pecan syrup, sugared cranberries, and/or a flurry of confectioners’ sugar on top. What could be better on a winter weekend morning?
Here’s Why You’ll Love These Gingerbread Waffles
- Crisp outside and chewy-soft inside
- Excellent gingerbread spice flavor that really comes through
- Not overly sweet, so maple pecan syrup is a perfect (and easy) topping
- Makes for a special holiday breakfast
- Can be made as gingerbread pancakes, too!
Let Me Show You How to Make Them
Here’s the wet ingredient mixture. Pour it all into your dry ingredients:
Some small lumps are fine. Pour into your preheated and greased waffle maker:
Can I Make These as Gingerbread Pancakes?
Yes, please do! My team and I tested this batter cooked as pancakes, and they were also delicious. Pancakes have a softer, spongier texture than the crispness you get with waffles, but the flavor is exactly the same.
Optional Maple Pecan Topping
I also added some sugared cranberries for garnish (what I use to garnish this pumpkin pie), and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. The snowy sugar and sparkling red berries make this breakfast extra festive for the holidays.
Of course all of these toppings are optional, so feel free to pick and choose your gingerbread waffle’s destiny. They’re also fantastic topped with lemon curd (lemon and ginger are a fated match… see these gingerbread muffins) and homemade whipped cream!

Gingerbread Waffles Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
Instructions
- Preheat waffle maker on medium-high heat. Preheat oven to 200°F (93°C). Place a wire rack on a baking sheet; set aside.
- In a large bowl preferably with a pour spout, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and molasses together. Whisk in the eggs, and then the buttermilk, until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk gently until combined. Do not over-mix. Some small lumps are OK.
- Grease the preheated waffle maker (I use nonstick spray). Pour about 1/3 cup of the batter into each well of the waffle maker (or less if your waffle maker is smaller) and close the lid. Cook the waffles until crisp, about 4–5 minutes. (Follow the cooking instructions for your waffle maker.) Transfer the cooked waffles to the wire rack and keep warm in the preheated oven as you cook the rest. Repeat to cook the remaining batter.
- Meanwhile, as the waffles cook, make the optional maple pecan topping: Place the pecans in a saucepan or skillet set over medium-low heat. Toast the pecans for just about 4–5 minutes, stirring the whole time, because pecans can go from toasted to burnt in a matter of seconds. When they’re giving off a subtle toasty scent, turn the heat down to low and pour in the maple syrup. Leave it on the stove for just a minute, until the syrup is warmed through, and then remove from heat.
- Serve the waffles immediately with warm maple pecan syrup, or your choice of toppings.