Gluten Free Plantain Waffles (Paleo, Vegan)

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These gluten free plantain waffles are just what you need for a nourishing breakfast! They are made with ripe plantains and cassava flour and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. In addition, this plantain waffle recipe is paleo, vegan and allergy friendly.

Plantains are one of those foods that I phase in and out of my diet. I love them, but often forget about buying them in store. However, lately my kids have been raving over them. (They're favorite ways to eat plantains are just sliced and sauteed on a frying pan.)

These gluten free plantain waffles have been another huge hit with my kids. I love that they're just sweetened from the ripe plantains (no sugar added), making them perfect for a healthy breakfast.

These plantain waffles are soft and chewy with a mildly sweet cinnamon and plantain flavor. The batter is made in a food processor or blender and ready to cook in minutes.

Why You'll Love these Plantain Waffles

gluten free and grain free - made with ripe plantains and cassava flour.
paleo friendly - just simple, wholesome ingredients you can feel good about.
vegan - these plantain waffles are egg free and dairy free.
easy to make - just blend ingredients and cook on a waffle iron.
no added sugar - the plantains are sweet enough that you don't need to add any sugar to the batter.

Ingredients

You can find the full recipe for these plantain waffles in the recipe card below, but here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need:

ripe plantains - I recommend using ripe plantains for this recipe (yellow with many brown/black spots). These plantains have a softer texture and sweeter flavor, perfect for getting the right batter consistency and taste.
avocado oil - while you can leave out the oil, it helps with the final texture of the waffles. It gives them a slightly crisp outer texture and moist interior.
vanilla extract - optional, added for flavor.
cassava flour - cassava flour is an excellent grain free flour to use in combination with plantains. It can be substituted with any gluten free flour blend, just make sure to measure by weight.
baking powder - for a fluffier texture.
cinnamon - optional for flavor.
salt - enhances the flavors.

Ingredients needed to make plantain waffles.

How to Make Plantain Waffles

Plantains are not easy to mash like bananas. So, a food processor or high powered blender is recommended when making any baked good with plantains. Here's how to make these vegan plantain waffles:

Plug in your waffle iron to preheat. (I used a mini waffle iron, but have also made these in a Belgium waffle iron and they work just as well.)
Next, peel the plantains and slice them into ½ inch coins.
Place the plantain slices in your food processor and blend, stopping to scrape the sides as needed.
Add in remaining waffle ingredients. Blend until the batter is well combined.
Scoop about ¼ cup of the batter onto a preheated mini waffle iron. (Or more if you're making larger waffles.) The batter IS thick, unlike typical pancake batter. Cook until done and serve with your favorite toppings.

How to Peel a Plantain

The riper the plantain, the easier it is to peel. Which, makes sense because riper plantains have thinner, softer skin. However, no matter the ripeness, these are the steps I take when peeling plantains:

Using a sharp knife, cut off both ends of the plantain
Cut the plantain in half
Use the knife to slice the plantain skin lengthwise (tip to tip)
Peel off skin

Storage

These paleo plantain waffles are best stored in an airtight container in the fridge, up to one week. For longer storage, place the waffles in an airtight baggie and keep in the freezer, up to one month.

Tips and Tricks

Use ripe plantains: ripe, meaning yellow with many brown/black spots. These plantains are softer and sweeter, perfect for this waffle recipe.
Add all ingredients: while some ingredients are optional, these waffles have the best taste and texture if you use all of the ingredients listed.
Add toppings: top these waffles with anything from nut butter to homemade jam, butter or yogurt or even maple syrup.

FAQ

What are plantains? Are they like bananas?

Plantains are a starchy tropical fruit that look similar to bananas. But, if you've ever eaten one you know their similarities stop about there.

Typically, plantains are larger than bananas and have a tougher, thicker skin. Their interior is tougher as well. Plantains are best eaten cooked. Whereas, bananas are great cooked and raw.

Like a banana, plantains start off green in color then change to yellow and eventually brown/black. Green plantains are quite firm and are best for savory cooking. When they ripen, they're better for baked recipes or desserts.

How can you tell if a plantain is ripe?

Plantains can be eaten at their earliest stages (green) all the way up to peak ripeness (nearly all black in color). However, each phase has a different taste, texture and use.

Green plantains are quite starchy. In addition, their peel is harder to cut and the insides are rough and not very flavorful. I like using green plantains when making plantain fries (if I want them to turn out extra crispy) and in making plantain chips in my dehydrator.

Medium-ripe plantains are yellow, perhaps with a few black/brown spots. They are slightly sweet and softer in texture. Yellow plantains are great for making fried plantains, plantain fries and plantain chips. I also like using them in my baking from time to time.

Fully ripe plantains are almost black in color. Black plantains are deliciously sweet and wonderful for baking.

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