Whether it's a big bowl of beans or my best damn vegan chili, you just gotta have some cornbread to go with! And these gluten-free cornbread waffles are just the ticket! Naturally, they are 100% vegan & oil-free, and now without the gluten!
My original cornbread recipe has been popular for years, but now that my wife is gluten-free, I remade the recipe so she could continue to enjoy it too. It goes great with my vegan soup beans or my best damn vegan chili, and I made them into waffles because.... waffles are FUN!
WHY YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS RECIPE
❤️Vegan: I grew up eating mom's cornbread that she made with buttermilk. Oh mom, all that saturated fat. I know, you didn't know any better. But we do now so there is no dairy used in this recipe. Love ya Mom.
❤️Oil-Free: Again mom used bacon fat, Crisco, or lard to grease everything and we know that stuff isn't good for us. So there is NO oil of any kind in this recipe, not even to coat the waffle iron.
❤️Gluten-Free: Now that my wife has joined the gluten-free wagon, I am happy to say there is no longer wheat used in this recipe. No worries for you wheat lovers, the original recipe is still there.
NOTABLE INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
CORNMEAL
Seeing how this recipe IS for cornbread..... cornmeal is the key ingredient so don't skimp. Get a good, quality brand of cornmeal, preferably organic. I like Bob's Red Mill (RIP Bob).
OAT FLOUR
Oat flour is used to replace the white flour typically found in cornbread recipes so it is another key ingredient. Choose a good quality brand or do as I did - make your own! A spare coffee grinder and some old-fashioned rolled oats make oat flour in seconds. You'll need 1 cup of oat flour. You can also try using any gluten-free flour.
VEGAN BUTTERMILK
I used unsweetened almond milk and apple cider vinegar to create my vegan buttermilk. Any plant milk will work and you can also use lemon juice instead of vinegar to give it that buttermilk tang.
SPICY CHILES
Don't feel you HAVE to use jalapenos or green chiles if you don't like spice. Personally, I like chiles and couldn't taste them at all (but my wife did and boy did she tell me about it).
Feel free to use the little 4oz cans of green chiles you buy in the store as they are extremely mild.
*See the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact quantities and detailed cooking directions.
HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE CORNBREAD WAFFLES
Nail this perfectly on your first shot by following these step-by-step instructions with helpful tips. Or you can follow along with the easy-to-print recipe card towards the bottom of this page.
STEP ONE
Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl, the cornmeal, oat flour, baking powder, and salt
STEP TWO
Intro the dry mix, stir in the applesauce, green chiles, and if you are using them... the jalapenos.
STEP THREE
Whisk the plant milk. maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar together
STEP FOUR
Add the milk to the cornmeal mixture and mix thoroughly until you have a smooth batter.
Step 5:
Preheat your waffle iron. Mine makes 4 waffles so ladle 4 even portions onto your waffle iron and close the lid. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
💡HELPFUL HINTS:
Do NOT open the lid until you get close to the 10-minute mark or they may stick. If they do, simply close the lid and allow them to finish cooking.
Once you remove that first batch of waffles, close the lid and allow your waffle iron to heat back up again before ladling on your next batch.
After 10 minutes they should be golden brown and lift cleanly out of your waffle iron.
SERVING IDEAS
You can use these waffles in place of cornbread the next time you make a pot of chili or 15-bean soup.
How about ladling some of that chili on top followed by my amazing vegan cheese sauce for the ultimate comfort-food meal?
In the photo, I drizzled some New Mexican Red Chile Sauce on top and garnished it with cilantro and green onions.
RECIPE FAQS
How Many Waffles Does This Make?
My waffle maker is nearly 50 years old and makes four (4" x 4") waffles at a time. This recipe will make 8 waffles.
Can You Freeze Them?
Absolutely. You can probably pop them into your toaster to reheat too.
I Don't Like SPICY FOODS!
Then simply leave the green chiles and jalapenos out. Or use the little 4oz cans of green chile you buy in the store as they are pretty mild.
BLOG RECIPE
https://www.brandnewvegan.com/recipes/breads/gluten-free-cornbread-waffles
I love the idea of making waffles from a cornbread recipe. And I agree with your wife, no way could I eat the spicy mixture you had, but the green chilies wouldn't be 'too much' for my taste bud, or maybe i'll double the recipe and use only one can of the chillies...hmmm. And since I am gluten-free, finding recipes that do not need that modification is a blessing, thank you!
And to take it one step further in modifications, I have found that for those of us who are CORN intolerant or allergic (me) you can use STEEL CUT OATS put through a coffee grinder to the consistency of corn meal and use it in the same way to have 'not cornbread' but just as delicious.
Thank you! I think this is something I can make for family as-is, and make for me subbing oats for the cornmeal. Blessings
Super!