Low Carb Protein Waffles
These Low Carb Protein Waffles are incredibly fluffy, packed with over 20 grams of protein, and made with just 4 simple ingredients! They’re quick enough for busy mornings, satisfying enough to keep you full, and delicious topped with your favorite toppings and a drizzle of maple syrup.
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A Note from Kim
The Waffle Recipe I Make on Repeat
These Protein Waffles are my everyday go-to breakfast! I cannot get enough! And if I had to choose between waffles and pancakes… is that even a choice? Waffles are #1 in my book! They require no flipping and then you’ve got those nooks and crannies that perfectly hold sweet drops of maple syrup. There’s just no comparison.
While these are delicious, keep in mind, they do have a bit of a different texture than our decadent Belgian Waffles made with whipped egg whites and yeast. Also, if you love these, be sure to try my Oat Flour Waffles next. They are made with rolled oats, almond milk, banana and eggs, all easily whipped up in the blender.
With love (and lots of good eats), 
I made these protein waffles for breakfast using unsweetened applesauce instead of the banana or pumpkin. It was really good! Topped it with blueberries.
— Trisha
Ingredients You’ll Need
This protein waffle recipe could not be easier and you literally only need a handful of pantry staples. Here’s a note on each of the ingredients:
Find all measurements in the recipe card below.
- Cooking spray. This is VERY important. These waffles are more likely to stick because of the high-protein ingredients. Spray your waffle iron generously before each batch. For the best release, use a spray that contains soy lecithin. Natural olive oil and coconut oil sprays don’t work as well here.
- Protein powder. The brand DOES matter here. Many brands I’ve tried, make these waffles dry or too crispy. Some protein powders can make the waffles dry or overly crisp. I’ve had the best results with Tone It Up Protein Powder and PEScience Protein Powder. The snickerdoodle flavor from PEScience is one of my favorites.
- Kodiak Power Cakes Pancake Mix. I like using a mix of protein powder and Kodiak Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix for the best texture and flavor. Dark Chocolate and Almond Poppy Seed are two favorites.
- Pumpkin puree. Pumpkin keeps the waffles soft, fluffy, and helps prevent them from getting too crisp. Mashed banana works too, but pumpkin is lower in carbs and calories and has a mild flavor. I usually keep a can in the fridge and scoop out what I need.
- Egg whites. Carton egg whites make this recipe extra easy for everyday breakfasts, but fresh egg whites work too if you prefer.
- Water. I rarely measure this ingredient. Add enough water until the batter is thick but still easy to pour. You don’t want it runny, but it shouldn’t be overly thick either.
Variations and Substitutions
- Add-ins. These protein waffles are easy to customize! Try mixing in chocolate chips, vanilla extract, cocoa powder for a chocolate version, or warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or pumpkin pie spice. A pinch of salt can also help boost the flavor.
- Egg. I usually make these with egg whites, but a whole egg should work too. I haven’t tested a flax egg, so it may work, but it could change the texture.
- Pumpkin. If you don’t want to use pumpkin puree, try mashed banana, apple sauce, cottage cheese or Greek yogurt.
- Protein powder. Some protein powders I’ve tried resulted in waffles with a dry, unpleasant texture. I recommend either Tone It Up (plant-based) or PEScience (whey protein). Use any flavor you like from vanilla protein powder to snickerdoodle flavor!
- Pancake mix. Kodiak Cakes and Birch Benders pancake mix are the two mixes I’ve tested with great results, but other pancake mixes may work as well.
Kim’s Recipe Tips
- Know your waffle iron. Every waffle maker cooks a little differently, so use the cook time as a guide and check the waffle iron’s instructions for your model. Some run hotter and cook much faster than others.
- Keep waffles warm. Making multiple batches? Heat the oven to 200°F and place finished waffles on a sheet pan inside to keep them warm until serving.
- Grease well between batches. These protein waffles are more likely to stick than traditional waffles, so don’t be shy with the cooking spray. Re-spray as needed.
- Gluten-free waffles. To make these gluten free, choose a certified gluten-free protein powder and pancake mix.
- Have fun with toppings. A drizzle of maple syrup is always good, but fresh berries, sliced banana, peanut butter, Greek yogurt, whipped cream, chopped nuts, jelly, chocolate chips, or powdered sugar all are delicious.
- Waffle iron recommendation. You don’t need anything fancy! Mine was inexpensive and has lasted over 10 years. It’s similar to this waffle iron on Amazon.
How to Make Protein Waffles
Protein waffles are super easy to make with minimal ingredients. I measure all of my ingredients in grams, on a food scale. This isn’t necessary unless you’re counting your macros or simply want your measurements to be exact. Here’s the simple method:
For full, printable instructions, reference the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step 1: Prep. Heat your waffle iron. Mix ingredients. In a medium bowl, stir together protein powder, Kodiak Cakes Mix, egg whites, pumpkin purée (or mashed banana). If needed for consistency, gradually add in a bit of water, 1 tablespoon at a time until the batter can be poured onto the waffle iron, but is still fairly thick.
Step 2: Cook. Once your waffle maker is heated, spray it well with the cooking spray. Then, pour batter onto the bottom. Use a spoon to spread the batter over the surface of the waffle iron, and then close it. My waffle iron automatically sounds an alarm when the waffle is finished cooking, after about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Serve. Remove and enjoy with a drizzle of maple syrup, melted butter, sliced banana, berries and nut butter or any other favorite toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
This particular protein waffle recipe is full of nutrition and a great high protein breakfast! It’s made with simple, wholesome ingredients, is packed with over 20 grams of protein and low in calories and fat.
High protein waffles are made with protein powder, Kodiak Cakes mix, egg whites and canned pumpkin or mashed banana. They’re super easy to make, absolutely delicious and great for meal prep. Plus, they’ll keep you satisfied right up until lunch!
If your waffles turn out dry, it probably has to do with the variety of protein powder that you’re using. For best results, use a blend of protein powder with the Kodiak Cakes waffle mix, and also add in a spoonful of pumpkin puree for added moisture.
Protein waffles tend to stick more than regular waffles. Use plenty of cooking spray and let them cook fully before opening the waffle iron. Pam cooking spray works well.
Yes, you can sub the protein powder with about 1/8 cup (17-20g) of pancake mix.
Serving Suggestions
These easy protein waffles are packed with enough protein to make a satisfying breakfast on their own, especially topped with fresh fruit, a little nut butter, and a drizzle of maple syrup. If you’d like an even more filling meal, here are some delicious pairing ideas:
- Quiche. Balance the sweetness with something savory like this bacon Swiss quiche or this delicious quiche Lorraine.
- Meat. For even more protein serve some breakfast sausage or bacon on the side.
- Fruit. These are so good with any favorite fruit. I love topping them with banana slices, sautéed cinnamon apple slices, berries and sliced peaches.
- Carbs. Since this recipe only has 4 grams of carbs, feel free to pair this with breakfast potatoes or hash browns.
Storage Recommendations
- Storing leftovers. These will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To keep in the refrigerator, store them in an airtight container.
- Freezing. Make a double batch and store in the freezer! Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place all the wrapped waffles in a large freezer bag.
- Reheating. For best results, reheat in the toaster oven. They will come out crunchy and golden brown. If you’re starting with frozen waffles, you’ll want to add an additional 1-2 minutes to the toasting time.
More High Protein Breakfast Recipes
If you try this protein waffle recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, subscribe to our mailing list to receive more delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Low Carb Protein Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 scoop (or slightly less, about 17 to 20g) protein powder*
- 1/8 cup (or slightly less, about 16 to 20 grams) Kodiak Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix
- 1/4 cup (or slightly less) egg whites from a carton + 2-3 tablespoons or more of water for a thinner consistency, I typically use about 40 grams egg whites and then enough water to get desired consistency
- 1-2 tablespoons (about 20 grams) pumpkin purée from a can or mashed banana
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, optional (I typically leave this out and would only use if I weren't using the Kodiak Cakes mix)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or pumpkin spice, optional for extra flavor
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, optional for extra flavor
- Optional for serving: maple syrup, almond butter, Walden Farms calorie free pancake syrup and/or fresh fruit
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Instructions
- Heat waffle iron.
- Stir 1 scoop (or slightly less, about 17 to 20g) protein powder* , 1/8 cup (or slightly less, about 16 to 20 grams) Kodiak Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix, 1/4 cup (or slightly less) egg whites from a carton + 2-3 tablespoons or more of water for a thinner consistency, and 1-2 tablespoons (about 20 grams) pumpkin purée from a can or mashed banana together in a small bowl, until batter is free from most clumps. Add as much water as needed to get a waffle batter consistency. The batter should be thick, but slightly pourable too.
- Once waffle iron is heated, spray top and bottom of iron with nonstick cooking spray and pour batter over bottom of the iron. Natural nonstick cooking sprays do not work well in this recipe because this waffle tends to stick easily. Use the back of your spoon to spread the batter evenly over the iron.
- When the waffle iron goes off, transfer waffle to a plate and top with your desired toppings. Serve immediately or store in a covered container in the fridge to reheat and enjoy later.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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Yum! These were so good!
Love these waffles! They make such a great light breakfast. I top them with maple syrup, almond butter and berries.
I love these protein waffles! I make them almost every morning. Great simple recipe!
Does anyone know were the ingredient measurements are? I can’t find them.
In the recipe card at the bottom
I tried making today with iconic protein powder. I didn’t measure the water but I added a lot to get it to somewhat of a pour consistency, waffle batter consistency. The iron almost instantly just started boiling over and overflowing. It didn’t even cook, just kept boiling ? Do you have any idea why that would happen? I can’t imagine the powder to have made such a different reaction than everyone else’s. Help!! I was so excited to make these and now I’m sad.
Sorry you’re having trouble. I use half PEScience protein powder with half Kodiak Cakes pancake mix and it works perfectly. I have also successfully used Tone It Up protein powder without the pancake mix. I have never tried iconic and I’m sure that’s the issue because all protein powders are so different.
Ok, so to follow up my comment…. I completely screwed up the recipe the first time. I guess I made it a point to focus on adding enough water to make it a “waffle batter” “pour consistency “ that I ended up adding a ton of water. Which resulted in the batter just continuously boiling over once I poured into the iron. So… tonight I used the same protein powder (iconic) added all the ingredients and ONLY added the 3 tbsp of water that it calls for with the egg whites. I didn’t eat it yet but it looks perfect. I plan on toasting it within the next few days. Looking at the cooked waffle, the only thing I think I would do is whip the egg whites separate then add to mixture.
Glad the recipe worked out for you the second time. Hope you enjoy!
I made them and they were so easy to cook, no sticking, and not dry. My ingredients were slightly different since I used what I had on hand – two jumbo egg whites, twice the pumpkin by mistake, and Bariatric Advantage protein powder. I will definitely make them again.
So happy to hear! Thanks so much for your feedback!
hi Kim! what can I use in replacement of the kioaki cake mix? can I use a type of flour or grounded up oats?
Yes, either should work, but I would add a bit of baking powder. You could also use a different pancake mix.
Thank you for this awesome recipe. I tried protein powder after my nutritionist suggested adding it to my diet and I found it utterly disgusting in smoothies. In this recipe it doesn’t have a prominent taste at all and with my favourite toppings its become a yummy quick breakfast. Thanks again.
That makes me so happy that you enjoy these!
This works well with SunWarrior protein powder. They are amazingly good! I like to prep them ahead for busy days.
Definitely make sure your iron is well-sprayed and that there is no steam coming from your iron before you open it (rather than trusting the light for doneness!)
My new favorite breakfast 🙂
Super happy they worked great for you!
It was so good!
So happy you enjoyed!
I made this for breakfast using unsweetened applesauce instead of the banana or pumpkin. It was really good! Topped it with blueberries.
Happy to hear you enjoyed! And thanks so much for taking time to leave feedback!
These came out so good and fluffy too! ?? I used my Quest vanilla milkshake powder and pumpkin purée I wasn’t sure how it would go based off other lightened up recipes I’ve tried but after seeing them fluff up and have that nice crisp too I was excited to try them! Thank you so much for a indulgent low carb way to enjoy one of my favorite foods ?
Yay! So happy to hear that you enjoyed and thanks so much for sharing your feedback and that these worked well with the Quest protein.
Does this only make one waffle ?
yes
I made this with 2T of cooked yam, topped with bosc pear and cinnamon-so desish!
Yay! So happy to hear!
I feed my son these for breakfast several times a week. Great way to start his day. I’ve used both pumpkin and bananas. He loves them and eats them plain without syrup.
Love hearing that! Thanks so much for your comment!
This recipe is so great, thank you for all the recommendations! I’ve been eating protein waffles from https://shop.kodiakcakes.com/collections/toaster-waffles-flapjacks, but i’ve been looking for something with fewer carbs. I think i just need to buy a waffle iron now haha. Can’t wait to try!
Let me know what you think!
Can you substitute the protein powder for something else?
I haven’t ever tried anything else, so I can’t say for sure, but you could try oat flour, regular flour or almond flour. I also have this waffle recipe that doesn’t use protein powder.
Looks like you can’t find that protein powder anymore and I’m afraid of buying something else and it not working 🙁 Have you tried any others?
All Tone It Up protein works really well, but I like the peanut butter best. You can grab it here https://my.toneitup.com/collections/protein-powder/products/plant-based-peanut-butter-protein-powder or from Target, this is another favorite https://bit.ly/3g8ryQ4 or https://bit.ly/2XfWrJO
Why is there so much sodium in 1 waffle?
It’s from the protein powder.
So, are these Belgian waffles? If not, do you reckon it would be possible to make Belgian waffles from this recipe? It’s just I recently ordered a Belgian waffle iron and I’m curious to try it… 🙂
That will work perfectly. That’s what I use. Just add enough water to the protein/pumpkin/egg white mixture to make the batter pourable, but not overly thin and still thick. Then I used my spoon to spread the batter out over the waffle maker. Enjoy!
These are awesome! I multiplied the recipe x4 and it made 15 waffles on my mini dash waffle maker. Perfect for sticking in the freezer for the week! They are definitely fluffier when fresh, but delicious toasted up during the week too.
Love it! Making a bunch ahead of time definitely makes mornings less hectic. Thanks so much for your comment!
Tastes amazing but overflows in my waffle makes even following the directions…. what kind of waffle maker do you use?
I have a Belgium waffle maker, so it’s pretty large. You might try making two waffles, if yours is a little on the smaller side.
I made this today with vanilla Tone It Up and they came out great! Thank you so much. I’m going to try chocolate flavor next time ☺️
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the waffles! Love using the chocolate too, but right now I’m on a peanut butter kick!
Hi, I tried it with quest and it’s super dry do you have any suggestions? I used a canola oil spray and sprayed the waffle maker really well.
Also I used one egg instead of egg whites because I thought it would help make it more moist and bind better
It must be the protein powder. That’s what happens when I tried IdealLean protein. If you want to give it another try, try Tone It Up http://bit.ly/2T8ijra
Can I use whole eggs instead of just writes?
I’m sure that will work great… might actually even turn out better. I would use one beaten egg.
Hi! I’m super exited to try this recipe! I’m on a super strict diet that doesn’t allow me to eat bananas or the pumpkin pie, is there anything else I can substitute them with or will it work just the same if I don’t use them?
Maybe applesauce or yogurt, but I can’t say for sure since I haven’t tried these substitutions. Good luck!
Do you think I could use two whole eggs into the egg whites?
I’m sure that will work great… might actually even turn out better. I would use one beaten egg.
Hi, have you tried it with quest protein powder?
I have not, but I’ve tried Quest before in other recipes with good success. If you’re able to make pancakes using Quest, I would say it would probably work for waffles. Just be sure to spray your waffle iron really well and use a cooking spray like pam (one with a soy additive) rather than an all natural cooking spray.
I made this with !st Phorm’s Level 1 Vanilla Protein and they turned out amazing! I was surprised they were even crispy on the outside, will definitely be making these again!
That’s so great to know of another protein powder that works great with this recipe! Thanks so much for your feedback!
How well do these freeze! I love them and was wondering if I could pre- make these and freeze them?
I’m so glad you’re loving them! I personally haven’t frozen them, but I think it would work just fine. I would reheat in a toaster oven for a few minutes. Let us know how it works for you!
I am so excited to find this recipe, because I love waffles, but am always on a diet. This finally gives me an excuse to buy my very own waffle iron. God-bye Eggos.
I hope you enjoy! It’s a favorite recipe of mine that I make all of the time. I will tell you, the quality of waffle is going to be dependent upon the protein powder that you use. I would grab the tone it up brand from Target… I have it delivered to me monthly.
Tried to make this recipe twice now and can not get it to work. ?
It’s more than likely either the protein powder you’re using or the nonstick spray. What problem are you having and I’ll try to help? I make this recipe at least once a week, so I know we can get it to work for you!
I made this but it’s really dry? Any ideas? I have to take a drink of water with every bite lol
It’s probably definitely the type of protein powder that you used. I’ve experienced with lots of types and Tone It Up by far has the best texture. Nuzest works great too. IdealLean was definitely too dry. I order Tone It Up from Target, but you can also pick it up in store.
ITS amazing
Hi, I want to try this recipe asap, it looks great! I don’t have a waffle iron. Do you think this could work as a pancake? Thanks!
Yes, I always interchange my waffle and pancake recipes. Just make sure to cook at a lower heat and for longer. I would also make sure when you spoon the batter out, use the back of the spoon to thin it out in a circle shape. If it’s too thick, it may not cook properly in the center. Enjoy!
I used maple extract to give it more of a waffle tast I was pleasantly surprised
Oh my, these look incredible! Definitely need to try them. I can’t imagine how they’ll taste from these ingredients. Are they fluffy? And the amount above is on one portion or one waffle (I’ve never had waffles so I don’t know how many to make :D) thanks for reply!
Thank you! They do come out fluffy. They do not have that crisp outside, like a normal waffle, though. The amount in the recipe is for one serving, which is one large waffle. I have a large waffle maker, but if you have a smaller waffle maker, you may be able to get more than one waffle.
SIGN THIS GIRL UPPPPP!! YUM!