Gingerbread Waffles with Eggnog Whipped Cream
These gingerbread waffles bring a little holiday magic to the breakfast table! They’re fluffy, tender, and packed with warm gingerbread spices and rich molasses flavor. Top them with homemade eggnog whipped cream and a drizzle of maple syrup for a festive breakfast that’s worth getting out of bed for!
I love having a few festive breakfast recipes ready for the holidays, and these gingerbread waffles are perfect for Christmas morning. The best part? They’re easy to make but look so impressive, especially with a big dollop of homemade eggnog whipped cream!
If eggnog isn’t your thing, they’re just as delicious with butter and warm maple syrup. And if you’re as obsessed with gingerbread season as I am, be sure to try my gingerbread pancakes, too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A fun holiday tradition. Give your usual breakfast a Christmas makeover! These waffles are perfect for holiday mornings, brunch, or breakfast in bed.
- That eggnog whipped cream. Light, fluffy, and full of holiday flavor, it’s a delicious upgrade from your usual waffle toppings.
- Easy to make. Just mix up the batter and let your waffle iron do the work. No fancy steps or special skills needed!
- Make them your own. Serve with eggnog whipped cream, warm maple syrup, powdered sugar, or even a few festive sprinkles!
Ingredient Notes
- All-purpose flour: Gives the waffles structure while keeping them light and tender. For the best results, spoon and level your flour or use a kitchen scale.
- Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness without overpowering the gingerbread flavor.
- Baking powder and baking soda: Work together to help the waffles rise and turn out nice and fluffy. Check that both are fresh!
- Spices: Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg give these waffles their classic gingerbread flavor. Make sure your spices are fresh for the best taste!
- Eggs: Help create a fluffy texture and give the waffles structure.
- Butter: Adds richness and flavor. Melt it and let it cool slightly before mixing it into the batter.
- Milk: Any type will work, but keep in mind that nondairy milk may slightly change the flavor.
- Sour cream: The secret to soft, tender waffles! I recommend full-fat sour cream at room temperature.
- Molasses: The key to that rich gingerbread flavor! Use unsulphured molasses, not blackstrap. I prefer Grandma’s Molasses.
- Eggnog whipped cream: A festive mix of heavy whipping cream, full-fat eggnog, and a pinch of nutmeg. It’s an easy homemade topping that takes these waffles to the next level!
Refer to the recipe card for ingredient details and measurements.
Recipe Variations
Add chocolate chips. Stir mini chocolate chips or white chocolate chips into the batter for an extra sweet treat. Both pair so well with gingerbread spices!
Make them crunchy. Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter for a little crunch in every bite.
Skip the eggnog. Not an eggnog fan? Top your waffles with regular whipped cream, cinnamon butter, or a drizzle of warm maple syrup.
Make them extra festive. Add a sprinkle of powdered sugar, crushed gingersnap cookies, or festive sprinkles just before serving.
Make them gluten-free. Try swapping the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour. The texture may vary slightly depending on the blend you use.
How to Make Gingerbread Waffles
- Whisk dry ingredients together. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Set aside.
- Mix wet ingredients together. Stir together the eggs, melted butter, milk, sour cream and molasses.
- Combine. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
- Cook. Pour batter into preheated waffle iron. Cook according to your waffle iron’s instructions, until golden brown and crisp on the outside.
- Prepare eggnog whipped cream. Add heavy cream, eggnog and nutmeg to a bowl. Use an electric mixer to mix ingredients on high until soft peaks form.
Expert Tips
Don’t overmix the batter. Stir just until the wet and dry ingredients are combined. A few lumps are fine! Overmixing can lead to dense waffles instead of light, fluffy ones.
Know your waffle iron. Every waffle maker is a little different, so check the manufacturer’s instructions for cooking times and whether you need to grease it before adding the batter.
Resist lifting the lid. Opening your waffle iron too soon can cause the waffles to tear. Wait until the steam has mostly stopped before checking if they’re done.
Looking for a waffle maker? This is the one I own, and I love it! My waffles turn out fluffy on the inside with perfectly crisp, golden edges.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
Make ahead. Save time on busy holiday mornings by making the waffles in advance! Cook them as directed, let them cool completely, and store them in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to serve.
Refrigerate. Store leftover waffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Place parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking.
Freeze. Once cooled, place them in a freezer-safe bag with parchment paper between each waffle. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat. For the best texture, pop refrigerated or frozen waffles straight into the toaster until warm and crispy. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350°F.
Eggnog whipped cream. Make the whipped cream up to 24 hours in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Give it a quick whisk if needed before serving. For the fluffiest texture, I recommend making it fresh!
Recipe FAQ
I recommend making the batter fresh for the fluffiest waffles. However, you can mix the dry ingredients the night before and store them in an airtight container. When you’re ready for breakfast, just add the wet ingredients and start cooking!
Want everyone to enjoy breakfast together? Preheat your oven to 250°F and place a wire cooling rack on a baking sheet. As each waffle finishes cooking, transfer it to the rack and keep it warm in the oven. This allows air to circulate so the waffles stay crisp instead of getting soggy.
A few things can cause soft or soggy waffles. Make sure your waffle iron is fully preheated before adding the batter, and avoid stacking the waffles as they cook. Place finished waffles on a wire rack to keep them crisp until you’re ready to serve.
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Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Waffles
Ingredients
Gingerbread Waffles Ingredients:
- 2 cups (254 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon (4 g) salt
- 2 teaspoons (6 g) ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon (3 g) ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon (1 g) ground cloves
- ¼ (1 g) nutmeg
- 4 (4) large eggs
- 6 tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- ¼ cup (85 g) molasses
Eggnog Whipped Cream
- ¾ cups (180 ml) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (90 ml) plus 2 tablespoons eggnog, full fat
- ¼ teaspoon (1 g) nutmeg
Instructions
Gingerbread Waffles
- In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients–flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves. Set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, mix the wet ingredients together in a medium bowl until combined (eggs, melted butter, milk, sour cream, molasses). Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just until incorporated (be careful not to over mix).
- Heat a waffle iron and cook batter according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Serve warm, topped with eggnog whipped cream and maple syrup.
Egg Nog Whipped Cream
- Chill a mixing bowl in the freezer until cold. Pour chilled whipping cream, eggnog, and nutmeg into the bowl and beat with the whisk attachment on high until the mixture begins to thicken. Continue to beat until soft peaks form. Refrigerate mixture until ready to use.
Adapted from Once Upon A Cutting Board
13 Comments on “Gingerbread Waffles with Eggnog Whipped Cream”
perfect Christmas breakfast!
Yes, very festive!
These sound hearty and fantastic! The eggnog whipped cream is such a great idea! Can’t wait to try these!
Thank you, Christie!
These sound wonderful… Why wait until Christmas. I want some now.
My daughter and husband are going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to give this a try! So excited!
Perfect way to start the day, what a perfect combination!
These are lovely for the holidays! They’re perfect for a special breakfast or brunch! Love the whipped topping!
My whole family loves waffles! They will love these gingerbread waffles for breakfast!
What a great recipe for Christmas morning! I am loving this idea; can’t wait to give these a try!
I vote these for weekend breakfast! Yum! You just cant beat the flavor!
This is seriously a must-make for the holidays!