These 3-Ingredient Waffles Are a Food Hug for Your Mom — and a Sweet Mother's Day Memory for You
Treating your mom to brunch is a quintessential Mother’s Day tradition. But while you probably hope to take your mom to her favorite restaurant, sometimes reservations are hard to come by — everyone else has the same idea for this special Sunday! Don't stress: If you're unable to find last-minute reservations and need a wow-worthy brunch idea, we've got you covered. You can turn just three pantry ingredients — a banana, rolled oats, and water — into a batch of guilt-free, fluffy waffles that take less than 30 minutes to prepare. Here's how to make easy homemade waffles that your mom will love.
How To Make Easy 3-Ingredient Homemade Waffles
Waffles are a breakfast staple — and for good reason. The crispy corners and deep pockets hold sugary syrup even better than pancakes. Making waffles from scratch or a boxed mix usually involves measuring and mixing ingredients; and while this produces a tasty result, it also increases your time spent in the kitchen and away from your mom.
Instead of ditching this sweet morning dish entirely, try this 3-Ingredient Waffles recipe from the Cooking With Plants YouTube Channel. The batter consists of a ripe banana, rolled oats, and water, which is blended and cooked in a waffle iron. Not only does this recipe yield golden brown waffles, it's also gluten-free and vegan. Here's how to make them.
Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1 large ripe banana
2 ½ cups of water
Non-stick cooking spray
Maple syrup, for serving
Fresh fruit, optional for garnish
Directions:
Total time: 25 mins
Yield: About 6 square waffles (2 to 3 servings)
Preheat electric waffle iron following manufacturer's instructions.
Peel banana and add to blender or food processor with oats and water. Blend for one to two minutes until fully combined and thick batter forms.
Once waffle iron is preheated, coat with layer of non-stick cooking spray. Pour enough batter to coat grates. Close appliance and cook for about 5 minutes or until waffles are golden brown.
Remove waffle from appliance and place on serving platter or cooling rack. Repeat with remaining batter until all waffles are cooked.
Serve waffles with fresh fruit (if desired) and maple syrup. Enjoy!
My Taste Test
These waffles have a thickness and browned exterior that makes them look similar to Belgian waffles. However, the oats' intense nutty flavor made this recipe stand out from more traditional, floury-tasting waffles. I was surprised that oats, a banana, and water achieved the same crispy yet tender texture that you get with most waffle recipes (that have a whole laundry list of ingredients!). However, I found that the batter was missing a sugary element. One ripe banana isn't quite sweet enough to balance the nuttiness from 3 cups of oats; so next time, I'll probably add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup to the batter. This way, I won't have to drown the cooked waffles in syrup for a sweeter taste.
This recipe puts a whole grain twist on classic waffles — the oats' earthy flavor is so prominent that the banana's fruitiness is barely noticeable, thus it's perfect for mothers with less of a sweet tooth and a penchant for healthy eating. I was ultimately impressed by the ease of making these waffles and how delicious they turned out. I'd say the recipe deserves a place at your brunch table this Sunday!
