Waffles are undoubtedly the most comforting treat around; you can have them for breakfast, for dessert, or as a snack. It goes without saying that it is a wholesome treat that caters to everyone’s taste – no matter young or old.
However, if you have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have been living with the condition for a while, you may have cut out waffles entirely from your diet plan as nutritionists and dieticians refrain their patients from indulging in them.
But what if we told you that you do not have to cut waffles out of your diet?
While it is true that traditional waffle recipes are carbohydrate bombs due to the refined, white flour, there are alternatives to it that will make it a diabetic-friendly version.
In place of refined, white flour you can opt for quinoa flour, coconut flour, or even almond flour. Moreover, instead of using waffle toppings like butter, syrup, or sugary confectionery, you can opt for fresh fruits like blueberries, strawberries, or bananas.
Let us now take a look at a few alternatives for white flour;
Waffles with Almond Flour
If you love fluffy waffles, you will enjoy this recipe that uses almond flour. Whether it’s freshly made or thawed from the freezer, almond flour never disappoints and only comes with 4 grams of carbs per serving.
To make your waffles healthier, you can replace the heavy cream with skimmed or fat-free milk and you will automatically have a treat that is lower in fat and calories.
We recommend pairing your waffles with a side of fresh fruit for a filling, nutritious and satisfying treat.
The ingredients
- 2 cups of Almond flour
- Fresh fruit of your choice. Preferably bananas, strawberries, or blueberries
- 1 ½ teaspoon of baking powder– it acts as a leavening agent which gives the waffles some extra rise and fluffiness.
- 2 tablespoons of Coconut oil or you can use 100g of butter
- 2 -3 Egg whites beaten and left at room temperature
- Half a cup 0r 100 g of Yogurt – Plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon of Vanilla extract
The process
- First mix all the dry ingredients together then add coconut oil/ butter, yogurt, eggs, and vanilla extracts to the mixture. You can blend it together in a mixing device or by hand.
- Do not overmix it but ensure the mixture is free of lumps.
- Once done, grease your waffle iron with a non-stick cooking spray or with butter or oil then add the batter to the iron and cook the waffles till the sides are crispy or brown.
- Instead of topping the waffles with powdered sugar or syrup, add fresh fruit for a wholesome experience.
Waffles with Quinoa Waffles
If you have never made waffles with quinoa flour before, now is a great time to do so. Quinoa is a complete protein which means that it contains protein in addition to essential amino acids that are not found in plants. This quinoa waffle recipe packs around 6 g of fiber and 28 g of protein per serving.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Quinoa flour (Organic)
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder
- A pinch of nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of baking powder
- 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
- 4 egg whites, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract (gluten-free is optional)
- 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
The process
In a mixing bowl, mix in all the dry ingredients i.e. the quinoa flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and cinnamon powder, and set it aside.
In another bowl, add the mashed bananas, almond milk, egg whites, and vanilla extract and mix the ingredients well together.
Heat your waffle iron for about 5 to 10 minutes, then mix the dry ingredients with the wet ones till you have a smooth batter. You can add choco chips to the wet ingredients if you want but it is optional.
Using a large spoon or ladle, add half a ladle of batter to the waffle iron and cook the waffle till it turns golden in color or till the edges are crispy. Voila, your healthy diabetic friendly waffles are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What can I use in place of all-purpose flour for waffles?
Ans 1. You can use whole wheat flour, almond flour, quinoa flour, or oat flour in place of all-purpose flour.
Q2. What kind of waffles are good for diabetics?
Ans 2. Waffles that contain whole wheat flour in place of white flour are good for diabetics. Additionally, instead of using rich toppings such as butter and syrup or other sugary items, fresh fruit like blueberries or strawberries should be used. Additionally, in place of using eggs in the batter use flax eggs which is a combination or mixture of flax seeds with water.