Carrot Cake Waffles with Maple Cream Cheese
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These carrot cake waffles with maple cream cheese have freshly grated carrot, warm spices and a sweet maple cream cheese dolloped on top. They come together quickly and are the perfect breakfast or brunch recipe in the spring time when you want to add some seasonal ingredients into your morning routine.
Waffles and pancakes are weekend staple in our house. And as much as love the traditional recipes, it is fun to switch it up and create a breakfast that stands out. And these carrot waffles do just that! They are soft in the middle, packed with flavor and will become a family favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Seasonal: Carrot are in season in the spring, making it the perfect time to make these carrot waffles. They make for spring forward brunch or breakfast for Easter or Mothers Day. But you can make these waffles anytime you have a craving.
Family Friendly: My whole family, including my picky little eaters, are obsessed with these carrot cake waffles. They love them fresh and even as leftovers the following morning.
Easy: This recipe is simple to make and comes together quickly. You only need a handful of ingredients and a waffle maker.
What I Love:
- Twist in two classic recipes! This sweet breakfast brings the flavors of carrot cake into a waffle. It is a tasty and fun way to switch up your breakfast menu.
Ingredients and substitutions
Flour: All-Purpose flour is all you need to make these waffles. You can use a 1:1 ratio gluten-free flour if you need to make this recipe gluten-free.
Baking Powder: The leavening agent used in the waffle mix.
Salt: Enhances the flavors.
Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to the waffles.
Cinnamon: Adds some warm spice that enhances the carrot cake flavor.
Ground Ginger: Gives more flavor to the waffles.
Allspice: More warm spice to the waffles that pair well with the carrot flavor.
Buttermilk: Makes the waffles fluffy and tender. If you do not have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 2 cups of milk with 2 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Stir and let stand for 5-10 minutes before mixing it into the batter.
Butter: Melted butter improves the texture of the waffles. Make sure that butter has cooled before adding it the batter.
Eggs: Provides structure.
Vanilla Extract: Adds to the flavor of the waffles.
Carrots: Grated carrots are added to the batter for the carrot cake vibes.
Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese makes the maple cream cheese topping for the waffles.
Maple Syrup: Sweetens the cream cheese.
How to make carrot cake waffles
- Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together and set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, add the eggs, buttermilk, cooled melted butter and vanilla extract. Whisk together until fully combined. Stir in the grated carrots.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet and stir together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter. Let the batter rest while a waffle maker heats up.
- Add a scoop (about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup depending on the size of your waffle maker) to a hot waffle maker. Gently spread out the batter and cook until the waffle maker signals the waffle is done. Place the cooked waffles on a wire cookie sheet until ready to serve.
- To make the cream cheese topping, beat the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl with a hand electric mixer on high speed until smooth. Add in the maple syrup and beat until fully combined.
- Serve the carrot waffles with a dollop of of the maple cream cheese and your favorite toppings such as butter, maple syrup, pecan or walnuts.
Sara’s Tip
Make sure your waffle maker is really hot before adding the waffle batter. This will help give you a crispy outside and soft and tender center.
What to serve with carrot waffles
You can serve the waffles with just the maple cream cheese or add on butter, maple syrup, walnuts or pecans. We have also swapped out the cream cheese and used whipped cream and it was delicious.
You can also add on some protein on the side such as eggs, bacon or sausage. Fresh fruit is also a great pairing with the waffles.
Do the carrots need to peeled?
For best results, I recommend peeling the carrots before grating. The skin on the carrots can sometimes be bitter or taste earthy so peeling them helps prevent any unwanted flavors in your waffles. But it is up to you! If the carrots are younger and really fresh, you can probably get away with just a good wash before grating.
How to store leftovers
I like to cook all the waffle batter the same day. Let any leftover waffles cool completely on a cookie wire rack, then place into an air tight container and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The texture will become softer, but the waffles still taste good. Just reheat in the microwave when ready to serve. My kids love these carrot cake waffle leftovers for breakfast just as much as the day they are made fresh.
If you give these carrot cake waffles with maple cream cheese a try, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
And be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations.
If you love the carrot cake and cream cheese flavor combo, try out my carrot coffee cake with cream cheese.
From my kitchen to yours, happy cooking. I hope you love these carrot waffles as much as we do.
Carrot Cake Waffles with Maple Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 C. Flour
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1 Tbsp. Sugar
- 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. Ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. Allspice
- 2 C. Buttermilk
- 1/4 C. Butter (melted)
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
- 2 Cups carrots (finely grated)
Maple Cream Cheese:
- 4 Oz Cream Cheese (softened)
- 3 Tbsp. Maple Syrup
Instructions
- Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together and set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, add the eggs, buttermilk, cooled melted butter and vanilla extract. Whisk together until fully combined. Stir in the grated carrots.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet and stir together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter. Let the batter rest while a waffle maker heats up.
- Add a scoop (about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup depending on the size of your waffle maker) to a hot waffle maker. Gently spread out the batter and cook until the waffle maker signals the waffle is done. Place the cooked waffles on a wire cookie sheet until ready to serve.
- To make the cream cheese topping, beat the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl with a hand electric mixer on high speed until smooth. Add in the maple syrup and beat until smooth.
- Serve the carrot waffles with a dollop of of the maple cream cheese and your favorite toppings such as butter, maple syrup, pecan or walnuts.
Video
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
