Move over pancakes because waffles are where it’s at! Be sure to also check out our Overnight Sourdough Waffles, Copycat Waffle Love Liège Waffles, and Easy Belgian Waffles for more waffle-mania! When it comes to special breakfasts, these cinnamon roll waffles are probably my new favorite. I mean, we already love homemade cinnamon rolls and I have made cinnamon roll french toast before by using leftover day-old cinnamon rolls dipped in egg batter (so good!), so it’s not a shocker that waffles would get the cinnamon roll treatment sooner or later. I actually tested this recipe a few different ways before ultimately taking this approach. If you search Pinterest or Google you will find lots of recipes advocating just using a can of Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls and simply cooking them in the waffle iron, so that was our first attempt. They were okay, but not exactly what I was hoping for because they tasted basically the exact same as when they are cooked in the oven, only with a slightly different texture. It was actually a little deflating to realize that the taste didn’t evoke any of the classic waffle flavor that I love. So I went back to my favorite buttermilk waffle recipe and decided to give them cinnamon roll treatment by drizzling them with cinnamon brown sugar butter mixture to evoke that gooey center of a truly scrumptious cinnamon roll. And then of course they needed cinnamon roll icing to really sell the whole thing. I tested a few different versions of that icing and ended up liking one with cream cheese and maple extract best. The maple extract is optional if it’s not something you have on hand, but I really feel like it unifies the concept of waffles with maple syrup and cinnamon rolls, tying the two together in a breakfast marriage made in heaven. The end result is absolutely amazing. Paul took one bite and immediately said that this version hit the ball out of the park. You actually get both waffle AND cinnamon roll in one bite and it totally works. These waffles are perfect for weekend breakfasts or brunches. But I would happily serve them as a dessert, which is honestly how I like waffles best anyway.
Recipe Ingredients
Flour: Regular all-purpose flour provides the basis for these homemade waffles.Sugar: A little granulated sugar gives just a hint of sweetness to the waffle batter, while powdered sugar and brown sugar are used to make the two icings.Buttermilk: I love buttermilk and use it in lots of recipes, but if you don’t keep it on hand I’ll give you an easy substitute below.Eggs: I wanted to simplify the waffle batter here so I just beat the eggs before adding them to the batter rather than separating the egg whites and beating them until fluffy. I hardly notice a difference and it’s much less hassle!Butter: I like to use butter in the waffle batter instead of oil for the best flavor. Baking powder and baking soda: These two work together to make nice, fluffy waffles that are crisp on the outside.Salt: A little salt keeps the waffles from being bland.Vanilla extract: I love using my homemade vanilla extract to add dimension and flavor to my batter.Cream cheese: Even if cream cheese icing isn’t your thing when it comes to cinnamon rolls, I really recommend it here because it cuts the sweetness a bit and really sells the whole cinnamon roll side of things.Maple extract: This is optional but it really does make a difference! I tried a version of the icing using just maple syrup and the maple flavor didn’t come through strong enough. Maple extract does the job much better.Milk: Use only as much as you need to thin out the icing until you can drizzle it.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Waffles
Buttermilk substitution: If you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a 1 cup measuring cup then fill the rest of the way with milk. Let this sit for 5-10 minutes to curdle, then use in place of the buttermilk in the recipe.
Recipe Tips
Keeping waffles warm: If you want to keep the waffles warm between batches, you can stick them in a warm (200 degree F) oven. Or you can always stick waffles in a toaster for a few seconds to crisp up the outsides before serving. Use a wire rack: I highly recommend placing cooked waffles on a wire rack. This allows air to circulate underneath the waffles so they don’t steam themselves and lose their crispness that they have when they are fresh out of the waffle maker.
More Breakfast Recipes
How to Make the BEST French ToastLemon Poppy Seed PancakesGerman PancakesEasy Rhubarb Breakfast CakeCinnamon French Toast SticksBlueberry Sour Cream Coffee CakeFluffy Toasted Coconut Pancakes
Adapted from All Recipes. Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
