The Best Brown Butter Apple Spice Waffles to Celebrate Fall
Cool mornings and the smell of apples and brown butter — that’s when you know fall has truly arrived. These brown butter apple spice waffles are everything you want in a cozy autumn breakfast: golden brown, crisp on the outside, and soft and flavorful on the inside. Whether you’re watching a Gilmore Girls marathon with a blanket and cup of coffee or making a special breakfast for your kids, this delicious cinnamon apple waffle recipe is the perfect way to celebrate the season.
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The Cozy Fall Morning We All Crave
As soon as the temperatures start to drop, I’m ready to bring out all the fall pantry staples like brown sugar, apple pie spice, and a drizzle of maple syrup for serving. These waffles have a warm cinnamon flavor and just the right sweetness from grated apples that add a little crunch and texture. The browned butter creates a rich, nutty flavor that makes these apple spice cinnamon waffles feel special while still being simple enough for a weekend breakfast.
Everything comes together quickly with just two medium bowls. One to mix your dry ingredients and wet ingredients together, and another to whip your egg whites. The smell of melted butter and apples will fill your kitchen, and once the hot waffle iron starts sizzling, you’ll know you’re in for something good.
Apple Spice Waffles Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 eggs, separated
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, browned and cooled. (1 cup for the waffles, 1/4 cup for serving)
- ½ of a sweet apple, cored and grated (Fuji, Gala, Ambrosia, or Honeycrisp)
Directions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, apple pie spice, and brown sugar.
- Stir in egg yolks, milk, and cooled melted butter just until combined. Small lumps are fine.
- In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
- Gently fold in the egg whites with a metal spoon, then fold in the grated apples.
- Brush a little of the reserved brown butter on a waffle maker or smaller waffle iron before you pour the waffle batter in.
- Cook until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes depending on your waffle maker.
Serve warm with maple syrup, a pat of melted butter, or try making our Apple Cider Syrup for a cozy fall twist.
Notes
- Leave the apple peel on for extra fiber and color.
- Swap cinnamon for apple pie spice if that’s what you have on hand.
- Melted butter can replace brown butter for a quicker version.
- For dairy-free diets, use nut milk and avocado oil instead of butter and milk.
- Make all your waffles at once. Beaten egg whites lose their fluff if left to sit too long.
The Perfect Fall Breakfast
There’s something about a stack of golden brown apple spice waffles that feels like fall. The edges have that little crunch while the center stays light and full of fresh apple flavor. A drizzle of cinnamon syrup or a sprinkle of teaspoon ground cinnamon takes them to the next level.
For best results, preheat your waffle maker completely and use about 1/3 cup of batter at a time, depending on your waffle iron’s size. You can even make extra and store them in an airtight container. Reheat in the toaster or oven for an easy weekday breakfast that still tastes homemade.
If you’re planning a cozy brunch, serve these with diced apples, a drizzle of maple syrup (or make our Apple Cider Syrup for extra apple flavor), and bacon from a cast iron skillet cooked over medium heat. It’s the kind of breakfast that makes everyone slow down, gather around the table, and savor the simple comfort of fall.
Looking for another delicious waffle recipe? Check out our Easy Bob’s Red Mill Fluffy Gluten-Free Waffles
Or if you’re wanting the perfect pairing for these flavorful waffles, try our Apple Cider Syrup!
Brown Butter Apple Spice Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 eggs separated
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 1 stick unsalted butter browned and cooled (reserve ¼ cup for serving)
- ½ of a sweet apple cored and grated (Fuji, Gala, Ambrosia, or Honeycrisp)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients — flour, baking powder, salt, apple pie spice, and brown sugar.
- Stir in egg yolks, milk, and cooled melted butter just until combined. Small lumps are fine.
- In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
- Gently fold in the egg whites with a metal spoon, then fold in the grated apples.
- Brush a little of the reserved brown butter on a hot waffle iron or smaller waffle maker before you pour the waffle batter in.
- Cook until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes depending on your waffle maker.
- Serve warm with maple syrup, a pat of melted butter, or a spoonful of apple butter for a cozy fall twist.
Notes
- Leaving the apple peel on adds color and fiber, but peel if you prefer.
- Substitute cinnamon for apple pie spice if needed.
- Use melted butter instead of brown butter for a faster version.
- For dairy-free, replace butter with ⅓ cup avocado oil and use nut milk.
- Beaten egg whites lose volume over time, so make all waffles at once.
