Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Banana Waffles

As you will have seen from my Healthy Oatmeal 5 Ways post, my go-to breakfast is usually a bowl of oatmeal. Sometimes though I just need to mix it up. I tend to be a sweet breakfast kind of gal, so I had to come up with another way to have a sweet yet healthy breakfast. What came to mind? Waffles. Waffles are always a good idea. We grew up eating them in my family on Saturday mornings with ice cream and maple syrup. Literally dessert for breakfast and the highlight of my week. Well the days of being oblivious to what I put in my body and having a hummingbird's metabolism are long gone, so I had to find a healthy alternative.

These Carrot Cake Banana Waffles did not disappoint. They were surprisingly fluffy for not having any traditional flour in them. I like to have a balanced hearty breakfast because I think it's the most important meal of the day and it gives me the energy I need to chase my little girl around! This breakfast had it all, with veggies, fats and protein to keep me full for a long time. They are also refined sugar free, gluten-free and dairy free! Check out how I did these Carrot Cake Banana Waffles below!

Makes: 4 small waffle squares (serves 1 in my opinion)

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 5 Minutes

Total Times: 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 big carrots, peeled and grated (~ 1 1/2 cups)
2 large eggs
2 tbs almond flour
1/2 ripe banana, mashed (save the other half for topping!)
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of ginger
pinch of cloves
optional: 1-2 tbs 100% maple syrup (you can omit if you plan to top them with syrup or something sweet)

Instructions:

Heat waffle iron to 400 degrees (I use this Cuisinart).
Peel and grate the carrots. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add the carrots. Add 3-4 tbs of water, put the lid on and steam until soft (add more water if it starts to dry up).
Beat the eggs in a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, including the steamed carrots.
Once the waffle iron is hot, generously spray with avocado or coconut oil and pour the batter into the middle. You can kind of push it down a bit so it fills the squares.
Let it bake for 5-7 minutes or until your waffle iron beeps. Top with your favorite toppings - pure maple syrup, almond butter, coconut cream or chia jam!