Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Waffles
Amp up your waffle game with a cinnamon twist.
Makes8 (4-inch) waffles
Prep10 minutes
Cook12 minutes to 28 minutes
In my house, making waffles and crispy oven bacon is part of our weekend ritual. Sometimes my family votes for Belgian waffles, and other weekends it’s buttermilk waffles — but these days, cinnamon waffles are the most popular pick in the house. Between the warm notes of cinnamon and the rich toffee undertones from a little brown sugar, these waffles just might remind you of a cinnamon roll. And that’s what keeps me making them weekend after weekend. The short list of basic pantry ingredients (you may already have everything you need right now!) and the quick prep doesn’t hurt, either.
I can’t resist a melty pat of butter and enough warm maple syrup to fill each and every well of the waffle. But if you really want to give these waffles some serious cinnamon roll vibes, go for a drizzle of cream cheese icing and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
Can I Use Brown Sugar Instead of Granulated Sugar in My Cinnamon Waffle Batter?
Not only is it totally OK to use brown sugar in your cinnamon waffle batter, but it’s also what we recommend and call for in the recipe! Using light brown sugar gives the waffles a rich, sweet flavor with caramel undertones.
If all you have in the pantry is granulated sugar, don’t let that be the reason you don’t make these waffles. The flavor won’t be quite as rich, but granulated sugar will work just fine. Or, try a simple pantry hack for DIY brown sugar.
Read more: How To Make Brown Sugar at Home
Cinnamon Waffles Versus Regular Waffles
There are two ingredients that set cinnamon waffles apart from regular waffles.
- Cinnamon waffles: Made with ground cinnamon and light brown sugar.
- Regular waffles: No ground cinnamon and made with granulated sugar.
Cinnamon Waffle Toppings
When it comes to waffle toppings, you can never ever go wrong with a pat of butter and a generous drizzle of maple syrup. Here are some other favorites.
- Sprinkle of ground cinnamon
- Powdered sugar
- Whipped cream
- Cream cheese icing
- Greek yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Fresh berries
- Apple pie filling
Cinnamon Waffles Recipe
Amp up your waffle game with a cinnamon twist.
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 12 minutes to 28 minutes
Makes 8 (4-inch) waffles
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons
(1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for serving
- 2 cups
all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons
packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon
ground cinnamon, plus more for topping
- 2 teaspoons
baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 2
large eggs
- 1 3/4 cups
milk
- 2 teaspoons
vanillla extract
Cooking spray
Maple syrup, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Cut 1 stick unsalted butter into 8 pieces and place in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, 30 to 45 seconds. (Alternatively, melt on the stovetop.) Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the batter.
Place 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine, breaking up any lumps of brown sugar.
Place 2 large eggs, 1 3/4 cups milk, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. While whisking constantly and vigorously, slowly pour in the melted butter. (The butter might clump a bit — that’s okay.) Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until combined.
Heat the waffle iron according to the manufacturer instructions. Coat the surface of the waffle iron with cooking spray.
Pour in the amount of batter recommended in the manufacturer instructions, about 1/2 cup for a thick 4-inch waffle or 3/4 cup for a thick 7-inch waffle. Close the lid and cook until the waffle is golden-brown. When the waffle is ready, remove from the iron to a wire rack. If not serving immediately as they are made, place directly on a rack in a 200ºF oven to keep warm. Repeat making waffles with the remaining batter. Serve with butter and maple syrup.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Refrigerate cooked waffles in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Rewam in a 300ºF oven until heated through.