Name: Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups flour (Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1:1 mix); 1 tbsp Christmas spice (or gingerbread spice); 2 tbsp cacao powder; 2 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp baking soda; 2 large eggs; 3 tbsp honey (or maple syrup); 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter; 2 tsp vanilla extract; ½ tsp sea salt; 1 tbsp dark rum (optional); 2 cups buttermilk; Cooking oil spray (avocado oil or 1 tbsp cooking oil as substitute)

There’s something magical about the scent of cinnamon and cacao mingling in the air on a chilly morning — and nothing captures that festive feeling quite like these **Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe**. They’re fluffy, gently spiced, and just the right touch of holiday cheer on your breakfast plate.

A stack of four thick, square waffles with a golden brown color sits on a white plate, each layer showing the waffle's crisp texture and grid pattern. Drizzled honey glistens and drips down the sides of the waffles, catching the light. On top of the stack, a small gingerbread cookie shaped like a smiling person with white icing eyes and buttons stands cheerfully. Powdered sugar is being sprinkled from above, creating a gentle snowfall effect over the waffles and cookie. The background features warm, blurred yellow lights giving a festive, cozy feeling, and the surface below is a dark wood with powdered sugar scattered around. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I have to admit, every time these waffles come out of the iron, I feel like I’m wrapping myself up in a cozy holiday hug. This Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe brings together all the warm spices that remind me of festive family breakfasts and happy mornings by the tree.

Perfectly Spiced: The Christmas spice blend adds that nostalgic seasonal warmth without overpowering the waffles.
Chocolatey Twist: A touch of cacao powder brings a subtle richness that pairs beautifully with the spices.
Easy & Quick: You’ll have batter ready in just minutes, making it ideal for relaxed mornings or holiday brunches.
Versatile & Freezer-Friendly: Make a batch ahead of time—these waffles freeze and reheat beautifully for those busy festive days.

A stack of four thick brown waffles sits on a white plate on a white marbled surface, with syrup dripping down the sides of each layer. Powdered sugar is lightly dusted over the waffles and around the plate. On top of the stack, there is a small gingerbread man cookie decorated with white icing for eyes, mouth, and buttons. The background shows warm yellow bokeh lights and blurred holiday decorations, including a Christmas tree shape cookie. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredients in this Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe come together to create a waffle that’s both tender and flavorful, balanced with a hint of chocolate and warming spices that wake up your taste buds. Here’s a quick rundown of the key players and what they do.

Flat lay of a small mound of pale gluten-free flour blend, a neat pile of warm brown Christmas spice powder, a small heap of rich dark cacao powder, two whole uncracked large brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl filled with golden honey, a small white ceramic bowl holding melted butter with a glossy surface, a small white ceramic bowl with clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl of fine sea salt crystals, a small white ceramic bowl with amber-colored dark rum, a small white ceramic bowl filled with creamy buttermilk, and a small white ceramic bowl containing light yellow cooking oil, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Flour: I usually choose Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1:1 mix for a light texture, but regular flour works great too.
Christmas Spice: This is the heart of the recipe — think cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves, or a ready-made gingerbread spice blend.
Cacao Powder: Adds a subtle bit of chocolate flavor that complements the spices without making the waffles taste like dessert.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These give the waffles their lift and are key to that perfect fluffy texture.
Eggs: Provide structure and richness.
Honey or Maple Syrup: Natural sweeteners that blend beautifully here — I prefer honey for its floral notes, but maple syrup is a great vegan option.
Unsalted Butter: Melted butter brings tenderness and richness, but feel free to swap for a plant-based alternative to keep it dairy-free.
Vanilla Extract: Rounds out all the flavors with a mellow, warm aroma.
Sea Salt: Enhances sweetness and balances the spices.
Dark Rum (Optional): A splash amps up the flavor in a subtle, grown-up way — I love adding it for special breakfasts.
Buttermilk: It tenderizes and adds tang; for vegan versions, mix plant milk with lemon juice and let it sit before using.
Cooking Oil (for the waffle iron): I use avocado oil spray for neutral flavor and good browning.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe is wonderfully adaptable, and I love how easy it is to tweak for different tastes or dietary needs. Here are a few ways I’ve personalized the recipe that you might want to try too.

Vegan Version: I swap out eggs for flax eggs and use vegan butter, plus plant-based buttermilk, and it still comes out wonderfully fluffy and flavorful.
Extra Fluffy: For a lighter texture, I sometimes separate the eggs, whip the whites to soft peaks, and fold them gently in.
Spice it Up: Feel free to add a pinch of cayenne or black pepper for an unexpected warm kick.
Nutty Add-ins: Chopped pecans or walnuts sprinkled into the batter before cooking add a great crunch.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients with Care

Start by whisking together the flour, Christmas spice, cacao powder, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl. I like to sift the cacao powder gently to avoid clumps. Setting this aside helps keep things organized and speeds up mixing later.

Step 2: Whisk the Wet Ingredients Until Smooth

In a large mixing bowl, I whisk together the eggs, honey (or maple syrup), melted butter, vanilla extract, sea salt, and dark rum if I’m using it that day. This step is where all the lovely flavors start to come together — make sure your butter is just warm enough so it blends nicely but isn’t hot.

Step 3: Add Buttermilk and Combine

Pour in the buttermilk and whisk again until fully combined. This adds moisture and tang that make the waffles tender and flavorful.

Step 4: Bring It All Together Gently

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mix, whisking just until combined. The batter can have a few lumps — that’s totally fine and helps keep the waffles light. I usually add the dry mix in two batches to avoid overmixing.

Step 5: Preheat, Oil, and Cook

Heat your waffle iron to medium and spray with cooking oil or brush a light coating on. I use about ¼ cup of batter per waffle, but this depends on your iron's size. Cook for 3–5 minutes until golden and slightly crisp on the outside — keep an eye on them the first time to find the perfect timing for your machine.

Step 6: Keep Warm and Serve

I keep cooked waffles warm by laying them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and popping them in a 200°F oven. This helps keep them crispy and ready while I finish cooking the rest of the batch. Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy that festive scent filling your kitchen!

Top Tip

Having made these waffles a dozen times over past holidays, I’ve learned a few things that make the difference between good and great. Follow these, and your Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe will shine every time.

Don’t Overmix: Keep the batter a bit lumpy — overmixing develops gluten and can make waffles tough.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Bringing eggs and buttermilk to room temp helps the batter come together smoothly and cooks more evenly.
Oil Before Each Waffle: Even if your waffle iron is non-stick, a light spray or brush of oil prevents sticking and helps crisp edges.
Keep Them Warm Right: The oven trick keeps waffles crispy and prevents sogginess if you’re cooking in batches or feeding a crowd.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe

Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually top my waffles with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt or plant-based yogurt for creaminess, a drizzle of maple syrup or honey, and scatter fresh berries like cranberries or raspberries for color and tartness. A sprinkle of toasted nuts gives a lovely crunch and just extra holiday spirit.

Side Dishes

To round out the meal, I love serving these waffles alongside crispy bacon or sausage for contrast. For a vegetarian twist, a side of spiced roasted apples or warm pear compote complements the flavors beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday brunches, I like stacking waffles with layers of cream cheese frosting tinted red or green and topping them with edible gold leaf or festive sprinkles. Another fun idea is to use cookie cutters to shape waffles into stars or trees before serving — such simple touches make a big impact!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover waffles keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I find stacking parchment paper between them prevents sticking, which makes reheating much easier.

Freezing

Freezing is a lifesaver with this recipe. After cooking, let waffles cool completely, then freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a zip-top bag or airtight container. They freeze beautifully for up to 2 months and thaw quickly.

Reheating

To reheat, I pop frozen waffles straight into a toaster or toaster oven — it keeps them crispy outside and tender inside. If you don’t have a toaster, a hot oven at 350°F for about 7–10 minutes works well, too.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these waffles gluten-free?

Absolutely! I recommend using a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour blend like Bob’s Red Mill, which works perfectly without changing the texture or flavor much. Just make sure your baking powder is gluten-free too.

What if I don’t have Christmas spice?

No worries! You can make your own blend with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of allspice or cardamom. Adjust to your taste—start with 1 tablespoon total spice for this recipe.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

Yes! Swap eggs with flax or chia eggs, use plant-based butter and plant milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar to make vegan buttermilk. The waffles turn out just as tasty and fluffy with these swaps.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat using a toaster or oven to preserve crispiness. Avoid the microwave as it tends to make waffles soggy.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Spiced Waffles Recipe has become my go-to for those special winter mornings when I want to share something comforting and joyful with loved ones. It’s simple enough to whip up but feels impressively indulgent, packed with flavors that truly celebrate the season. Give it a try — I’m confident you’ll find yourself making these waffles a new holiday tradition just like I did.