Ready in 25 minutes, these fluffy orange waffles use real juice & zest for a bright, low‑fat breakfast that freezes perfectly.
It’s important to note that all our recipes are free from AI!
Every recipe on our site is developed by us and tested multiple times to ensure great taste and efficient cook times with no wasted ingredients – so you save your time and money, too!
Download our free app Easy Vegetarian!
(4.7★, 100K+ Downloads in Google Play)
🥗 300+ High-Protein Recipes
📅 Grocery Lists & Meal Plans
🚫Totally Ad-free
Why You’ll Love These Orange Waffles
- Citrus burst: Fresh orange juice & zest make true citrus waffles—no extracts.
- Light buttermilk batter yields crisp edges and fluffy centres.
- Spelt flour adds nutty depth and 6 g extra fibre.
- Meal‑prep friendly: Freeze, then pop in toaster for weekday breakfasts.
- Fits searches for orange buttermilk waffles, orange zest waffles, and breakfast waffles alike.
My kids adore this recipe, so it’s always a winner at the breakfast table! In fact they usually offer to help so they get an extra portion. If only they’d offer to help with the washing up so easily…
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Spelt flour: Swap with all‑purpose or 1‑to‑1 gluten‑free flour for gluten‑free orange waffles.
- Buttermilk (1 cup): Plant‑based buttermilk = oat milk + 1 tsp vinegar.
- Large eggs: Replace with flax eggs for vegan testing; waffles less airy.
- Fresh orange juice & zest: Blood orange or mandarin work, too.
- Baking powder + baking soda: Classic waffle lift.
- Sugar: Any granulated sweetener; omit for sugar‑free.
- Melted butter: Use coconut oil for dairy‑free.
- Vanilla extract & pinch salt: Flavour boosters.
How to Make Zesty Orange Waffles
Whisk dry: Spelt flour, baking powder, soda, sugar, salt.
Mix wet: Buttermilk, orange juice, zest, eggs, vanilla, butter.
Combine until just moistened—lumpy batter = fluffier waffles.
Cook: Pour ½ cup batter into pre‑heated waffle iron; cook 4 min until steam subsides.
Serve: Stack, drizzle honey, sprinkle extra zest.
Pro Tips
- Let batter rest 5 min – spelt flour hydrates, yielding lighter waffles.
- Crispier edges: Finish waffles in toaster for 30 s right before serving.
- Orange blossom upgrade: Swap buttermilk for 1 Tbsp orange‑blossom water + ¾ cup milk for orange blossom waffles fragrance.
Variations
- Gluten‑Free Orange Waffles: Use 1‑to‑1 GF blend; add 1 extra Tbsp buttermilk.
- Chocolate‑Chip Citrus Waffles: Fold ¼ cup dark chips into batter – kids’ favourite.
- Lemon‑Orange Citrus Waffles: Replace half the zest with lemon for sharper tang.
Serving Suggestions
- Top with Greek yoghurt & pomegranate seeds for holiday brunch.
- Pair with our Tropical Quinoa Breakfast Porridge for a brunch spread.
- Serve with maple‑orange syrup: ¼ cup maple + 2 Tbsp orange juice, warmed.
Fluffy orange zest waffles made with spelt flour & buttermilk—crispy edges, 25 min total time. Freeze & toast for easy breakfast.
- 1 cup spelt flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 ½ tbsp butter
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 2 oranges
-
Use a fork to mix the flour with the sugar in a large bowl, then add the eggs.
1 cup spelt flour, 3 tbsp sugar, 2 medium eggs
-
Melt the butter separately and add to the mixture.
1 ½ tbsp butter
-
Add the buttermilk and give it all a good whisk with the fork. Make sure you don’t have any clumps. Zest the orange (wash and grate the skin) then juice it, and add the zest and juice to the batter mix.
¾ cup buttermilk, 2 oranges
-
Heat up your waffle machine and pour in the mixture.
-
Bake for 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
-
While the waffles are cooking, peel and chop up another orange – the pieces can be used as the topping for the waffle.
Just grab a gluten-free all-purpose flour mix. There are various brands like Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur who offer it.
Jansen’s pro tip:
Instead of a second orange, strawberries make a great summer topping to pair with orange, and thinly sliced pear is perfect for winter.
Nutrition Facts
Orange Buttermilk Waffles
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze orange waffles?
Absolutely—cool fully, layer parchment, freeze 3 months; reheat in toaster 2 min.
Why spelt flour?
Spelt adds nutty flavour and more fibre than plain flour without heaviness.
How to make dairy‑free orange waffles?
Use plant buttermilk (oat milk + vinegar) and coconut oil for butter.
Storage & Meal‑Prep
Store waffles in fridge 3 days or freezer 3 months. Reheat in toaster or oven (180 °C, 5 min) until crispy.