Gluten-Free Mochi Waffles have the crispy exterior of a Belgian waffle with the chewy interior of Japanese mochi. These crispy, chewy waffles come together in minutes with a handful of common pantry staples. Top them with butter, powdered sugar, maple syrup, and fruit for a delicious breakfast!
These mochi waffles are our favorite way to make gluten-free waffles! They have a unique taste and texture and only take 15 minutes to make. Try these next time you get a waffle craving or want to try something new for brunch.
This recipe is inspired by our classic Belgian Waffles with Cinnamon Poached Pears with a gluten-free twist. It has a mochiko sweet rice flour base, making it naturally gluten-free. Make it in just a few minutes with minimal prep and serve it with a glass of homemade Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice or a Vanilla Matcha Latte.
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About Mochi Waffles
- Taste - This recipe combines the rich flavor of Belgian waffles with the light sweetness of mochi.
- Texture - The waffles are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
- Effort - All you need to do is mix the ingredients into a batter, let the batter rest for 5 minutes, then cook it in the waffle iron.
- Time - It takes about 5 minutes to mix the ingredients, 5 minutes to let the mixture rest, then about 5 minutes to cook.
What is a mochi waffle?
Mochi waffles are a delicious combination of Japanese mochi and Belgian waffles. They have a crispy waffle exterior and chewy mochi interior. In Japan, mochi waffles are often served as dessert. Our recipe can be enjoyed as either dessert or brunch. Just change your toppings accordingly!
Ingredients
- Mochiko glutinous rice flour - Mochiko sweet rice flour provides structure to the waffle. It is also naturally gluten free.
- Baking powder - Baking powder is a leavening agent that helps the waffles rise and become fluffy.
- Sugar - Sugar adds sweetness to the waffle batter.
- Egg - Egg binds the ingredients together. Use a room temperature egg so it spreads evenly in the batter.
- Vanilla extract - Vanilla extract adds complexity and sweetness to the mochi waffles. For a stronger vanilla flavor, use vanilla bean paste.
- Milk - Milk adds flavor and helps create the consistency of the batter. Regular milk is great for taste, but you can also use oat milk or almond milk.
- Butter - Melted butter is best for the batter texture and adds a buttery flavor. We prefer European butter because it has a higher fat content resulting in a crisper, more buttery waffle.
- Sea salt - Sea salt accentuates the other flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Toppings - Top with maple syrup, butter, strawberries or blueberries, or powdered sugar for extra sweetness and flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
- Healthy - Omit some of the extra butter, syrup, and powdered sugar and add more blueberries, strawberries, or bananas to make this recipe healthier.
- Ice Cream - If you want to enjoy this waffle as a dessert, add a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream instead of butter and other toppings.
- Gluten free flour - Use all purpose gluten free flour instead of mochiko flour to keep the recipe gluten free.
Variations
- Whipped cream - Add our Easy Homemade Whipped Cream for a sweet and decadent topping.
- Cinnamon poached pears or apples - Enjoy these mochi waffles with cinnamon poached pears or apples for a rich and warm topping.
- Chocolate Chip Waffles - Add semi sweet chocolate chips to the finished batter to make these chocolate chip mochi waffles.
- Blueberry Waffles - Fold in blueberries to the finished batter for blueberry waffles.
- Savory Waffles - Add bits of savory ingredients to make a savory mochi waffle. Some ideas include pan-fried pancetta, bacon, scallions, shredded cheddar, grated parmesan cheese, and savory herbs.
- Pecans - Add chopped pecans to the batter for a sweet and hearty crunch.
- Extra fluffy waffles - If you want extra fluffy waffles, let the batter rest for 20 minutes instead of 5.
- Ground cinnamon - Cinnamon adds a warm and distinct spice to the waffles.
- Apple curd - Enjoy the waffles with apple curd for a rich caramel apple flavor.
Instructions
- Heat waffle iron - Heat the waffle iron. (Photo 1)
- Whisk dry ingredients - In a large mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. (Photo 2)
- Mix wet ingredients - In a separate bowl, whisk egg, milk, vanilla, sugar, and butter until blended. (Photo 3)
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture - Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture. (Photo 4)
- Mix dry and wet ingredients together - Whisk the ingredients until just blended. Use a silicone baking spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so all of the dry ingredients get mixed in. Allow the batter to sit for 3-5 minutes so the baking powder can activate for fluffy waffles. (Photo 5)
- Add the batter to the waffle iron - Brush oil or non-stick cooking spray on the hot Belgian waffle iron. Give the mochi waffle batter one more good stir, then use a ladle or measuring to add the batter to the iron. Use about a ½ cup of batter per waffle, depending on your iron. (Photo 6)
- Cook the waffles - Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the waffles are golden brown and crispy. (Photo 7)
- Serve - Remove the waffles from the iron and serve immediately with syrup, butter, powdered sugar, and berries. (Photo 8)
Pro tip: Only use an oil or cooking spray with a high smoke point (e.g. avocado oil, vegetable oil, grapeseed oil) to prepare the waffle iron. Butter will burn the iron and the waffles.
What to Serve with Mochi Waffles
Mochi waffles are a delicious breakfast or brunch. We usually enjoy them with an Orange Juice, Matcha Lemonade or Vanilla Matcha Latte. If you want to make a super filling brunch, make these easy gluten free waffles with eggs and/or fried Spam.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, allowing your batter to rest before adding it the waffle iron will activate the baking powder and ensure the waffles are fluffy.
There are a ton of different toppings that you can put on waffles. We love these waffles with a little butter, syrup, some sliced berries, and powdered sugar.
Waffles are usually soggy is if you don't let the waffle iron get hot before you add the batter.
This depends on which ingredients are used in them. Often, waffle recipes require all purpose or wheat flour which have gluten. In order to make our waffles gluten free, we replace the all purpose flour with gluten free mochiko flour.
While gluten-free waffles aren't unhealthy, we wouldn't consider them super healthy either. In order to make this recipe healthier, use minimal syrup and butter for toppings and instead enjoy it with berries.
How to Store Mochi Waffles
While these homemade mochi waffles are best enjoyed fresh, you can also store leftover waffles or batter. Refrigerate leftover waffles and waffle batter in separate air-tight containers for up to 3 days. To reheat leftover waffles, heat the oven to 300°F and warm for 4 to 5 minutes, or until warm.
Top tips
- Heat the waffle iron - Make sure your waffle iron is completely heated before adding the waffle batter. If the waffle iron isn't hot enough, it won't evaporate the batter moisture and the waffles will be soggy.
- Keep the waffles warm - If you cook multiple batches, place the finished waffles on a baking sheet in the oven at 200°F. This will keep the waffles hot while you cook the other batches.
- Freeze - Make a large batch of waffles and freeze them in an airtight bag for up to 3 months. To reheat them, simply put a frozen waffle in a toaster or toaster oven.
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Gluten Free Mochi Waffles
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ cups mochiko glutinous rice flour
- 1½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup milk of choice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- neutral cooking oil or cooking spray for greasing the waffle iron
- maple syrup optional
- berries or fresh fruit optional
- powdered sugar optional
Instructions
- Heat waffle iron - Heat the waffle iron.neutral cooking oil or cooking spray
- Whisk dry ingredients - In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt.1½ cups mochiko glutinous rice flour, 1½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Mix wet ingredients - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, and butter until blended.1 egg, ¾ cup milk of choice, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon butter
- Mix dry and wet ingredients together - Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and whisk until just blended. Use a silicone baking spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so all of the dry ingredients get mixed in. Allow the batter to rest untouched for 3-5 minutes so the baking powder can activate for fluffy waffles.
- Cook the waffles - Brush oil or non-stick cooking spray on the hot waffle iron. Give the batter one more good stir, then use a ladle or measuring to add the batter to the iron. Use about a ½ cup of batter per waffle, depending on your iron. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the waffles are golden and crispy.
- Serve - Remove the waffles from the iron and serve immediately with syrup, butter, powdered sugar, and berries.maple syrup, powdered sugar, berries or fresh fruit
Video
Notes
- Heat waffle iron - Make sure your waffle iron is completely heated before adding the waffle batter. If the waffle iron isn't hot enough, it won't evaporate the batter moisture and the waffles will be soggy.
- Keep waffles warm - If you cook multiple batches, place the finished waffles on a baking sheet in the oven at 200°F. This will keep the waffles warm while you cook the rest.
- Freeze - Make a large batch of waffles and freeze them in an airtight bag for up to 3 months. To reheat them, simply put a frozen waffle in a toaster or toaster oven.
- Prep iron - Only use an oil or cooking spray with a high smoke point (e.g. avocado oil, vegetable oil, grapeseed oil) to prepare the waffle iron. Butter will burn.
Paula A Nakayama
What a great idea! Love mochi; just never thought to use it in waffles. My gluten intolerant son-in-law will be very happy. Love also that you show "imperfect" waffles, because that is how they look in real life.