Easy + Healthy Pumpkin Protein Waffles (Made With No Protein Powder)

Inside: This healthy protein waffle recipe packs 15 grams of protein per serving. Made with simple ingredients (and no protein powder).

Love waffles–but want something a little more satisfying and wholesome (and a little less sweet) first thing in the morning?

These Pumpkin Protein Waffles check those boxes:

• They’re filling, with 15 grams of protein per serving
• They’re just slightly sweet
• They’re made with a handful of simple ingredients

Plus they’ve got that cozy fall-flavor thing going.

A lot of protein waffle recipes call for protein powder. There’s nothing wrong with protein powder, but it tends to be pricey and can contain a lot of additional ingredients like artificial sweeteners.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Protein Waffles

• Oats: You can use quick oats or old-fashioned. If you’re gluten-free, be sure you buy oats labeled “gluten-free”
• Eggs: Use large eggs for this recipe. Use the whole egg, not just the egg whites.
• Cottage cheese: You can use any kind. I used 4 percent milk-fat cottage cheese.
• Pumpkin puree: Use 100 percent pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
• Maple syrup: Look for pure maple syrup with just one ingredient (maple syrup)
• Pumpkin pie spice: This recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon, but feel free to use more if you love this flavor.
• Cinnamon
• Salt: You’ll need just a pinch.

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Equipment you need to make Pumpkin Protein Waffles

• Blender: A food processor would work as well
• Waffle iron: This is the waffle iron I use

How to make this Pumpkin Protein Waffle recipe

Put all ingredients in a blender, starting with liquid ingredients and ending with oats. Process until you get a smooth batter.

Let the waffle batter rest while you spray your waffle iron with cooking spray and preheat it.

Pour batter into the hot waffle maker. With mine, I use about 1/2 cup of batter per waffle.

Cook until golden brown. Serve warm with maple syrup, yogurt, peanut butter, or your favorite toppings. I also like eating them cold right from the fridge!

Tip: These waffles are perfect for meal prep: Make a batch (or double batch) on the weekend and dig into delicious waffles on busy mornings during the week.

How many waffles are in a serving?

You should eat the portion that feels best for you. But I calculated the nutrition information based on a serving of two waffles. 

How much protein do these waffles contain?

Using my waffle maker, I got 8 waffles per batch. The protein content of a two-waffle serving is 15 grams of protein.

What makes these waffles rich in protein?

Eggs and cottage cheese are both high in protein, and oats also contain protein.

Do these waffles taste like cottage cheese?

No. If you’re wary of cottage cheese, these waffles do NOT have a strong cottage cheese flavor.

What can you serve with this protein waffle recipe?

Serve these waffles with toppings like yogurt, nut butter, syrup, or even mini chocolate chips. They’re also nice with fresh fruit like berries or sliced bananas.

How are these different from traditional waffles?

Most waffle recipes have dry ingredients like flour and baking powder. This recipe uses oats in place of flour and does not call for any leavening. If you’re looking for other homemade waffles, here’s my Healthy Waffle recipe that uses whole wheat flour and ground flaxseed.

What should I do with leftover waffles?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, warm them in a toaster oven.

Are these high protein waffles gluten-free?

Yes, as long as you make them with oats labeled “gluten-free”. Oats don’t naturally contain gluten, but can get contaminated in a facility if they also produce gluten-containing foods.

Are these healthy waffles keto?

No. These waffles contain oats and maple syrup, which are both frowned upon on the keto diet.

​What’s the right amount of protein intake?

Most people are not walking around with protein deficiency. But protein is important–for making meals and snacks satisfying, for building and keeping muscle, and helping our body make hormones, enzymes, and energy.

The best way to consume protein is to spread it out throughout the day. The RDA, which is just the minimum needed for health, is 46g per day for women, 56 for men (here’s how much protein kids need). Pregnancy and being active both boost your protein needs. We also need extra protein as we age to prevent muscle loss.

A good rule of thumb is to aim for 20 grams of protein per meal (and get protein at snacks too). Two Protein Waffles plus a cup of milk or 1/2 cup yogurt would give you more than 20 grams.

Recipe Card for Pumpkin Protein Waffles

More Protein-Rich Breakfast Recipes

Want more healthy breakfast ideas? Tap the links below for more breakfast recipes that are rich in protein.

Protein Pancakes

Get an easy protein pancake recipe without protein powder or banana. They’re a great way to help you and your kids get protein first thing in the morning.

Peanut Butter Protein Shake

Get a recipe for a filling, naturally sweet peanut butter protein shake that’s full of healthy ingredients and nutrients like calcium.

Scrambled Egg Muffins

The fillings for these protein-rich egg muffins can be modified based on what your family likes best.

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