Almond flour is an amazing replacement for grain in baked goods like cookies, muffins, and waffles. I started using almond flour in my baking when my son embarked on a five month elimination diet to help heal his IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Breakfast was the most challenging meal to transition him to – it’s become an American tradition to base breakfast on grain based and highly processed cereals, toast, bagels, granola, waffles, and pancakes. Almond flour based recipes, like these waffles, was our solution. They are a healthier alternative to many store bought gluten-free products.
Most gluten-free baking mixes and products found in stores contain highly processed and starchy ingredients like potato starch, corn and soy ingredients (usually are genetically modified unless labeled organic), rice flours, and refined sugars. These carbohydrates can harm an already inflamed digestive system according to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. The SCD diet avoids a “specific” group of carbohydrates that cannot be properly digested by an injured small intestine and restores the bacterial balance in the intestine through diet. To understand the science underlying the SCD diet I recommend the bible of the SCD diet, Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet by Elaine Gottschall.
There are many blogs, forums, and books helpful to those on the SCD diet but my favorite source for almond flour recipes is The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook
Almond Flour Waffles
This make about 7 batches with the Five of Hearts Waffle Maker. Any leftovers freeze well.
2 large eggs
1/2 cup cream, milk, coconut milk, or water
1-2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup if not on SCD)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup almond flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of sea salt
1. Blend all ingredients in a blender.
2. Pour batter in the waffle maker (check the directions of your waffle maker for the specified amount).
Note: I use the Chef’s Choice Waffle Maker, Traditional Five of Hearts
SCD Resources on the Web:
Breaking the Vicious Cycle Website
Pecan Bread – helping parents of kids with autism and digestive issues.
Pecan Bread Yahoo group for anyone following the SCD diet
What are your favorite sources for grain free recipes? What other gluten-free breakfast ideas do you have?
This post is linked to Monday Mania | The Healthy Home Economist, Tuesday Twister |GNOWFGLINS, Two for Tuesday | A Moderate Life, Kelly the Kitchen Kop | Real Food Wednesday, The Nourishing Gourmet | Pennywise Platter Thursday, and Simply Sugar and Gluten- Free | Slightly Indulgent Tuesday.
Can’t wait to try it! Sounds delicious. Thanks, Lisa!
Lisa, this recipe looks very doable! And, the picture is simply sensational! Worthy of a cookbook, for sure! Thanks for stopping by Monday Mania to share with all of us!
Gorgeous picture! I have been making almond flour waffles for my son with autism for years. They are fabulous! The entire house smells heavenly when I make them. The recipe I use replaces the milk/water with an additional 2 eggs. We also use these waffles as bread and pizza crust. If anyone wants more info on SCD, see our website (www.gotscd.org or wwww.gottschallcenter.com) for a list of resources 🙂
Cheryl- thanks for your tip and the SCD links. I will try this with the additional eggs next time I make them.
Cute hearts!! I miss my waffle maker – sigh!! Perhaps I’ll have to pick up another one. My kids would be thrilled to have waffles again!!
Hi Lisa, thanks for supporting SCD with this post, it saved my life! There’s a free guide to properly starting the SCD intro diet for anyone looking for more help at http://www.scdlifestylebook.com/free.php
In good health,
Jordan
Lisa, I am so happy that you have been able to find a way of life that addresses your health issues, but also lets you live fully and enjoy your food again as you embrace what IS possible instead of mourning what is not. KUDOS to you and thanks for sharing this information on the two for tuesday recipe blog hop. Alex@amoderatelife
Almond waffles are my standard recipe now, and I’d eat them for taste alone. Thanks for sharing this information with Two for Tuesday.
I love that these are g/f – I haven’t used almond flour much but I think theses waffles sound delish!
Wow- that is extremely gorgeous! I want to hang that picture on my wall and ogle it! I want to eat it too, though 😉 Thanks so much for sharing w/ t4t this week =)
I love nut flour based baked goods. Try it with other nuts as well. Pecans and walnuts are just wonderful as pancakes. Cashews make good bread. I start with whole nuts and soak them overnight and then put them in the food processor to make nut butter and then add the rest of the ingredients. I make large batches and reheat/toast later. These are much more filling than regular pancakes and much better for those of us with blood sugar issues.
Oh my goodness, that looks sooo good! 😀 The picture is stunning.
I’m always glad to see more SCD recipes…Hurray!!! These are a must try!
Oh my goodness those look good! I have never made waffles on SCD before, just pancakes. I wish I had a waffle maker now 🙂
A great SCD resource for those doing the diet with (or for) their kids is the pecanbread site http://pecanbread.com
Lots of kid-friendly recipes, ideas for how to get them to eat their veggies and some other trouble-shooting type help.
Lisa, what brand of almond flour do you use? Also, have you tried replacing the liquid with the extra eggs? I am curious to try it that way. Looks beautiful!
I’ve been using Honeyville Blanched Almond Flour that I order online – (FYI- it’s not kosher certified but my local Rabbi said that it did not need certification for 100% almond flour – if this is something that concerns you please check with your Rabbi).
I have never tried replacing the liquid with extra eggs. If you do try it please leave a comment letting us know how they turn out!
do better
This recipe is great! We have made it twice. Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback!
I started adding some arrowroot to the recipe (about 1/4 cup) which works well if you are not on the SCD diet. It just gives it a more “doughy” texture.
How did the IBS diet go? I have virtually eliminated my IBS (and hypoglycemia) simply by eating true whole grains, beans, lentils, etc., instead of processed carbs. I also make a point of eating cooked greens and some oil every day. So, for example, my toast in the morning has 4 grams of fiber per slice rather than the usual 2 grams. The only time IBS bothers me is when I travel.
For this to work, it seems you have to increase the real fiber in your diet, not take fiber as a supplement. A long time ago I tried the solution advocated by the doctor, drinking a fiber product disguised as Tang with tons of sugar, and it didn’t have the slightest effect.
Hi Mopar,
We took a very different approach – the Specific Carbohydrate Diet – the SCD diet avoids many carbohydrates that may not be properly digested by an injured small intestine and restores the bacterial balance in the intestine through diet. You can read more about it in Gottschall’s book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet.
My son would do worse eating many grains and beans – it wasn’t a fiber thing – you can get plenty of fiber from vegetables. We stick to a mostly gluten-free whole foods based diet with healthy fats and plenty of vegetables.
Glad to hear your approach worked for you.
I made these this morning for my three children, and they were a huge hit. I think next time I will have to triple the recipe! Everyone was begging for more. Our traditional waffle iron broke, so all we have now is a Belgian, and this recipe yielded just over 2 Belgian waffles for us. Half of a waffle was plenty for me, but not for my hungry waffle-loving children! We’re on GAPS, so I subbed sour cream (made with yogurt culture) and a bit of whey for the 1/2 cup liquid, and that worked out really nicely for us. This was definitely the best of the GAPS friendly waffle recipes I have tried.
Thanks for the great recipe!
So glad you (and the kids) enjoyed them!
I always end up at least doubling the recipe, especially that it freezes so well, and makes a great quick weekday breakfast. Thanks for telling us about your substitutions!
Lisa I don’t have a waffle maker. Have you tried this recipe as a pancake?
Yes! You can definitely make pancakes from the same recipe. I would experiment with adding a little bit more liquid until you get the consistency you like.
I also have an updated version of a pancake/waffle recipe that yields more for freezing:
http://www.realfoodkosher.com/nut-flour-pancakes-and-waffles/
Thanks for the recipe:-) We have been following the SCD for 3 plus years…first for my sons health, then mine and then everyone else in one way or another. I think I will try watered down SCD legal yogurt (24 hr culture) since fluid milk/cream is not allowed on the diet when healing. Coconut milk is problematic for some of us as it is an advanced food:-) We make pancakes (love, love almond flour!!!!) and muffins, but need to give our waffle iron a workout:-)
Therese
Looks so good!
What kind of cup do you use?