The best part about Saturday mornings is making homemade buttermilk waffles or pancakes for my family. These waffles are made with whole-grain spelt flour, and buttermilk, and topped with butter and pure maple syrup.

This recipe post will guide you through choosing a good waffle iron or cooking pancakes in a cast iron skillet, properly cooking whole grain waffles and pancakes, preparing a mix ahead of time, and freezing cooked waffles for later use as toaster waffles.

Breakfast can be a special time of the day to connect with your family. Having a list of breakfast recipes your family enjoys and the ingredients to make them will take the guesswork out of making breakfast every day. Having a make-ahead mix or toaster waffles can be such a blessing on busy days; it just takes a little planning. On the days that you have a little extra time, you can make a big batch of waffle batter to freeze some waffles for later or make some mixes ahead for later.

Ingredients

whole spelt flour, whole wheat flour, or all-purpose flour
baking powder
baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
sugar, or honey
oil
eggs
buttermilk

Equipment Needed

Medium bowl or large bowl
Metal whisk
Belgian waffle maker
baking tray (opt.)

Why spelt flour?

Spelt is an ancient grain that is nutrient-dense and high in protein and fiber. Spelt is a type of wheat and does contain gluten. Whole grain spelt flour can be purchased at the health food store or you can grind it at home in a tabletop grain mill.

I enjoy using whole grain flour when baking for the health benefits and the extra fiber makes the waffles or pancakes more filling. You can experiment with different whole flour, In this recipe I used organic sprouted spelt flour. I enjoy using this flour in baking and find it has great flavour and works well in all my recipes.

Tips

Spelt flour can be purchased at the health food store or you can grind it at home in a tabletop grain mill.
Spelt flour can be used on its own or you can 1/2 it with another flour or white flour.
You can replace whole-grain flour with white-processed flour based on personal preference.

Choosing a Waffle Maker

When shopping for a waffle maker there are a few things to consider:

The shape and style of the waffle maker should be decided, you can choose from a circle, square, or different shapes. I like the large 4 square waffle maker as it makes large waffles and the waffles work well for the toaster.
What style of waffles does the waffle maker make, thicker Belgian style waffles or thinner classic waffles?
Is the waffle maker non-stick or does it need to be greased?
Are there removable plates and is the waffle maker easy to clean?
Is it easy to use and if it has indicator lights and other features?
Will the waffle maker be easy to store?

Using a Cast-iron Skillet

Whether you are like me and enjoy using a cast iron skillet or you would like to start using a cast iron skillet then it is a good time to start out with this whole grain buttermilk pancake recipe. Cast iron skillets are easy to use and clean if you know how to care for them. I use a light amount of soap when the skillet is visibly soiled, and dry, then apply tallow or coconut oil. I wipe it clean if I use it to heat up a tortilla or make a grilled cheese for instance then I just wipe it clean and apply more oil.

Make a make-ahead Mix

When I was growing up I used to help my mother make mixes ahead of time to save us time throughout the month. This spelt waffles recipe is perfect for this!

Making the mix

Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Place the dry ingredients into an airtight container or gallon storage bag.
Mark the container or bag with the mix type and the list of needed wet ingredients if you would find this helpful.

Toaster Waffles

If stored properly these homemade waffles reheat well in the toaster and make for a convenient grab-and-go breakfast you can prepare ahead of time. To do this store leftover waffles in a gallon-size freezer bag. To prevent them from sticking together, place a cut square of parchment between them and store them in the fridge or freezer. To reheat waffles place in the toaster or a toaster oven.

Toppings and Variations

There are many creative ways to top your waffles or pancakes. You can add fresh fruit, peanut butter, berry compote, powdered sugar, or whipped topping to them as well as the classic butter and maple syrup.

Making Mickey Mouse Pancakes

Mickey Mouse pancakes are a classic in our house and a tradition I have kept going since my childhood. These special pancakes are fun and easy to make and make little ones so happy.

To make a Mickey Mouse Pancake

Pour a medium size pancake circle then use a spoon to drop batter for two ears on the top of your pancake.
Give your Mickey Mouse pancake eyes, nose, and mouth using fruit, chocolate chips, or whipped cream.

Step-by-step Instructions

(For waffles) Turn on the waffle iron and place a baking sheet under the waffle iron to catch the batter drips. Grease the iron if needed.
Mix the dry ingredients in a medium bowl: spelt flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
Add wet ingredients to the dry mix, and stir until well mixed: oil, eggs, and buttermilk.
To make waffles:
Pour about a cup of batter in the middle of the waffle iron then spread the batter around the waffle iron making sure the batter covers the waffle iron.
Close the lid and let cook for 3-4 minutes.
Once the waffles are cooked open the lid and use a fork to lift the edge of the waffle enough to pick it up and place the waffle on a plate.
Repeat until all of the batter is used.
To make pancakes:
Place your skillet on medium heat, and carefully pour a small amount of batter on a preheated skillet until the desired size pancake is achieved.
Cook until bubbles form/ pop edges start to look dry then flip the pancake to cook on the other side.
Cook pancake through then place on plate.
Repeat until all of the batter is used.
To serve your waffle or pancake top it with butter, fresh fruit, peanut butter, berry compote, powdered sugar, whipped cream, or maple syrup.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below and connect with me in the comments. Happy Baking!