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    Home > Vegan Breakfast Recipes

    Vegan Sourdough Waffles

    Posted: Sep 13, 2016 ยท Updated: Mar 28, 2022

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    These Vegan Sourdough Waffles are light, airy, crunchy on the outside, whole wheat, and absolutely divine. Serve with fruit or maple syrup for a delicious breakfast.

    Vegan sourdough waffles, whole wheat

    Here's a recipe for Vegan Sourdough Waffles so crisp on the outside, so fluffy on the inside and so delicious all around, you'll probably never want to make any other kind ever again.But first, here's something that's on my mind, as mom to a former outdoor cat (my sweetheart Billy) and to two ferals (Georgia and Cannoli) who come by to eat on our front stoop every day.

    A beautiful stray cat in Bombay
    A beautiful stray cat in Bombay

    There's a new book out by a Smithsonian researcher and bird advocate who has, for a few years now, conducted a war on outdoor cats, and you've probably already heard about it or at least read reviews. I won't spend a dime buying a book that calls a cat a "cuddly killer," but I am angry enough to say something when a book calls on killing all outdoor cats "by any means necessary" because they hunt birds.

    In our home, we love all animals. Desi and I often will ignore mice when they share our home, or -- if the problem gets acute -- we set out humane traps so we can trap the mice and set them free outdoors. Desi has rescued many mice from Billy and, before him, from Pubm, our calico hunter who loved to play with mice and eventually kill them. He also lovingly feeds the many birds that visit our backyard each day because who doesn't love birds?

    We have never allowed our cats outside for their own safety -- cats do get run over by cars in urban areas -- and because it is true that they will kill birds. That would be fine if they depended on nature for their meals, but the fact is that house cats don't. Even so, instinct in animals is not easy to suppress: when a cat sees a mouse or a bird, that primal urge to stalk and kill kicks in. They can't avoid it any more than you and I can avoid reaching for that free donut at the morning meeting.

    Billy the king
    Billy the king

    Billy was clearly an indoor-outdoor cat before we adopted him. He has a yearning for the outdoors and would escape when he got the chance, although he always came back. Now that we've gotten smarter about his ways, we are more successful at keeping him indoors. I can see it doesn't make him happy, but we have lots of windows with trees outside where he can sit and observe birds without sinking his teeth into them. Desi has also been thinking of building him a catio.

    But for stray and feral cats, the solution is not so simple. These animals, no different from house cats, are either cats that once had people and ended up on the streets for some reason or the other, or they are cats who were born in the wild and are unsocialized. They live outdoors, and the outdoors comes with birds who, beautiful as they are, are natural prey for cats.

    I agree that when a cat has a home, it is best to keep him or her indoors to avoid unnecessary harm to other wildlife. But calling for killing all outdoor cats because they hunt birds is a ridiculous and downright dumb argument. The Humane Society of the United States has a comprehensive statement on outdoor cats and reducing their populations humanely, through trap-neuter-return or TNR (we got Georgia spayed and Cannoli neutered early on, keeping the feral cat population in our neighborhood under control). It's a great way to bring about a balance without choosing one species of animal over the other.


    Now back to those vegan sourdough waffles, I started another batch of sourdough a few weeks back after my old starter had been thoroughly neglected and then cleared out of the refrigerator to make room for other things. This time I made the starter the really old-fashioned way, with nothing but flour and water, following this recipe on the King Arthur Flour website. Everything went very well and I had a bubbling, happy sourdough starter within a week. The first thing I decided to make with it were these vegan Sourdough Waffles -- with whole wheat flour. They were so good, I've been making them every weekend since -- even more often, I think, than my delicious Whole Wheat Vegan Waffles

    There's an alchemy that takes place when you add sourdough to baked goods. They become lighter, airier, and flavorful without becoming tangy, as you would expect (unless you add a ton of the sourdough, which you don't in these waffles). We also discussed the importance of probiotics and prebiotics in food and their effect on your overall health in a recent post: sourdough has a ton of those probiotic bacteria because it's fermented, while whole wheat provides the perfect prebiotic fiber for those bacteria to thrive on.

    I loosely followed a recipe I found on the King Arthur website. It had eggs, buttermilk and butter, but I used my usual substitutes for a waffle that was spectacular.

    In the beginning, when I made these waffles, I added a couple of tablespoons of oil to them, but I stopped after a while and they turn out just as delicious without the oil, so I've made it optional in the ingredients.

    Try them!

    Try these recipes next:

    • Sourdough Skillet Pancake
    • Sourdough English Muffins
    • Vegan Sourdough Sticky Buns
    • Mushrooms on Sourdough Toast, 15-minute Breakfast
    • Whole Wheat Sourdough Ciabatta
    • Vegan Eggless Sourdough Challah
    • The Best Sourdough Sandwich Bread, Yeast-Free
    Vegan sourdough waffles, whole wheat
    Vegan sourdough waffles, whole wheat

    Vegan Sourdough Waffles

    Vegan Sourdough Waffles. These waffles are light, airy, crunchy on the outside, whole wheat, and absolutely divine. Serve with some fruit or maple syrup for a delicious breakfast.
    5 from 28 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Vegan Sourdough Waffles
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Overnight resting time: 8 hrs
    Total Time: 8 hrs 30 mins
    Servings: 10 large waffles
    Calories: 146kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup sourdough starter (unfed or fed, either works)
    • 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
    • 2 cups nondairy milk
    • 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • 2 tablespoon sugar
    • ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
    • ยฝ teaspoon salt
    • 2 flax eggs (2 tablespoon flaxmeal + 6 tablespoon warm water, whisked)
    • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil (optional)
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    Instructions

    • Make the overnight sponge by mixing together the sourdough starter, whole wheat pastry flour, sugar, milk and vinegar in a very large bowl. The dough will expand by morning as all those good bacteria and yeast go to work, so make sure you have enough room in the bowl.
    • In the morning, just before making your waffles, mix the baking soda, salt, oil, if using, and flax eggs into the overnight sponge.
    • Use a ยฝ cup measure to pour the batter on a preheated waffle maker. Bake according to manufacturer's instructions.
    • Serve hot with some fruit and maple syrup.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1waffle | Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    About Vaishali


    I cook and eat simple, tasty and nutritious plant-based food in my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. Read more about me here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Barb Mueller

      April 11, 2022 at 8:20 am

      My sponge did not rise overnight. there are a few bubbles on edges. My discard was from a new stater that is slow in working, but no real growth. should I wait a day for more movement is sponge or will it be fine to use right now. Will the waffles rise while baking if I use the sponge as is with other ingredients added?

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        April 11, 2022 at 9:38 am

        It will be fine after you add the other ingredients. Go ahead and make the waffles.

        Reply
    2. Janice

      April 09, 2021 at 8:21 pm

      Are these waffles crispy?

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        April 09, 2021 at 10:06 pm

        Depends on what setting you bake the. On a lower setting theyโ€™ll be soft, higher they will be crispy.

        Reply
    3. Wendy

      March 06, 2021 at 3:58 pm

      7+ yrs vegan. Recently found wheat causes my ankles to swell. Is there another grain that will work, both for starter and in your recipe? Chick pea? Some sort of mix w less wheat? I follow No SOFAS so all minimally processed/whole foods, no white sugar, flour, rice. No bottled oils. I make my own flours in my vitamix.

      Reply
    4. Sarah

      February 13, 2021 at 1:28 am

      5 stars
      Is it safe to eat during pregnancy, as the almond milk has been left out overnight? I am nervous about food borne illness.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        February 13, 2021 at 9:51 am

        Hi Sarah, I am not qualified to answer that question. You'll prob have to consult with a nutritionist or doctor.

        Reply
    5. Jenna

      November 23, 2020 at 12:54 pm

      Does the sponge go in the fridge or stay out on the counter overnight?

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        November 23, 2020 at 2:48 pm

        Leave it out on the counter.

        Reply
    6. cathy

      September 27, 2020 at 11:52 am

      5 stars
      These are amazing! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
    7. Lauren K

      September 26, 2020 at 5:33 pm

      If I don't have whole wheat pastry flour, can I use regular whole wheat flour?

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        September 26, 2020 at 5:37 pm

        Yes absolutely!

        Reply
    8. Cheryl

      September 03, 2020 at 1:28 pm

      5 stars
      These are hands down the best waffles I've ever made, thank you sooooooo much!!!! I actually put my sourdough sponge in the fridge and it works great in the morning. I also add Chocolate Chips which puts these over the top in a most sinful happy way. I use a Belgium Waffle maker and get perfect waffles every time (and I make these a lot!). Your recipes inspire me and make me so happy, thank you for being a kitchen goddess!!

      Reply
    9. Janet

      August 02, 2020 at 10:13 pm

      Does it matter if the sourdough starter is active, not discard?

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        August 03, 2020 at 9:16 am

        Active will work just fine.

        Reply
        • Jamie Lee

          November 14, 2020 at 3:24 pm

          5 stars
          These are absolutely delicious! My only question is the directions state oil but it isn't listed in the ingredients? I just threw a dash of oil into my batter and still turned out great!

          Reply
          • Vaishali

            November 14, 2020 at 8:59 pm

            I used oil in the past, but stopped using it so removed it from the ingredients--the waffles are just as wonderful without it. But you can definitely use it--I added it back in as an optional ingredient. ๐Ÿ™‚ So happy you liked them--they are a huge breakfast favorite for us!

            Reply
    10. Joan DaGradi

      May 30, 2020 at 8:30 am

      5 stars
      This makes the most delicious waffles! Thank you so much! Iโ€™ve been making these for 2 years, and they never fail to pleaseโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ.
      I never seem to have pastry flour around, so Iโ€™ve used a mix of half whole wheat white and half all purpose, or sometimes bread flour.
      Always delicious!

      Reply
      • Jennifer Catriana

        May 30, 2020 at 5:03 pm

        5 stars
        These are so light, crispy, and tasty!
        Unfortunately due to the current shopping situation I had to use AP white flour and lemon juice, but Iโ€™m sure theyโ€™re even more delicious with ww pastry flour and apple cider vinegar.
        Iโ€™m throwing out all my other waffle recipes. This one is a keeper! Thank you for creating it!
        Love the kitty remarks, too.

        Reply
    11. susan

      May 29, 2020 at 2:33 pm

      5 stars
      Hello,
      Enjoyed your cat blog entry. I have two rescue neutered and spayed cats. I also volunteer very occasionally for a CAT rescue squad of amazing women...we trapped and had some feral cats neutered then returned them to their habitat. I totally agree with you!! One of my rescues insisted on going out a lot and at 12 he still does but mainly just to sit on the porch and watch the world go by. We have a very secluded area so I feel he is safe. He loves visiting the catnip bush and watching the wildlife. He used to catch an occasional bird and baby bunny, however.
      Just made the sourdough sponge, and I realized I am using discard which is only 5 days old and very minorly bubbly...so I hope this works. I am also using discard to make pizza crust. We shall see how it goes. These days it's experimental baking for us!! Thank you!

      Reply
    12. Michelle

      May 20, 2020 at 7:32 am

      I was wondering if there is something I could substitute for the oil in this recipe? Would unsweetened applesauce work?

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 20, 2020 at 9:43 am

        You can just skip the oil, I often do, and yes, applesauce would be great--add 1/4 cup.

        Reply
    13. Aaron

      May 16, 2020 at 8:04 pm

      5 stars
      OMG these wafflea are absolutely amazing and VEGAN. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

      Reply
    14. Emily

      May 11, 2020 at 10:44 am

      Hi! I went to mix the first round of ingredients and the flour clumped really badly for some reason, what can I do to remediste this? Is this potentially because I keep my flour in the fridge? Never had this happen in my limited experience.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 11, 2020 at 11:48 am

        That's really odd--with 2 cups of nondairy milk and the liquid from the starter there is no reason for that to happen, unless your starter has much lower hydration than mine. Check that and add more liquid if needed.

        Reply
    15. Lizzie

      May 07, 2020 at 1:09 pm

      Is the sponge necessary (I.e. letting it sit over night?). And do you know if it sits for longer, a day and a half or so, will the recipe still work?

      *i started this recipe before reading that it required an overnight wait time so I want to put it in the fridge (or counter?) and try again tomorrow morning).

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        May 07, 2020 at 3:01 pm

        Sitting overnight lets the sourdough bacteria work on the flour, making it healthier and tastier. You won't get the same flavor and texture if you mix it all in and eat it right away. If you made it in the morning, leave in the refrigerator till bedtime, then leave on the counter overnight.

        Reply
        • bb

          March 27, 2022 at 10:35 am

          5 stars
          I was going to suggest that it might be helpful to some readers if you added an extra line at the top of the recipe like, "Wait (Rise? Ferment?) time: 8-10 hours" so it's clear that it's not a 30 minute start-to-finish recipe.

          Reply
    16. Janmarie

      May 02, 2020 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      These are DELICIOUS!! I just started the journey of sourdough, and love having this in my toolbox for discard. Did it exactly as written (but halved the recipe) and it was perfect.

      Reply
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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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