Are Waffles Vegan? (Frozen Waffles, Waffle Mix, Eggos, Belgian)

Waffles are a popular breakfast food made from leavened batter cooked between two heated plates that have been patterned to yield a characteristic surface impression. They differ from pancakes in both the composition of the batter, as well as the method in which they’re cooked.

Are they vegan? Traditional waffle recipes tend not to be vegan. Most contain egg white to help achieve certain textural properties. However, food manufacturers have a few vegan-friendly ingredients that can be used in place of non-vegan ingredients, so there are several vegan waffles on the market these days.

Further, pancake mixes are often used to make homemade waffles. They just come with the dry ingredients, and I’d imagine some leave out powdered egg whites—with the idea that the consumer will be adding eggs to the mixture. I personally haven’t run across very many vegan pancake mixes, but I’m sure some are out there.

Why Most Waffles Are Not Considered Vegan

This isn’t to say that all waffles are non-vegan. But, unlike traditional bread, they don’t come standard as vegan. When you go to a restaurant, you can assume, for the most part, that the warm yeast bread that the server brings to the table is vegan-friendly.

But, when it comes to waffles, you can’t extend the same courtesy. Quite the opposite. You can be sure that any waffles you encounter in restaurants are not suitable for vegan consumption.

Waffles Are a Type of Quick Bread

Quick breads are the type of bread products that are prepared without using yeast as a leavener. The batter or dough is cooked immediately upon mixing, and is leavened with the help of water (via steam) and chemical leaveners like baking soda and baking powder.

Quick breads can be made by:¹

Pour batters—these include waffles as well as pancakes, crepes, and popovers.
Drop batters—muffins, hushpuppies, coffee cakes, quick tea breads, and dumplings.
Unleavened doughs (steam-leavened really)—tortillas, chapatis, crisp flatbreads, biscuits, scones, and matzo.

Quick breads are not always non-vegan, but they usually make use of certain products like egg.

Eggs contain water which helps leaven via steam, and they also help form a cohesive network to add structural integrity to the end product. Gluten takes time to form, and since quick breads are cooked immediately, it’s helpful to have the proteins in egg to help replace the functions of gluten.

In fact, gluten development is seen as undesirable when making quick breads. For this reason, batters are supposed to be mixed just until the dry ingredients have had a chance to moisten.²

Pour batters can be thick or thin, and waffles are made with a thin pour batter.²

Pour batters are usually made with a ratio of around 2/3 to 1 cup of liquid per 1 cup of flour, so that they’re liquid enough to be poured into waffle irons, or onto skillets, etc.³

Most Waffles Contain Egg

So, egg tends to be used in quick batters in general. But, waffles (specifically) use egg to achieve the desired texture. It’s often suggested that one fold beaten egg whites into waffle batter in order to add extra lightness and crispiness.⁴

Eggs are used for a number of reasons in baked goods. They contribute to flavor, color, and thickening, emulsification, and stabilization of ingredients.⁵

Emulsification is achieved with the lecithin content of egg yolks. Lecithin is a compound that helps ingredients mix by attracting both water and fat molecules.⁶

Binding is achieved with the high protein content of eggs. During cooking, the high heat coagulates the eggs’ protein, which allows the protein to act as an adhesive, binding the other ingredients together.

When cooked, the proteins in the mixture firm and stabilize, which provides structural strength.^5,7

Many Waffles Contain Milk Derivatives

A lot of people wonder what the fundamental difference is between waffles and pancakes, other than the characteristic waffle pattern that results from the waffle iron. The main difference comes down to the use of certain ingredients.

Butter

Waffles and pancakes are both considered quick breads, and have much of the same ingredients, but waffles are made from a pour batter containing more fat. For this reason, waffles are often made with butter.

So, when real butter is used (as opposed to margarine), it renders the waffle non-vegan.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk may not contain actual butter, but it is milk. It has a tangy after taste and is a favorite for use in both pancakes and waffles.

Milk Derivatives

Then, there are the milk additives that you have to contend with when searching for vegan-friendly waffles. These pop up everywhere in processed food products.

The food industry processes milk into several specific ingredients that are often added to processed foods.⁸

The proteins in milk are probably the most common. Milk proteins offer a few useful properties and are often used to boost nutritional profile.

Caseinates (the most abundant proteins in milk) contribute to stabilization and emulsification. Whey proteins (the second most abundant protein in milk) assist with gelling in certain food products and are often used to provide a nice smooth mouthfeel.

Overall, milk derivatives contribute to processed foods by increasing moisture, protein content, foaming, flavor, texture, and mixing ability.⁹

Whey protein is common in commercial waffles.

For example, Kellogg’s Eggo Homestyle Waffles contain:¹⁰

Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Folic Acid)
Water
Vegetable Oil (Soybean, Palm, and/or Canola Oil)
Eggs
Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate)
Sugar
Salt
Whey
Soy Lecithin
Yellow 5, Yellow 6
Beta-Carotene (for Color)
Vitamins and Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Reduced Iron, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B12

Are Belgian Waffles Vegan?

There are a few variations of the traditional waffle. One such variation is the Belgian waffle that uses a slightly modified recipe and a special waffle iron. Belgium actually has over a dozen regional varieties.¹¹

Are they vegan? The traditional Belgian waffle recipe is not typically vegan. Like most waffle varieties, it tends to use animal fat (e.g. butter) and egg. But, there are some vegan-friendly Belgian waffle mixes available.

One example is Krusteaz Light & Crispy Belgian Supreme Waffle Mix.

These contain:¹²

Enriched Bleached Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Malted Barley Flour)
Sugar
Baking Soda
Maltodextrin
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate
Monocalcium Phosphate
Salt
Dextrose
Soybean Oil
Isolated Soy Protein
Natural Flavor

Are Eggos Vegan?

Eggo is probably the most popular brand of frozen waffles. It’s owned by Kelloggs and is sold in North America. They have tons of varieties now including homestyle, miniature, buttermilk, vanilla bliss, brown sugar and cinnamon, chocolate chip, and several fruit flavors like cherry, blueberry, and strawberry.¹³

Are they vegan? No, Eggo waffles are not vegan. They all contain egg in some form or another (hence, the name Eggo), and most contain milk.

Because they were known for their egg flavor, customers started calling them “Eggos” until the name eventually became synonymous with the food product.¹⁴

Commercial Vegan Waffles

So, now that we know that waffles are usually non-vegan, we’ll now look at a few commercial waffles that are accidentally vegan.

Nature’s Path Homestyle Waffle

Ingredients include:¹⁹

Water
Brown Rice Flour
Potato Starch
Corn Flour
Soy Oil
Tapioca Starch
Cane Sugar
Potato Flour
Soy Lecithin
Leavening Agent (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, and Monocalcium Phosphate)
Pear Juice Concentrate
Natural Vanilla Flavor
Sea salt.

Trader Joe’s Wheat Free Toaster Waffles

Ingredients for these include:²⁰

Water
Potato Starch
Corn Starch
Sweet Rice Flour
Canola and/or Soybean Oil
Brown Rice Flour
Evaporated Cane Sugar (Naturally Milled Cane Sugar)
Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate)
Potato Flour
Fruit Juice Sweetener (Pineapple, Pear, Peach)
Soy Lecithin
Sea Salt

Vans Waffles

These are amazing! My favorite for sure. These are some of the only vegan-friendly frozen waffles on the market. Remember, most waffles contain egg. So, pre-made waffles without egg are hard to come by.

Many are advertised as vegan, but some do contain honey and milk products.

I was disappointed to find the chocolate chip variety to contain milk products. But, sprinkle a few non-dairy chocolate chips on any of the below and you’re in business.

Vans Organic Original

Ingredients contain:¹⁵

Water
Organic Whole Wheat Flour
Organic Unbleached Wheat Flour
Organic Soybean Oil
Organic Oat Fiber
Organic Cane Sugar
Organic Soy Lecithin
Baking Powder (Baking Soda, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate)
Organic Malt Extract
Sea Salt
Organic Guar Gum
Organic Caramel Color

Vans Power Grains Original

Ingredients include:¹⁶

Water
Enriched Flour (Unbleached Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
Van’s Power Grains Mix (Whole Wheat Flour, Cracked Red Wheat, Steel Cut Oats, Millet, and Brown Rice)
Wheat Protein Isolate
Non-GMO Expeller Pressed Canola Oil
Cane Sugar
Vital Wheat Gluten
Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Rice Flour, Monocalcium Phosphate)
Calcium Carbonate
Cinnamon
Oat Fiber
Soy Lecithin
Natural Flavor

Vans Gluten-Free Ancient Grains

These contain:¹⁷

Water
Van’s Foods Gluten-Free Whole Grain Mix (Brown Rice Flour, Millet, Teff, Buckwheat, Sorghum, Amaranth, Quinoa)
Tapioca Starch
Non-GMO Expeller Pressed Canola Oil
Inulin
Potato Starch
Cane Sugar
Rice Bran
Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Rice Flour, Monocalcium Phosphate)
Van’s Natural Fruit Juice Blend (Pineapple, Peach and Pear Juice Concentrates)
Flaxseed
Sunflower Lecithin and/or Soy Lecithin
Cinnamon
Calcium Carbonate
Rice Flour
Guar Gum
Vanilla Extract
Sea Salt

Vans Organic Blueberry Waffles

Ingredients include:¹⁸

Water
Organic Whole Wheat Flour
Organic Unbleached Wheat Flour
Organic Soybean Oil
Organic Cane Sugar
Organic Oat Fiber
Organic Soy Lecithin
Baking Powder (Baking Soda, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate)
Organic Malt Extract
Sea Salt
Organic Natural Flavors
Organic Potato Starch
Organic Powdered Blueberries and Blackberries
Organic Sunflower Oil
Organic Guar Gum
Organic Caramel Color

What About Waffle Mix?

It turns out, there aren’t that many waffle mixes on the market, vegan or otherwise. That’s because pancake mixes are typically used to make homemade waffles. The difference is that, in making waffles, you’re usually instructed to add a certain number of eggs or egg whties and a fat source like butter.

Most pancake batters contain milk or egg in one form or another, and few qualify as vegan-friendly. However, the Belgian waffle mix mentioned above is perfectly suitable for vegans. It’s one of the only pancake/waffle mixes suitable for vegan consumption.

If you want a list of vegan-friendly pancake mixes, check out the article on pancakes.

Well, that wraps it up for waffles. Thanks for reading.

You may also want to check out the following related articles:

References

Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation (Page 407-408). Amy Brown – Wadsworth Cengage Learning – 2011
Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation (Page 408). Amy Brown – Wadsworth Cengage Learning – 2011
Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation (Page 384). Amy Brown – Wadsworth Cengage Learning – 2011
Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation (Page 409). Amy Brown – Wadsworth Cengage Learning – 2011
Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation (Page 254). Amy Brown – Wadsworth Cengage Learning – 2011
Anton M, and G Gandemer. Composition, solubility, and emulsifying properties of granules and plasma of egg yolk. Journal of Food Science 62(3):484–487, 1997.
Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation (Page 256). Amy Brown – Wadsworth Cengage Learning – 2011
Chandan R. Dairy-Based Ingredients. Eagen Press, 1997.
Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation (Page 210). Amy Brown – Wadsworth Cengage Learning – 2011
Kellogg’s Eggo Homestyle Waffles, 40 Count, 49.3 Oz Masmith- Ute – https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kellogg-s-Eggo-Homestyle-Waffles-40-count-49-3-oz/21838820
“Les Gaufres Belges” Archived 2012-08-20 at the Wayback Machine. http://www.gaufresbelges.com/
Krusteaz Light & Crispy Belgian Supreme Waffle Mix, 28 Oz Box. Wifie- Linda- Gohogs – https://www.walmart.com/ip/Krusteaz-Light-Crispy-Belgian-Supreme-Waffle-Mix-28-oz-Box/10307484
Eggo product varieties. https://www.leggomyeggo.com/en_US/products/waffles.html
Stewart, Kimberly Lord (2013). Smith, Andrew (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America, Volume 2. Oxford University Press USA. p. 554. ISBN 9780199734962.
Organic Waffles Original Original IBI Data – https://www.vansfoods.com/our-products/organic-totally-original-waffles
Power Grains® Waffles Original Original IBI Data – https://www.vansfoods.com/our-products/power-grains-waffles
Gluten Free Waffles Ancient Grains IBI Data – https://www.vansfoods.com/our-products/gf-ancient-grains-waffles
Organic Waffles Blueberry Organic Waffles Blueberry IBI Data – https://www.vansfoods.com/our-products/organic-blueberry-waffles
Homestyle Waffle. https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/products/natures-path-foods/homestyle-waffle/
Trader Joe’s Wheat Free Waffles. https://www.fooducate.com/product/Trader%20Joe%20s%20Wheat%20Free%20Toaster%20Waffles/24481560-2DF5-11E0-A55F-1231380C180E