This recipe for sweet potato waffles is the best way to use leftover sweet potatoes! They’re sweet, fluffy, and perfect for piling with your favorite cozy toppings.

stack of four sweet potato waffles topped with chopped pecans and syrup served on a white round plate

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If you love sweet potato pie and sweet potato casserole, then you’re going to flip for these homemade sweet potato waffles. Every bite is full of that irresistible sweet potato flavor, with brown sugar for sweetness and a combination of cloves and cinnamon for some warmth and cozy flavor.

As a bonus, it’s a great way to work some extra veggies into your day! (Sweet potatoes have tons of beta carotene, so these waffles are practically healthy food, right?!)

top down image of a stack of four sweet potato waffles topped with chopped pecans and syrup served on a white round plate

Fluffy Sweet Potato Waffles Recipe

These sweet potato waffles are made with cooked sweet potatoes, so if you have leftovers from another meal, like mashed sweet potatoes or baked potatoes, you can use them up in this recipe! Otherwise, just steam some sweet potatoes and mash them. The rest of the process is simple: mix the ingredients together, then cook the batter on your waffle iron.

Top these sweet potato waffles with your favorite toppings, like butter and syrup, whipped cream and fried apples, or just straight up powdered sugar! No matter how you eat them, they’re sure to be a hit. 

The next time you have leftover sweet potatoes, whip up a batch of these delicious homemade sweet potato waffles for breakfast the next day!

(Love waffles? Try my Sourdough Waffles and Chocolate Chip Waffles too!)

ingredients to make sweet potato waffles

Ingredients for Sweet Potato Waffles

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • All-purpose flour – You can swap in a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour substitute to make these sweet potato waffles gluten-free.
  • Brown sugar – Both light or dark will work here.
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Kosher salt
  • Ground cinnamon – You can use pumpkin pie spice instead of the cinnamon and cloves if you’d like.
  • Ground cloves
  • Eggs – Here’s the best way to crack an egg.
  • Buttermilk – You can make your own buttermilk substitute, but store-bought is best.
  • Sweet potato – Mashed or pureed; you can use leftover Instant Pot sweet potatoes or baked sweet potatoes mashed with a fork.
  • Unsalted butter
  • Nonstick cooking spray

To Serve

  • Maple syrup
  • Salted butter – Honey butter is delicious too!

Variations

  • Substitute the mashed sweet potatoes for pumpkin or butternut squash puree.
  • Add toasted pecans or walnuts to the batter for a little crunch.
  • Stir cinnamon chips into the waffle batter to amp up the cozy cinnamon flavor.

How to Make Sweet Potato Waffles

  1. Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves.
  2. Finish the batter: In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, sweet potato puree, and melted butter. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Let the batter rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Cook: Preheat your waffle maker for about 6 to 7 minutes, depending on the model. Spray the inside of the iron with the nonstick spray, then pour in the batter in ½ to ¾ cup portions, or the amount recommended by your waffle iron manual. Close the lid and cook until the waffles are golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  4. Serve: Plate the waffles and serve with maple syrup and salted butter.
close up image of a sweet potato waffle

Quick Tip

It’s okay if there are still some small lumps in the batter. It’s better to have a few lumps than to over-mix, which will cause your waffles to be tough.

Serving Suggestions

These sweet potato waffles are great served with your favorite breakfast toppings, like maple syrup and butter. For something a bit more special, top them with some toasted pecans or walnuts along with a dollop of Greek yogurt or honey. If you’re feeling really fancy, try adding some fried apples (or apple pie filling) and cinnamon for an extra cozy touch. 

How to Store Leftover Sweet Potato Waffles

Store leftover waffles in an airtight container or zip-top bag. They’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. To freeze, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 1 hour. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, pop them in a toaster or 350ºF oven until warmed through.

FAQs

Are sweet potato waffles healthy?

Sweet potato waffles are a great way to get extra vitamins and minerals from your meal. Sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene, which is an important nutrient that helps protect our eyesight and keep our skin healthy. That said, while these are healthier than standard waffles thanks to the sweet potato, they’re still waffles—a breakfast best eaten in moderation!

When sweet potatoes sprout, are they bad?

If there are only a few small sprouts on your sweet potato, you can cut them off and still eat it. Otherwise, it’s best to throw them out (or plant them in your garden!).

Are sweet potato waffles gluten-free?

No, these sweet potato waffles are not gluten-free. This recipe calls for all-purpose flour, which contains gluten. To make the waffles entirely gluten-free, you could substitute a measure-for-measure all-purpose flour substitute. (Don’t use a single-ingredient gluten-free flour like almond or coconut, as this will change the consistency of the batter.)

More Reader-Favorite Waffle Recipes

Sweet Potato Waffles

This recipe for sweet potato waffles is the best way to use leftover sweet potatoes! They're sweet, fluffy, and perfect for piling with your favorite cozy toppings.
5 from 4 votes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 – 6 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup sweet potato mashed or pureed (can use leftover sweet potatoes)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
  • Nonstick cooking spray

To Serve

  • Maple syrup
  • Salted butter softened

Instructions 

  • In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves.
    2 cups all purpose flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, sweet potatoes and melted butter. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir together until just combined. It is okay if there are still some small lumps in the batter. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
    2 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 cup sweet potato, ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • Preheat your waffle iron for about 6 to 7 minutes depending on the model. Spray the inside of the iron with the nonstick spray, then pour in the batter in ½ to ¾ cup portions, or the amount recommended by your waffle iron instructions. Close the lid and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes.
    Nonstick cooking spray
  • Serve with maple syrup and salted butter.
    Maple syrup, Salted butter

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 685mg | Potassium: 467mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 5291IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 186mg | Iron: 4mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @kasey_allthingsmamma or tag #allthingsmamma!

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About Kasey Schwartz

For over 15 years, Kasey Schwartz, the mastermind behind All Things Mamma, has been the ultimate go-to for mouthwatering family recipes. Her work has been featured on Today.com, Buzz Feed, Better Homes and Gardens, and more, making her your go-to mom next door for all things delicious and family-friendly.

Comments

  1. I tried this recipe for my family and it was a hit.

    1. Shyanne - ATM Team says:

      We’re so glad you all enjoyed it, Roselyn!

  2. Brittany W. says:

    5 stars
    I’ve tried numerous other sweet potato waffle recipes in the past and I’ve got to say this is the best one! They came out perfectly. Best of all, my picky toddler loved them. I’ll definitely be adding these to my breakfast rotation. Thank you for the lovely recipe.

    1. Shyanne - ATM Team says:

      We’re so happy to hear this, Brittany! Thanks for trying it out. 😊

  3. 5 stars
    Really good! I microwaved a large sweet potato and mashed it. I didn’t have buttermilk on hand, so I made some with whole milk and vinegar. I also added a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste. Very tasty, thick, & moist waffles. I was nervous about the cloves (since I usually go for nutmeg), but these turned out great.

    1. Shyanne - ATM Team says:

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them!

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