Waffles are a delicious breakfast food that can be enjoyed with many different toppings besides just syrup. While maple syrup is a classic choice, it’s definitely not the only option for customizing your waffles. So if you want to switch up your usual waffle routine, here are some ideas for alternatives to try!
Fruit Toppings
Fresh fruit makes for a naturally sweet and healthy waffle topping. Sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are all great options. The juices from the fruit will soak right into the waffle pockets. Here are some of the best fruit toppings to consider:
- Sliced banana – Slightly underripe bananas work best so they don’t get mushy too quickly
- Strawberry slices or halves
- Blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries
- Sliced peach or nectarine
- Pineapple chunks or tidbits
- Mango chunks
- Pear slices
- Apple slices
- Mixed berry medley
For extra flavor, try sauteing the fruit first with a little butter, brown sugar, honey, or cinnamon. The caramelized fruit on top of a waffle is divine!
Sweet Spreads
Nut butters, jams, preserves, and sweet spreads are all great syrup alternatives. Here are some options to slather on your waffles:
- Peanut butter – Creamy or crunchy style
- Almond butter
- Cashew butter
- Hazelnut spread like Nutella
- Berry jam or fruit preserves
- Lemon curd
- Dulce de leche or cajeta
- Honey
- Maple cream cheese spread
- Apple butter
- Pumpkin butter
You can also make easy compound spreads by mixing items like peanut butter with bananas, honey with ricotta, or almond butter with coconut. Get creative with sweet flavor combinations!
Savory Spreads
If you want to forego the sweet toppings and have a more savory waffle, there are plenty of options. Here are some ideas for savory spreads:
- Pesto
- Whipped cream cheese and herbs
- Ricotta cheese and lemon zest
- Goat cheese and fig spread
- Mascarpone and orange marmalade
- Tapenade
- Hummus
- Avocado mash
- Salsa
- Caramelized onion and boursin cheese
You can also top your waffle with a fried egg, bacon, smoked salmon, or other savory breakfast items. The options are endless for making waffles a hearty meal.
Easy Homemade Toppings
It’s simple to whip up your own homemade syrups and sauces to top waffles:
- Berry syrup – Simmer berries with a little water and sugar until reduced to a syrup consistency
- Fruit compote – Cook down chopped fruit like peaches, plums, or apricots into a thick topping
- Chocolate hazelnut sauce – Melt chocolate chips with hazelnut butter and cream
- Dulce de leche – Simmer sweetened condensed milk to create this caramel-like sauce
- Coconut whipped cream – Whip heavy cream with a bit of coconut milk and sugar
- Orange cream – Mix orange juice, zest, sugar and ricotta or cream cheese
- Spiced maple pecan sauce – Cook down maple syrup with pecans, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg
Making your own signature syrup or sauce means you can customize the flavors exactly how you like them. It also allows you to control the amount of sugar used.
Creative Mix-Ins
You can sprinkle lots of fun additions right into the waffle batter before cooking for more texture and flavor. Here are some mix-in ideas:
- Chocolate chips
- Chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds
- Shredded coconut
- Crumbled bacon
- Vanilla or almond extract
- Cinnamon and nutmeg
- Poppy or sesame seeds
- Dried fruit like raisins, cranberries or cherries
- Granola
- Crumbled cookies or graham crackers
- Mini chocolate chips
Get creative with the mix-ins and add your favorite flavors directly to the batter before cooking. The possibilities are endless!
Cool Whipped Toppings
Whip up some fluffy whipped cream or Greek yogurt to dollop onto your hot waffles for a nice cooling contrast. Here are some easy ideas:
- Whipped cream
- Whipped coconut cream
- Sweetened Greek yogurt
- Mascarpone cheese
- Whipped ricotta
- Whipped cottage cheese
Flavor your whipped topping with extracts, honey, cinnamon, lemon curd, or fruit purees. Or top it with fruit, nuts, chocolate shavings or granola for even more texture.
Unexpected Ideas
Think outside the box for these unique waffle topper suggestions:
- Slices of brie cheese with fig spread
- Ice cream or gelato
- Cookie butter
- Sprinkles
- Granola clusters
- Coconut flakes
- Halved grapes
- Dulce de leche drizzle and sea salt
- Pie filling
- Hot fudge
Let your imagination run wild and get creative with flavors, textures, temperatures and colors. Waffles make the perfect canvas for showcasing all kinds of toppings!
Making Substitutions
If you don’t have an ingredient on hand or want to make a swap for dietary needs, here are some easy substitutions:
| Instead of: | Substitute: |
|---|---|
| Maple syrup | Honey, agave, or fruit syrup |
| Berry jam | Fresh berries |
| Whipped cream | Greek yogurt or coconut cream |
| Butter | Nut butter or mashed avocado |
| Mascarpone | Cream cheese or ricotta |
With all the options available, you’re sure to find plenty of sweet and savory toppings to replace syrup on your waffles. Get creative and come up with your own signature combinations!
Storing and Serving Tips
To get the best results with your waffle toppings, follow these tips:
- Add toppings just before eating so they don’t get soggy
- Slice fruit and berries just before using for maximum freshness
- Store compotes and sauces in the refrigerator for up to 1 week
- Whip cream right before serving or it may lose volume
- Heat syrups or sauces if serving with chilled toppings like ice cream
- Let cookie butter or nut butters come to room temperature for easy spreading
- Drizzle sauces decoratively over waffles for a gourmet touch
- Keep a variety of toppings on hand so you can mix and match
- Save and reheat leftover waffles by crisping them up in a toaster
With the right techniques, you’ll be able to enjoy your topped waffles anytime with maximum flavor!
Conclusion
While syrup is the tried-and-true waffle topper, there are so many delicious alternatives to pour, dollop and sprinkle over your breakfast. Fruit, sweet spreads, savory spreads, homemade sauces, mix-ins, cool whipped toppings and creative combinations all make for mouthwatering choices. With this wide variety of options, you can enjoy a different waffle experience whenever you want. So ditch the boring syrup, get creative with toppings and take your waffles to the next level!