Use high quality ground ginger and molasses to make these flavorful Christmas waffles. Make them cute by using a gingerbread man mini waffle maker from Dash.
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More often than not nowadays I am seeing gingerbread houses made with graham crackers instead of gingerbread. It’s a lot easier to buy a box of graham crackers than it is to make gingerbread. My kids entered a gingerbread house contest at the local library that used graham crackers. I was so happy for the kids to get to do them at a place that provided everything and also cleaned up any mess! Below you will find my son’s creation which he called “Shrek’s Shack”.
But I still believe there is something special about gingerbread and that wonderful inviting smell of it baking. Even if you aren’t making houses with gingerbread this season, I still think you should make something with gingerbread, such as the gingerbread waffles that this blog post is about. Let me show you how we make them starting with the waffle maker we use.
Dash Mini Gingerbread Man Waffle Maker
While the recipe will work for any type of waffle maker, why not make a gingerbread waffle that has the shape of a gingerbread man right inside the waffle. Back in 2023, my family went to a free event in Utah where each kid got the chance to buy out a gift for their siblings and parents. The gifts were wrapped for them right there at the event, making it super easy. We didn’t have to haul each kid to the store to pick gifts for their siblings which is one of their favorite Christmas traditions.
My son picked out for me this Dash Mini Waffle maker with the gingerbread shape as my gift. These waffle makers are small enough that you can store them with your Christmas decorations and just bring them out during the Christmas season. It’s not one that I keep out the entire year.
Something I really love that Dash is doing now is that they have a Multimaker Mini System Waffle Maker. It comes with different “plates” so that you can change out the patterns of your waffles. I got one in the winter last year at Costco that was meant for Valentine’s Day / Spring. Here is what it looks like:
The container there fits the plates when they are not in the waffle maker. The waffle maker has buttons that pop up the plates out making it easy to change them out and also to wash them easier. Our family loves ours and can’t wait to get some more plates as they sell additional ones, usually in sets of 2.
It’s so nice to be able to be able to have these different shapes and patterns without having to keep buying individual mini waffle makers.
Ground Ginger Recommendation
The flavor of these gingerbread waffles are coming from two main things – the molasses and ground ginger. Most people are only going to have 1 or 2 choices at the grocery store for molasses, so I am not going to concern you with much there, just pick what’s the best value. But for the ginger, I want to introduce you to the Buffalo Ginger from Burlap & Barrel Single Origin Spices. Our discovery of them has changed our food is so many good ways. They are the most unique spice company out there that not only provide a superior product but more money goes to those producing the spices for them. Send me a message if you want to hear more go on all day about them!
Here is how they describe this ginger on their website:
Our ground Buffalo Ginger is an heirloom ginger variety grown by a group of farmers in the mountains of northern Vietnam. Known for its fruity, floral aroma and powerful heat, this is a complex and flavorful ginger powder that will elevate baked goods, stews and curries, and beverages from hot drinks to cocktails.
Order a jar of Burlap & Barrel Buffalo Ginger and give it a try it in your waffles. It’s also great in savory recipes. I love to use it in homemade soy sauce based salad dressings.
Can’t Miss Tip
This is what the batter should look like once you have all the ingredients mixed in.
I know you might be tempted to keep mixing it until any lumps are gone and it’s more smooth. Please resist doing that. The lumps won’t matter when you cook the waffles but overmixing the batter will matter as it will create more gluten. This is great when you want a nice, crusty loaf of bread but not a tender waffle. Just get all the ingredients mixed in and then leave the batter alone!
🧇 How many waffles does it make? I usually get around 16-18 mini waffles from this recipe. The waffles are around 4 inches. To give you an idea, a full sized waffle maker from Dash makes waffles that are 8 inches. So if you are making these waffles with a standard size waffle maker you may get somewhere between 8-9 waffles from this recipe.
Gingerbread Mini Waffles
Waffled Together Family
A recipe for gingerbread waffles that caters to the mini Gringerbread man mini waffle maker from Dash but can be made in any type of waffle maker.
In a large mixing bowl combine: the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, ground ginger, and salt. Mix well to combine. You can do this with a fork or spoon.
Take the butter and melt it completely in the microwave or a pot and allow a few minutes to cool.
Measure out 2 cup of buttermilk into a measuring cup with space so you can add 2 cracked eggs and the molasses. Stir well to combine. Once the butter has cooled a bit, add it as well. If your measuring cup isn't big enough you can pour the ingredient into a bowl that is.
Make a well in the center of the dried ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients.
Mix it all together until it is just combined and there is no dry flour. You don't need to work out any lumps. It's important not to overmix the batter for tender waffles.
The batter can sit out while the waffle maker heats up. The batter may thicken some as the flour hydrates.
Once the waffle maker is hot. Brush butter on both top and bottom of the waffle maker then add your batter.
Cook until the waffles are golden brown. Place them on single layer on a cooling rack to keep them from getting soggy.
You can reheat them when all done with waffle by putting them back in the waffle maker for a 1 minute to reheat or you can store them in an oven set to warm until ready to eat. Freeze leftovers when they are cooled.
Notes
Use between 2-3 teaspoons of ground ginger. It depends on how strong you want the ginger flavor to be and how fresh/strong the ground ginger you have is.To add another boast of flavor, trying add some fresh orange zest to the batter. You could serve these waffles with a chocolate syrup. Chocolate and ginger pair very well together. Or you could make up a filling (frosting or custard) and turn these into sandwich waffles.You can make these using a regular waffle maker as well. The number of waffles it makes depends on the size of your waffle maker.
They look tasty. Did you put maple syrup on them?
We were out when we made them so they just put some powdered sugar on them.