This is the post you’ve been waiting for: how to make chaffles!! This comprehensive guide shares all of the details on what they are, why everyone is obsessed, and the best keto chaffles recipe. I’ve also included FOUR additional varieties — both savory and sweet — plus all my tricks and tips I’ve learned along the way. I found out about the concept of keto chaffles from my Facebook support group and several long Reddit threads. They’ve taken the keto world by storm! The original formula I saw in there was 1/2 cup cheese + 1 egg, which I tried. It was good, but it was a bit too eggy for me, so I made some variations on the original recipe that I think make a far superior, best chaffle recipe ever! So, let’s get into how to make chaffles! (FYI: I’ve also heard some people refer to them as “okie eggos”.)
What Is A Chaffle?
Cheese + waffles = chaffles! Fun, right? The chaffle recipes I saw originally were made from just cheese and eggs, but I found these to be a bit too eggy. Instead, making chaffles with almond flour and psyllium husk powder (in addition to the eggs and cheese) makes them taste much more like a traditional waffle — so much so that my husband could hardly believe they were keto! I have a basic chaffle recipe below, but I’m also including two savory and two sweet variations. I highly recommend trying all five!
Chaffle Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
2 Ingredient Chaffle:
This is the original chaffle recipe, with just eggs and cheese. Like I said, I think this tastes a little eggy, but is the simplest version.
Cheese – Any shredded cheese will work here. Mozzarella is used most often because it has the most neutral flavor, but cheddar is also common. For savory versions, any other cheese from the keto cheese list will work great. Some chaffle recipes (such as the pumpkin and jalapeno popper versions below) also have cream cheese added, but I recommend this only in addition to shredded cheese, not instead of it, because the shredded cheese is what creates the crispy texture.Eggs – The ratio is one large egg for every 1/2 cup cheese.
CHEESE TIP: If you want your cheese waffle to have a more uniform in texture, use finely shredded cheese instead of regular shredded mozzarella. I usually have regular on hand, so that’s what I used and it was still delicious!
The Best Basic Chaffle:
To step up your keto chaffle recipe to taste more like a traditional waffle, this is the one to make! It’s similar to what people sometimes call a “wonder bread chaffle”. The taste is very neutral, not sweet or savory, and bread-like, making them great for sandwiches.
Eggs & Cheese – The same as the 2 ingredient chaffle above.Almond Flour – Only 2 tablespoons, so your chaffles will still be primarily eggs and cheese, but this addition makes them taste so much more like real waffles! Be sure your flour is blanched and super finely ground for the best texture; Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour is the one I always use.Psyllium Husk Powder – Adding just 1/2 a teaspoon makes your cheese waffles more chewy. I always use Wholesome Yum Psyllium Husk Powder because it doesn’t make baked goods turn purple. Golden flaxseed meal is also fine to substitute.Baking powder – Helps make the result less dense. Make sure to use baking powder, not baking soda.
NUT-FREE OPTION: If you can’t have almond flour, you can use coconut flour instead. The amount will NOT be the same, though. Use 1 teaspoon of coconut flour to replace each tablespoon of almond flour in any chaffle recipe.
Can you substitute ingredients in chaffles?
Yes! The basic ingredients in chaffle recipes are eggs and cheese, and other than that, they are pretty forgiving. Feel free to play around or swap out anything you don’t like. If you have allergies or intolerances to the main ingredients, here are some options for those:
Substituting Eggs – If you can’t have eggs, you can substitute a flax egg in any chaffle recipe. Here is how to make flax eggs.Substituting Cheese – While I haven’t tried it, I’m pretty sure that vegan cheese substitutes will work in place of shredded cheese or cream cheese in keto chaffles. Check labels to make sure that the carb count is still low.
Flavor Variations:
Garlic Parmesan – Mozzarella, parmesan, egg, minced garlic (or garlic powder), Italian seasoning, and baking powder. These are like garlic bread in waffle form. I like topping them with extra melted mozzarella, grated parmesan, and a touch of parsley.Cinnamon Sugar (Churro) – Mozzarella, egg, almond flour, psyllium husk powder, baking powder, butter, Besti, cinnamon, and vanilla. Who doesn’t love churros?! You can eat these chaffles whole, or for a more churro-like experience, cut them into sticks.Pumpkin – Cream cheese, mozzarella, egg, Besti, coconut flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and vanilla. I like to use homemade pumpkin pie spice for these, but store bought works as well. A dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and some keto maple syrup makes them just perfect.Jalapeno Popper – Cream cheese, cheddar, egg, baking powder, bacon bits, and jalapenos. Many of you have asked me for spicy chaffles, so I made these jalapeno popper flavored ones! Melted cheddar, bacon bits, and a couple jalapeno slices make the perfect topping.Pizza Chaffles – These are based on the basic chaffle recipe, with added seasonings and pizza toppings (I love marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni).Chocolate Chaffle – A sweet cream cheese center sandwiched between two chocolate waffles makes these reminisicent of oreos. If you prefer chocolate chip instead of all chocolate, make the cinnamon sugar recipe, but omit the cinnamon and add a couple tablespoons of chocolate chips.
How To Make Chaffles
This section shows how to make a chaffle, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Preheat. You want your waffle iron hot, so that when the batter hits the pan, it starts cooking right away and makes a crisp exterior. (See my guide below on which waffle maker to use.)Gather ingredients. The basic ingredients are eggs and cheese, but the best chaffles have some other things added! See the options above.Gently melt the cream cheese, if using. The basic chaffle recipe doesn’t include cream cheese, but the sweet chaffles and the savory jalapeno popper ones do. This step just ensures that we can stir it into the batter.
TIP: You can melt the cream cheese in the microwave or a double boiler. It doesn’t need to be piping hot, just warm so that you can stir it.
Mix the chaffle batter. Stir or whisk together all your chaffle ingredients. These will vary depending on if you’re making sweet or savory ones, but the basic mixture will include at least egg and cheese. (The flavor options I have for you are on the recipe card below!)
TIP: If your batter contains coconut flour, let it sit for a few minutes. This will allow it to thicken to the right consistency before cooking.
Cook. Pour the batter into the waffle maker to cover the surface well. Cook until browned and crispy, about 3-4 minutes.
TIP: You’ll know it’s done when steam is no longer coming out the sides, or at least very little is coming out compared to earlier. Some waffle makers also have a light that will tell you it’s done.
Tips For The Best Chaffle Recipe (Crispy, Not Eggy!)
I have a few tricks to make your chaffles both crispy (YUM!) and not taste super eggy.
Let the chaffles cool. This reduces eggy taste and also improves crispness. You can reheat them on the stove top, air fryer, toaster, or oven after, if you want them hot or more crispy.If you are sensitive to an eggy flavor, you can replace the egg with 1 1/2 egg whites (about 3-4 tablespoons) in any chaffle recipe.For savory chaffles, you can make them more crispy by sprinkling some plain shredded cheese onto the waffle maker first, then add the filling, then more shredded cheese. The extra shredded cheese on the outside will help them get more crispy. This is not recommended for sweet chaffles, since shredded cheeses that are not mixed into the batter will make them too salty.The optimal crispy chaffles tend to have a thicker batter. Some batters are thicker than others, and I recommend a thicker batter. Just spread it onto the waffle maker if it’s thicker.
Chaffle Maker Options
I own two types of waffle makers and tested this chaffle recipe in both. Here are the ones I recommend:
Dash Mini Waffle Maker – This mini waffle maker is best for 4-inch sandwich chaffles. It’s what I used for all the ones pictured in this post.Belgian Waffle Maker – The classic waffle iron size will work well for the flavored varieties of savory and sweet chaffles, as the recipes have a bit more batter.
A standard-sized waffle maker should also work fine, but you may need to adjust the amount of batter.
How much batter to use for chaffles?
You’ll use about ~1/4 cup batter per chaffle if you’re using a mini waffle maker. This measurement can be scant for the 3-waffle recipes or a full 1/4 cup for the 2-waffle recipes, but don’t go over 1/4 cup or it will overflow. For a normal waffle maker, use approximately 1/2 cup batter. TIP: If you have a Belgian waffle maker but want to make a chaffle sandwich, you can cut your large waffle into quarters and use each as sandwich bread that way.
Can you make chaffles without a waffle maker?
Yes! You won’t get the crunchy ridges, but it is possible and still plenty delicious to make a chaffle without a waffle maker. Once you’ve mixed your batter, pour (or spread depending on how thick your batter is) the chaffle batter onto a greased, hot nonstick pan and let cook until golden brown, then carefully flip with a spatula. You’ll make them the same way you would make keto pancakes!
Chaffle Nutrition Info & Carb Count
The calories and carbs in chaffles will vary depending on the version you make and what you put in them. The chaffle recipe chart below shows the nutrition info for all the different versions. TIP: The nutrition info listed is always for 1 mini chaffle (for easy scaling), but sometimes you could have two, such as for a sandwich or full meal. The basic and garlic Parmesan chaffle recipes make 2 mini waffles each. The cinnamon sugar (churro), pumpkin, and spicy jalapeno popper recipes make 3 each.
Storage Instructions
Once you’ve let your waffles cool, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze chaffles?
Yes, you can keep chaffles in the freezer for up to 6 months. You can reheat them straight from frozen when ready to enjoy!
Reheating instructions:
You can reheat keto chaffles in the toaster, toaster oven, skillet, or conventional oven at 350 degrees. I prefer the toaster, which is the fastest and easiest. Microwaving is not recommended, as the result is too soft. FYI: Chaffle recipes that contain only egg and cheese, without any almond or coconut flour, will be a bit less sturdy in the toaster. If they are too floppy for the toaster, you can try the oven instead.
How To Serve Keto Chaffles
The way you serve chaffles partly depends on the flavor! Here are some ideas:
Make a chaffle sandwich using the basic chaffle recipe. I did turkey, mayo, lettuce, and tomato, shown below. They are also delicious to have as a breakfast sandwich with oven baked bacon, egg and cheese. Or use them as a bun for a juicy burger. If you want your sandwich to be reminiscent of a bagel and don’t want the effort of making keto bagels, add some everything bagel seasoning to the basic chaffle batter instead.
Drizzle on some syrup or jam. Syrup (my fave is Wholesome Yum Keto Maple Syrup or you can make your own sugar-free maple syrup recipe) or sugar-free chia jam are both delicious on sweet chaffles!
Add melted cheese and toppings. For savory chaffles, like garlic Parmesan or jalapeno popper, I like to melt some extra cheese on top and sprinkle with garnishes.
Cut cinnamon churro waffles into sticks and serve in a little basket like this.
More Keto Waffle Recipes
Almond Flour WafflesCoconut Flour WafflesChocolate ChafflesProtein Waffles
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it!
The serving size of 1 mini chaffle is just for easy scaling, but sometimes you could have two, such as for a sandwich or full meal. The basic chaffle and garlic Parmesan recipes make 2 mini chaffles each. The cinnamon sugar (churro), pumpkin, and spicy jalapeno popper recipes make 3 mini chaffles each. The nutrition info on the recipe card is for the basic chaffles, but you can find nutrition info for the others in the post above.
If you love chaffles on keto, you’ll want my keto cheat sheet printable! 🙂
