Banana Waffle Bites
on Sep 25, 2026
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These banana waffle bites are such a fun way to switch up regular waffles! Fresh banana slices are dipped in a simple cinnamon waffle batter, cooked until golden, and coated in cinnamon sugar while they’re still warm. They’re soft and fluffy with a warm banana center and make a fun breakfast or snack for the whole family!
If you’ve never tried putting banana slices in a waffle maker, this is your sign! Each slice is dipped into a lightly sweetened cinnamon waffle batter before being cooked until golden. The banana softens as it cooks while the batter puffs up around the outside, giving you a little bit of banana and fluffy waffle in every bite.
These waffle bites are amazing straight from the waffle maker, but I love tossing them in cinnamon sugar while they’re still warm. It adds a sweet cinnamon coating that pairs so well with the warm banana center. Serve them on their own or with yogurt, fresh fruit, or your favorite dipping sauce for an easy breakfast or snack.
Looking for more easy banana recipes? You’ll love these banana carrot muffins, blueberry banana waffles, and these peanut butter banana French toast sticks for fun ways to switch up breakfast options.
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
Here is what you’ll need to make these banana waffle bites:
- Bananas: Use ripe but firm bananas that will hold their shape when dipped into the batter and cooked. Avoid overly ripe, very soft bananas since they can become mushy.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure for the waffle coating.
- Baking Powder: Helps the batter puff up around the apple slices so the waffles are light and fluffy.
- Cinnamon: Adds warm cinnamon flavor to the waffle batter.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness.
- Butter: Adds richness and flavor to the waffle batter.
- Egg: Binds the batter together and adds structure.
- Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth batter that easily coats the apple slices.
- Oil: Helps the waffles crisp up slightly as they cook.
- Maple Syrup: Naturally sweetens the waffle batter.
- Vanilla Extract: For added flavor.
- *Optional: Cinnamon sugar for a sweet, crisp coating.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Ingredient Substitutions & Additions
- Bananas: If you’re not a fan of bananas, try these apple slice waffles that use thinly sliced apples in the center instead!
- Milk: Can be replaced with any dairy-free alternative.
- Butter: Swap with a neutral oil if preferred.
- Maple Syrup: Can be replaced with honey (if serving to little ones over the age of 1).
- Egg: Replace with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water). Let the mixture sit for 5–10 minutes to thicken before adding it to the batter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Peel the bananas and slice them on a slight diagonal into slices about ½-inch thick. Set aside (Image 1).
STEP 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt (Image 2).
STEP 3: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, maple syrup, oil, vanilla extract, and melted, slightly cooled butter until well combined (Images 3 & 4).
STEP 4: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix (Images 5 & 6). Let the waffle batter rest for 5 minutes as you preheat the waffle maker.
STEP 5: After 5 minutes, give the batter a very gentle stir and dip each banana slice into the batter, making sure it is fully coated on both sides. Lift the slice and allow any excess batter to drip off for a few seconds.
STEP 6: Place the coated banana slices onto the preheated waffle maker, leaving a little space between each one if placing more than one slice at a time. Close the waffle maker, press down gently, and cook for about 4 minutes, or until the waffle bites are golden and cooked through (Images 7 & 8). Repeat with the remaining banana slices.
STEP 7: For optional cinnamon sugar coating: Mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. As soon as the banana waffle bites come out of the waffle maker, toss or sprinkle them with the cinnamon sugar while they are still hot so that the coating sticks. If needed, brush a very small amount of melted butter on the waffles to help the coating stick.
Storage Instructions
Let the banana waffle bites cool completely before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them in an air fryer or waffle maker until warmed through. For longer storage, let the waffle bites cool completely and freeze them in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen until warmed through.
Tips For Success
- Use ripe but firm bananas. You want the bananas to be naturally sweet but still sturdy enough to dip into the batter without falling apart. Very ripe, soft bananas can become too mushy once cooked.
- Don’t slice the bananas too thinly. About ½-inch thick works well so the banana slices are sturdy enough to dip and hold their shape in the waffle maker.
- Make sure your waffle maker is fully preheated. A hot waffle iron helps the outside set quickly and gives the waffle bites that golden color.
- Let the excess batter drip off. After dipping each banana slice, hold it over the bowl for a few seconds so the excess batter can drip off before transferring it to the waffle maker.
- Add the cinnamon sugar right away. If you’re adding the cinnamon sugar coating, tossing the waffle bites in cinnamon sugar while they’re hot gives the sugar the best chance of sticking without needing additional butter. If it isn’t sticking as much as you’d like, lightly brush the hot waffle bites with a little melted butter before coating them.
- I used a Dash mini waffle maker, but if you prefer to make more than 1 – 2 banana waffle bites at a time, you can use a full-sized waffle maker and cook 1 banana slice in each corner (4 at a time) or use a multi-mini waffle maker to cook multiple slices at a time.
Recipe FAQs
Use bananas that are ripe but still firm. Yellow bananas with little to no browning work best because they’re naturally sweet but still sturdy enough to dip into the waffle batter without falling apart. I wouldn’t recommend using very ripe, soft bananas for this recipe.
Nope! The waffle batter is lightly sweetened with maple syrup, and the bananas add some natural sweetness on their own. The cinnamon sugar coating is completely optional, but it adds a little extra sweetness and cinnamon flavor.
Make sure your waffle maker is fully preheated before adding the banana slices and cook the waffle bites until the outside is golden and fully set. Once cooked, transfer them to a wire rack instead of stacking them on a plate so that steam can escape as they cool. If you’re storing them for later, let them cool completely before placing them in an airtight container.
If you tried these Banana Waffle Bites, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below! I love hearing from you!
Banana Waffle Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
For Banana Waffle Bites
- 3 medium bananas
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 large egg
- ⅔ cup milk
- 1 tbsp mild-tasting oil
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Optional Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel the bananas and slice them on a slight diagonal into slices about ½-inch thick. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, maple syrup, oil, vanilla extract, and melted, slightly cooled butter until well combined
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix. Let the waffle batter rest for 5 minutes as you preheat the waffle maker.
- After 5 minutes, give the batter a very gentle stir and dip each banana slice into the batter, making sure it is fully coated on both sides. Lift the slice and allow any excess batter to drip off for a few seconds.
- Place the coated banana slices onto the preheated waffle maker, leaving a little space between each one if placing more than one slice at a time. Close the waffle maker, press down gently, and cook for about 4 minutes, or until the waffle bites are golden and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining banana slices.
- For optional cinnamon sugar coating: Mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. As soon as the banana waffle bites come out of the waffle maker, toss or sprinkle them with the cinnamon sugar while they are still hot so that the coating sticks. If needed, brush a very small amount of melted butter on the waffles to help the coating stick.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm bananas. You want the bananas to be naturally sweet but still sturdy enough to dip into the batter without falling apart. Very ripe, soft bananas can become too mushy once cooked.
- Don’t slice the bananas too thinly. About ½-inch thick works well so the banana slices are sturdy enough to dip and hold their shape in the waffle maker.
- Make sure your waffle maker is fully preheated. A hot waffle iron helps the outside set quickly and gives the waffle bites that golden color.
- Let the excess batter drip off. After dipping each banana slice, hold it over the bowl for a few seconds so the excess batter can drip off before transferring it to the waffle maker.
- Add the cinnamon sugar right away. If you’re adding the cinnamon sugar coating, tossing the waffle bites in cinnamon sugar while they’re hot gives the sugar the best chance of sticking without needing additional butter. If it isn’t sticking as much as you’d like, lightly brush the hot waffle bites with a little melted butter before coating them.
- I used a Dash mini waffle maker, but if you prefer to make more than 1 – 2 banana waffle bites at a time, you can use a full-sized waffle maker and cook 1 banana slice in each corner (4 at a time) or use a multi-mini waffle maker to cook multiple slices at a time.
