Sweet Jalapeño Cornbread Waffles

You've never had waffles like this-crispy, golden, and packed with bold flavor! These sweet jalapeño cornbread waffles are a game-changer for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

When I tell you these waffles rocked my taste buds, I mean it with my whole heart and every last waffle-loving cell in my body.

These Sweet Jalapeño Cornbread Waffles from Brandi Doming's cookbook, The Vegan 8, are everything I love in a recipe: simple, bold, a little spicy, and completely oil-free.

And best of all? They're the kind of savory waffles that make you excited to wake up in the morning or have breakfast for dinner. No judgment here.

If you're unfamiliar with Brandi, she's the mastermind behind The Vegan 8 blog, and her cookbook is just as amazing. It’s packed with healthy, wholesome recipes that are oil-free and full of flavor.

No fluff, no nonsense-just real food that tastes real good.

A cornbread remix you didn't know you needed

These waffles are a flavor explosion of sweet and savory. Think of your favorite homemade cornbread-now imagine it crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, with sweet corn kernels and pickled jalapeños tucked into every bite.

They're like cheddar jalapeño cornbread waffles, minus the cheddar but with all the spicy jalapeño goodness and just the right kick of heat.

The waffle batter comes together in one large bowl, which is my favorite way to cook-no mountain of dishes to clean later.

The dry ingredients are simple pantry staples: yellow cornmeal, oat flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and sea salt. For the wet ingredients, we're using unsweetened almond milk, applesauce (for moisture and a little natural sweetness), and pure maple syrup.

And yes, it's all gluten-free if you use the right oat flour.

And can we talk about that combo of sweet corn and pickled jalapeños? I'm obsessed.

The sweet corn gives each bite a little pop, and the jalapeños bring that spicy edge that makes these perfect for pairing with vegan chili or even using as a base for a waffle sandwich.

Ingredients you’ll need

• 1 cup (160g) yellow cornmeal
• ¾ cup (96g) superfine oat flour
• (gluten-­ free if needed)
• 3 tablespoons (24g) cornstarch
• or tapioca starch
• 2½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons
• (150g) unsweetened almond
• milk
• ½ cup (120g) unsweetened
• applesauce
• 6 tablespoons (120g) pure
• maple syrup or agave syrup
• ¼ cup (35g) finely chopped
• pickled jalapeños
• ¼ cup (43g) sweet corn kernels

How to make sweet jalapeño cornbread waffles

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, oat flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Add the milk, applesauce, syrup, jalapeños, and corn and stir until evenly mixed and moist.
2. Preheat a waffle maker. I used the setting 4 on my waffle maker, but yours may vary. Once the waffle maker is ready, mist cooking spray on the top and bottom waffle plates. Since the recipe is oil-­ free, my maker needed cooking spray so the waffles didn't stick.
3. Add about ½ cup of batter (again, depending on the size of your waffle maker, you may need more or less) and smooth it out.
4. Make sure to leave about ½ inch gap from the batter to the edge to prevent spillage when closing the lid. Close and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions. When ready, they should be golden brown and release nicely. Repeat with all the batter. Eat plain or top with maple syrup or vegan butter if desired!

A few tips before you fire up your waffle iron

• Cooking Spray Is Key: Because these are oil-free waffles, don't skip the cooking spray unless you want a sticky situation on your hands. Trust me-I tried going without it once. Big mistake.
• Mind the Edges: Don't overfill your waffle maker. Brandi recommends leaving about ½ inch around the edge of the plates to prevent spillage. Wise words.
• Golden Brown Is the Goal: Cook until the waffles are golden brown and crisp. Depending on your waffle maker, this could vary-I used setting 4 on mine, and they came out perfect.

Serving ideas (Because the best part is eating them)

These waffles are insanely good straight from the waffle iron. But if you want to dress them up, here are a few of my favorite ways:

• Drizzle with maple syrup and a pat of vegan butter for that sweet-and-savory fix
• Pair with vegan sour cream and a little hot sauce for a bold, indulgent snack
• Serve with vegan chili for a hearty, comforting meal
• Make a waffle sandwich with roasted veggies, avocado, and a slather of vegan mayo
• Toast leftovers the next day for a quick, delicious breakfast on the go

Why I love Brandi's book (And why I’m sure you will, too)

If you've been around Shane & Simple for any amount of time, you know I'm all about simple, wholesome recipes with no added oil, no fake meats, and definitely no store-bought cheeses.

When I share recipes with you, I focus on healthier, more nourishing ingredients. And that's precisely why I love Brandi's cookbook so much.

Her recipes line up beautifully with what I try to do here. They're made with whole food ingredients, totally oil-free, and full of flavor without relying on processed stuff.

She does use vegan yogurt in a few recipes for that amazing tang, but there are some great, clean options out there-and hey, if you’re not into store-bought, you can always whip up your own at home.

What I appreciate most is that these meals feel doable for real life. You don't need fancy ingredients or a culinary degree-just a few simple things, a little time, and a good appetite.

You won't find vegan butter or ultra-processed cheese in this book. Instead, Brandi uses nourishing, whole-food fats like nuts, seeds, and avocado.

These recipes aren't just tasty-they'll keep you full, give you energy, and leave you feeling good. That's the kind of food I want in my life, and I have a feeling you do too.

Preorder Bonus: 10 Free Recipes + Where to Order

If you preorder Brandi's second cookbook, Vegan Wholesome, before Tuesday, April 15th, she'll send you 10 bonus recipes for FREE! Yep-ten brand-new, oil-free, flavor-packed recipes delivered to your inbox.

All you have to do is pre-order and follow the instructions on her site to claim your gift.

👉 Click here to preorder and claim your bonus recipes

You can order from any of these major retailers:

• Amazon US
• Amazon Canada
• Amazon UK
• Amazon Australia
• Barnes & Noble
• Books-A-Million
• Target
• Indigo Canada
• Penguin Random House (Publisher)

Seriously, don't miss out-this book is a keeper.

So preheat that waffle iron, pull out your yellow cornmeal, and get ready to fall in love with your new favorite vegan cornbread waffles. Just don't forget the cooking spray. You'll thank me later.

Affiliate links to Brandi's book and waffle iron may be included-because sharing good things is what we do.