Extra light and properly crisp, these gluten free and keto grilled cheese waffles are easy, quick to make and just 1g net carb a waffle (!!).
Gluten Free & Keto Grilled Cheese Waffles
Light, Crisp and Oh-So-Cheesy! 🧀💨
These low carb cheesy waffles are comforting, quick and easy; i.e. they’re an ideal lazy keto weeknight meal (or snack)!
They’re also my go-to quick keto bread when the need arises and I’m, ahem, too lazy to whip up our proper fluffy sandwich bread.
You can make them bite-sized and use them as croutons in salads, they’re awesome for avocado toast, equally good as burger bread, and pretty much any sandwich around. And, of course, a great pairing with a classic marinara sauce!
The Method
Don’t be intimidated by needing to whip up a choux pastry (used to make anything from eclairs to churros) for these guys. But this is just a fancy way of saying that you first boil together water with butter and salt. Adding in the flour and cooking it until it forms into a ball. And step three, mixing in the eggs and cheese off the stove.
Now, when you mix in the eggs the dough will be very stiff and take a bit of mixing to incorporate fully (job best done using a mixer). The final dough will be very elastic (courtesy of the eggs and xanthan gum).
The Main Ingredients
Almond flour. You truly need a super finely ground almond flour here, as if you use meal your cheese puffs will turn out dense and oily. Super fine almond flour brands include Anthony’s , WellBees and Bob’s.
Flaxseed meal. You’ll want to use golden flaxseed meal (we use Bob’s), and regrind the flakes in your (very dry!) bullet or blender until finely powdered. Great way to avoid slimy breads. You can substitute with coconut flour, just keep in mind that we do like flaxseed best.
Whey protein isolate. This one lends structure and adds a little extra crispness. Keep in mind that this ingredient varies tremendously from brand to brand, and we’ve only tried (and are super happy!) with Isopure’s Zero Carb Unflavored. You can alternatively use psyllium husk powder.
Xanthan gum. Borrowed from molecular cooking, xanthan gum is the binding agent which makes your toothpaste jelly-like (and your cream cheese, well cream cheese-like). And it’s also the most common gluten-replacer in gluten free baking.
Gluten Free, Low Carb & Keto Grilled Cheese Waffles
Oh, and if baking with cups rather than grams is your thing, just click on US Cups for an instant conversion.
Ingredients
For the gluten free & keto grilled cheese waffles
- 54 g almond flour
- 31 g golden flaxseed meal finely ground (or coconut flour)*
- 6 g whey protein isolate or psyllium husk*
- 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 120 ml water
- 42 g grass-fed butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 3/4 teaspoon paprika optional
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder to taste, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder optional
- 135-200 g cheddar cheese grated, to taste
Special equipment
Instructions
- See recipe video below for guidance on the 'choux pastry' methodology! Keeping in mind that we like the grilled cheese waffles best with flaxseed meal and whey protein (rather than coconut flour and psyllium).
- Whisk together in a medium bowl almond flour, finely ground flaxseed meal, whey protein and xanthan gum. Set aside.
- Heat up water, butter and salt in medium pot (or Dutch oven) until it just begins to simmer. Lower heat to low and add in flour mixture, mixing constantly to incorporate. Continue to cook and stir until the dough pulls away from the pan and forms into a ball, 1-3 minutes.
- Transfer dough back to the bowl and allow to cool for 5 minutes. The dough should still be warm, but not hot enough to scramble the eggs.
- Add in one egg at a time, mixing with an electric mixer until fully incorporated. Mix in baking powder and spices (optional, but highly suggested!). Mix in 1/2 of the grated cheese, the dough should be very elastic.
- Heat up and butter your waffle iron well. Spoon in a thin layer of the batter, sprinkling remaining cheese, and topping off with another thin layer of batter. It will be thick, so spread it out using a wet spatula (or wet the back of a spoon). Close waffle iron and cook for 8-12 minutes on high until fully golden and cooked through.
- The waffles are best freshly made, but they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple days. And the dough can be kept in the fridge for a day or two.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
These are excellent! You are amazing. Finally just the right texture and slight crunch on the outside. I have missed good waffles so much. Thank you!
I have eaten these every night for dinner for the past week. You are a goddess. They are AMAZING. Thank you!
Hi I was wondering if I could make these without the cheese? More like the waffle but unsweet. Would they hold together for a bread substitute?
Hi Hanne! Yes, but I would make the actual waffles instead instead of these (just omit the sweetener). Keep in mind they won’t be quite crisp xo!
can I use anything other than xanthan gum like stevia or something like that?
Hi Assall, the xanthan gum will help bind it together- so stevia wouldn’t work as a sub xo!
What does 75 grams of cheddar softened = in us cups or measures?
These are so delish! Tomorrow I am going to try them as cinnonen and swerve! Should be good! Thank uou
That’s awesome to hear Alisa! And definitely yes on the cinnamon!
Made these for lunch as a test run.
Yippie Yahoo.
Sunday Brunch will require multi batch processing.
Given the differences in waffle makers and therefore size of waffles, how do you give each waffle a calorie fat carb value?
What are you calling a waffle?
One fourth of the waffle as shown?
All four pieces?
That’s awesome to hear Mary! I’ll add a note to the recipe on the waffle size (should’ve def specified that!). I calculated it for 8 regular square waffles (otherwise I got 2 1/2 Belgian waffles with a batch). I hope this helps! xo
Ok so I wanted to try one of your bread type recipes and chose this one…it came out lovely! I measured it all in Grams using my counter top postal scale…lol So fluffy and light . I am now excited to try the bread recipe. And I bought the eboook (honestly I would have given you that money for that brownie recipe alone…lol) I am excited to try my new recipes though esp. that cone!
Thank you
K
Hi Kay! This is all super awesome to hear thank you, also for your support with the ecookbook! 🙂 Check out the focaccia recipe, it’s also one of my favorites! And YES on the cone! Most definitely one of my favorites xo!!
I don’t have a waffle iron. Could I just cook these like a pancake?
Hi Jane! You can make them as cheese puffs! Just search the site 😉 xo!
How do you count # of waffles?
Is it one waffle of four servings?
Or is it eight waffles with four pieces?
8 square waffles xo!
I don’t have a waffle iron. Are there alternative cooking techniques? Muffins? Rolled Biscuits? Crepes?
definitely! search cheese puffs on the site 😉 xo!