The Best Waffle Toppings You’ve Never Heard Of

When it comes to waffles, I think it’s about time we moved past the standard butter-and-syrup routine. (Though that’s certainly delicious, too.) With a honeycomb pattern and fluffy-sweet taste, a plain waffle brings something quirky and special to the plate.

So why not add wild waffle toppings to make your meal downright fun? Or try unexpected batters and over-the-top spreads that’ll make your loved ones grin? I’ve ironed out the best waffle toppings, from savory to sweet—plus a few unexpected ideas for wow-worthy waffles to get you started.

1. Make ’em healthy

Waffles don’t necessarily need to be mounded with butter and sugary syrups to be delicious. Lighten them up with a whole-grain batter, fresh waffle toppings and nutrient-rich ingredients and they go from weekend indulgence to weekday jump-starter. Try these handpicked ideas:

Greek yogurt with honey and blueberries
Almond butter, sliced apples and honey
Vanilla yogurt, granola and raspberries
Fried egg, avocado and pico de gallo
Sliced kiwi, pineapple segments and toasted coconut
Applesauce, cinnamon and chopped walnuts

2. Go savory for dinner

Who says the waffle fun has to stop at breakfast? I love the idea of sandwiching hearty ingredients between two waffles for a filling lunch or serving them with creamy sauce for dinner. These savory waffle topping ideas make the case for digging into waffles well past morning hours.

Pork chops, sliced pears and maple syrup
Sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions and shredded Parmesan
Sweet corn and spicy maple syrup
Corn bread waffles with chili, cheddar cheese and sour cream
Fried chicken with Sriracha honey
Fried chicken, avocado, salsa and jalapeno syrup
Goat cheese and balsamic syrup
Barbecue pulled pork with tangy coleslaw
Creamy chicken-spinach sauce
Sliced deli chicken, cheddar, mayo and sliced apple
Bacon, lettuce and tomato (slider style!)

Whole Wheat Waffles with Chicken & Spinach Sauce

Corn Fritter Waffles with Spicy Maple Syrup

3. Add waffle toppings that are completely over-the-top

For those days where more is definitely more, load up your waffles with indulgent ingredients you can drizzle, sprinkle and top to your heart’s content. I think they’re just perfect for a birthday or special occasion-but we won’t judge if you dig in on any plain weekday, too.

The Elvis: Peanut butter, sliced bananas and bacon strips
The Sundae: Ice cream, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles and a cherry on top
The S’more: Marshmallow fluff, crumbled graham crackers and chocolate sauce
The Southern Comfort: Macaroni and cheese with crumbled bacon
The Hawaiian: Crushed pineapple, sweetened shredded coconut and macadamia nuts
The Chocolate-Banana Blaster: Sliced bananas, hot fudge sauce and chocolate chips
The Sweet & Nutty: Nutella, sliced strawberries and pistachios
The Lox Lover’s: Cream cheese, lox and capers
The Benedict: Canadian bacon, poached egg and hollandaise sauce

4. Get creative with the batter

Instead of focusing largely on the waffle toppings, one of my favorite things to do is use unique ingredients in place of the plain waffle batter. With a little non-stick grease, anything from brownie batter to leftover mashed potatoes can be made into waffles. Start with these fun twists.

Chocolate brownie waffle sundaes
Tater tots, topped with cheddar, jalapenos and diced tomatoes
Falafel-mix base, topped with tzatziki, tomatoes, cucumbers and parsley
Mashed potato waffles with cheddar and chives
Red velvet cake batter with coconut syrup
Hashbrown waffles with fried egg, salsa and guacamole
Biscuit dough with mozzarella, pepperoni and pizza sauce
Sugar cookie waffles, sprinkled with powdered sugar

5. Let your guests decide

The best waffle toppings are the ones that are made just for you. Get inspired by New York’s waffle food trucks: Set up a waffle bar and let brunch guests go wild with their waffle creations. Place a platter of ready-made waffles surrounded by bowls of fun toppings at your next brunch party. With these waffle topping ideas, you’ve pretty much got endless combos for fun.

Drizzles: Maple syrup, honey, hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce and fruit syrups like strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and more.
Spreads: Whipped butter, peanut butter, Nutella, cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, whipped cream and yogurt.
Sprinkler: Powdered sugar, granola, rainbow sprinkles, bacon crumbles and chopped nuts like macadamias, pecans, walnuts and pistachios.
Fruit: Sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, sliced bananas, sliced peaches, sliced kiwi and diced apples.