Banana Peanut Butter Waffles

Happy Waffle Wednesday, my friends! When the day starts off with waffles, you know it’s bound to be a great day! I mean, come on… how can you go wrong with waffles? Especially when they’re loaded with peanut butter and banana!

Growing up, I always looked forward to breakfasts on the weekend because it meant the whole family could sit down and enjoy a delicious meal together. Sometimes it was pancakes, sometimes it was cinnamon rolls, and sometimes it was waffles (which was always my favorite).

When I was younger, pancakes were not my thing, mainly because I hated how they soaked up all the maple syrup so quickly, meaning I always had to add more. (Strange, I know). So for years, whenever my mom made pancakes, I made it very well-known that I wasn’t happy, and on those days I usually made myself a bagel with cream cheese instead of eating pancakes.

But on the days she made waffles, well that was a completely different story. Waffles were my absolute favorite breakfast food, and I never said no to waffles! You might be thinking to yourself, “how can someone love waffles but hate pancakes? Aren’t they pretty much the same?” It’s true – they are similar. But here’s the thing: waffles have all those bumps and pockets on the surface, which are perfect for holding in the maple syrup. And for me, that was the difference between pancakes and waffles. Pancakes didn’t hold onto maple syrup very well, but waffles did. Therefore, I liked waffles. (Oh, the logic of a young child!)

I can remember one time in particular very well: my mom made banana waffles, and I put two of them on my plate. After finishing two, I was still hungry, so I took another one. They were so good that I took two more, and in no time, I had polished off 5 waffles! By the time my dad came downstairs from showering after his run, all the waffles were gone (oops), and I remember my mom being so upset that I didn’t save any for my dad. But hey, in my defense, I was a growing kid and needed all the energy! Plus, they were incredibly good! To this day, every time I see banana waffles, I think of that particular memory from growing up, and it always gives me a good laugh.

This morning when I woke up, I noticed a few very ripe bananas sitting on my counter, so I figured it was the perfect time to make some banana waffles. And while I was at it, why not add some peanut butter to the batter, as well? Because let’s face it: everything is better with peanut butter!

This recipe here makes 4 very large waffles, so they’re perfect to whip up for family breakfasts on the weekend! And this time I promise not to eat all of them at once! Although if my stomach had the capacity, I totally would, because that’s how good they are!

You can also prepare these waffles at the beginning of the week to have breakfasts already prepped and ready to go that week, or you can always stick the extras in the freezer to pull out when you’re pressed for time!

These waffles have plenty of flavor on their own, but as we know from above, I’m all about those toppings. I love adding banana slices, fresh fruit, and a drizzle of maple syrup on top of mine.

They’re also great topped with peanut butter and yogurt, or served alongside eggs, avocados, and fresh fruit. No matter how you choose to eat them, though, starting your day with these waffles will guaranteed be a great way to kick off the day! But hey, don’t limit them to just breakfast – breakfast for dinner is also a great idea!

Enjoy!