(Note: this post was originally published on June 16, 2019. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)

The Story

We spent time in Mexico City last year and really fell in love with it. We walked ourselves to death every day, and fueled our explorations with so much lovely food. Especially margaritas and tacos! But the beverage we had there that surprised me most was the coffee. Every morning, we had sweet, flavorful coffee that had been steeped for hours with orange zest, brown sugar, and spices. It was so unexpected, and so unlike how I usually have my coffee at home. That coffee really spoke to me.

Here, I'm recreating the flavors of Mexican Coffee in a unique waffle recipe. Packed full of cinnamon, vanilla bean, espresso powder, and orange zest, they're an ode to the coffee we had every morning in Mexico City.

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Nourishing and Easy

These waffles are made with simple, whole food ingredients to nourish the body. The only flour comes from oats, making them whole grain and loaded with fiber. Much of the moisture comes from banana. The batter is sweetened only with a bit of coconut sugar, in order to capture that iconic brown sugar flavor of Mexican coffee.

Even better, this batter comes together in a snap, thanks to the blender. Just put all the ingredients in, give it a whirl, and you're good to go. Waffles in no time! You'll see many blender creations on this blog, like these fun Tahini Happy Morning Muffins, this cozy Gingerbread Oat Flour Bundt Cake, and this super-springy Blueberry Lemon Tahini Oat Flour Bundt Cake, because the ease of making a batter (with whole oats!) in the blender just can't be beat.

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Serving Suggestions

These Mexican Coffee Waffles would be a fun, unexpected addition to any brunch spread. They're especially wonderful when paired with tropical fruits like papaya and mango, which we saw everywhere in Mexico City.

How will YOU top these waffles? They're of course delightful with maple syrup, but we've also had them with caramel (especially the Cold Brew Coffee caramel from Fat Toad Farm in Vermont, shown in these photos!). Cinnamon whipped cream? Cinnamon-infused maple syrup? Kahlua sauce? Go crazy!

If by chance you don't eat them all, waffles make great leftovers too. They freeze well and can easily be reheated in the toaster for a fast, satisfying breakfast. We've even been known to pack them for lunch!

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Let's Talk Ingredients

Here's what you'll need for this recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

• Bananas
• Eggs. Note that this is an old recipe and I haven't (yet!) tested it with flax eggs. If you do, please leave a comment!
• Milk. Whatever you have on-hand is fine. I prefer unsweetened soy milk since it has such great richness.
• Coconut oil
• Coconut sugar. This is a sugar option that's less refined than brown sugar. Brown sugar will work fine in its place though. I don't suggest white sugar since it doesn't have that same caramelized flavor that's so important in Mexican Coffee.
• Whole rolled oats
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Vanilla bean. Vanilla is such a key flavor in these waffles, so I suggest splurging on a real vanilla bean and scraping out the seeds. There's nothing like it! But this recipe will work fine with 1 tsp vanilla extract instead.
• Orange zest. Another key flavor that's impossible to replicate! I don't recommend using orange extract instead, these waffles really won't be the same without real orange zest.
• Espresso powder. I buy King Arthur Flour espresso powder online and it's a miracle. I use it in all my baking! This recipe will also work with instant coffee powder, but you'll likely want to double the amount since the flavor of instant coffee is much less strong.
• Cinnamon

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Closing Thoughts

I hope you enjoy these Mexican Coffee Waffles! Whether it's for a quick make-ahead breakfast, an indulgent brunch with all the toppings, or even breakfast-for-dinner, they're really unique and so delicious. We've all of course had coffee alongside waffles... but coffee IN waffles?? Novel and such fun!

However you choose to enjoy these flavor-packed waffles, let this beautiful combination of coffee, spices, and orange transport you to the funky neighborhoods and bright sun of Mexico City.

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Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

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Suggested Pairings

Coconut MacNut Granola

Berry Banana Breakfast Popsicles

Wired Monkey Oat Flour Muffins

Nourishing Macadamia Orange Banana Bread

Upside Down Frittata