Naturally Pink Waffles (No Dyes)
I’ve created these pink waffles for my daughter. On Valentine’s Day she requested a special breakfast. She asked me if she can have something sweet and pink for breakfast. My immediate thought was that I should avoid giving her something sugary and artificially colored. So, I started thinking how to achieve the pink color without food dyes and also how to reduce the added sugar. Both of us loved the end result. It was pink, sweet, tasty and it was nutritious.
Why Should You Make Them?
No artificial dyes
Since I have a nutrition degree, I try to avoid feeding my child with artificial dyes. Most dyes that are used for food coloring are petroleum based. There are studies that link food dyes to hyperactivity, allergies and even some types of cancer. I did some research before making the dye free pink waffles and I saw that I can achieve the hot pink color by using beets.
High in nutrients
I added some whole wheat flour to the batter to increase the nutritional value. For sweetness I added honey instead of processed sugar. Packed with essential nutrients, beets are a good source of fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C. Their unique color is coming from a specific antioxidant that fights inflammation in the body.
What if I don’t like beets?
Beets have an earthy flavor, but I can guaranty that you cannot taste it in this recipe. These waffles taste like regular ones with a hint of vanilla.
When to prepare them?
My daughter was very happy when she woke up on Valentine’s Day with a special breakfast. I’m proud to say that not only they look great, but they also taste amazing. This recipe is requested pretty often by my daughter and it is always a hit when she has friends for sleepover. Sometimes I put leftover pink waffles in her lunch box.
Food safety
They can be stored in the refrigerator 3-5 days and up to 3 months in the freezer. I reheat them in the toaster or toaster oven. These dye free pink waffles can be a nutritious, delicious breakfast, not only on Valentine’s Day.
Please Note: I’m not a doctor or a dietitian. Everything written in my blog post is my own opinion. I’m not qualified to give medical advice!
Naturally Pink Waffles (No Dyes)
Ingredients
- 1 medium sized, roasted beet
- 1 ½ cup milk of your choice (I used whole milk)
- 2 eggs
- 3 Tbsp honey
- ¼ cup melted butter or coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the waffle iron.
- Combine the dry ingredients (all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, and salt) in a bowl and stir.
- In a jar add 1/2 cup of the milk and the roasted beet.
- Insert the immersion blender in the jar and blend it into a pure.
- In a separate bowl whisk the eggs, the remaining milk (1 cup), melted butter, beet pure and the vanilla extract. I use a stand mixer.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and combine. Do not over stir.
- Spoon about ½ cup batter into preheated waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Enjoy drizzled with maple syrup, honey or toppings of choice.
Notes
Other Breakfast Recipes
Easy Doughnut Strips (No Yeast)