I absolutely love the combination of apples and cinnamon.
Back in my college days in SF, there was a 24 hour donut shop on Van Ness right by the Mel’s Diner and AMC theaters that had THE best apple fritters.
THE best.
They were huge. They were cheap. And they definitely hit the spot. Late night apple/cinnamon heaven.
This was my go-to after a night out at Element Lounge, one of my favorite hang outs.
Nothin’ beat Thursday Night College Night!!
Me and my buddies were there on a weekly basis and what awesome times they were!
Sadly, fast forward to today, Element is gone, the AMC theaters shut down, Mel’s Diner is now Mel’s Kitchen, and no more donut shop 😫😫😫…Let the chips fall where they may, I guess….
But anyways, back to food…..apples and cinnamon, what a combination.
I also love to add dark chocolate chips to most sweet recipes, whether it be for breakfast, snack, or dessert.
These go great with just about anything, and we all know how chocolate magnifies the flavor of any sweet dish, tenfold.
And when you add peanut butter to the mix….as they would say in the movies, “fu-ge-da-bout-it!!” (with exaggerated Italian accent)
So, what would happen if a muscled-up apple cinnamon waffle hooked up with a sexy dark chocolate chip cookie with peanut butter and had a baby??
Uhh.…..this!
Say hello to my…. Apple Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Chip Protein Waffles!!
Honeycrisp apples, savory cinnamon, sweet amaretto, 63% cacao dark chocolate chips, topped off with a velvety peanut butter drizzle….
a glorious, mouth-watering combination that will build muscle and fulfill any breakfast or dessert fantasy!!
That’s right, honeycrisp apples and dark chocolate chips in every bite.
KA-CHING!!
The fusion of flavors in this protein waffle is ab$olute money!!
Nothing else like it.
So I chop up about half of an apple, or 1/4 if it’s a large apple, and mince it up really well into very small chunks. Then I fold them into the batter along with the dark chocolate chips.
I prefer using honeycrisp apples. In terms of flavor, these are the best, in my opinion.
Pink ladies come in at a close second. But you can use whichever you like.
A key ingredient I like to use in the majority of my recipes ….almond extract.
This provides that lovely, sweet amaretto flavor.
Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur from Saronna, Italy flavored from bitter almonds, apricot pits, and sometimes peach. The non-alcoholic substitute for this is almond extract.
And almond extract is my go-to extract over vanilla.
Always. No doubt about it.
It’s much cheaper, and the flavor is much more apparent versus vanilla extract.
Almond flour is my go-to flour of choice, pretty much every, single time. It provides excellent nutritional value—-high in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants….
And also, according to the Diabetes Education Online website, “because fiber is a type of carbohydrate your body can’t digest, it does not affect your blood sugar levels. You should subtract the grams of fiber from the total carbohydrate.”
Generally, almond flour contains 5 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of fiber per serving. Taking this into account, this means that almond flour only has 2 grams net carbs per serving! Much leaner than the commonly used whole wheat flour or oat flour!
Here are the nutritional benefits of the main ingredients in these Apple Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Chip Protein Waffles...
Apples contain unique antioxidants that have been shown, or believed to, help fight cancer, combat free radicals, fight offcell and DNA damage, and may help against cardiovascular disease. Phytonutrients and phytochemicals in apples may help fight against inflammation. Apples are also a great source of fiber, helping to ease digestion and remove wastes from the body.
Cinnamon is widely considered as the most antioxidant-rich natural spice available on the planet. The antioxidants found in cinnamon are believed to maybe help fight cancer, protect cells from DNA damage, slow the aging process, and help fightdisease. Cinnamon also contains certain compounds that have been known to maybe help fight off viruses and infections.
Dark chocolate has been shown to contain high amounts of antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavonoids—all of which are believed to help fight cancer, fight free radical damage, and fight disease. Certain research has shown dark chocolate to maybe help improve brain function, boost memory, and enhance focus. Studies have found flavonols in dark chocolate may help improve blood circulation to the heart and may help lower blood pressure.
Almonds, which are basically ground up to create almond flour, are packed with nutrients, and are good sources of protein, fiber, vitamin E, riboflavin, magnesium, manganese, calcium. They contain a special kind of vitamin E, called gamma-tocopherol—studies show this antioxidant to be a powerful cancer-fighter. Their high fiber content helps support our digestive system.
OK, here’s what you’ll need….
Some quick notes before you get started….
–almond milk is pictured, but not necessarily needed. But if you want to thin out your batter, add a teaspoon or so.
-you can sub in a mashed banana in place of the applesauce.
-for any leftovers, you can store the waffles in a airtight container in the fridge, and it’ll be good for about 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave and drizzle more peanut butter on top!
If you like these, then I’m sure you will love my Dark Chocolate Raspberry Apple Protein Pizookie!!
And also check out my Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Protein Bars!!
Alright then, let’s get to it!!
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 20 minutes |
| Servings |
waffles
|
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1 1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 egg whites
- 1 whole egg
- 2 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 small apple (minced)
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Ingredients
Batter:
|
|
- Preheat waffle maker/iron.
- In mixing bowl, add flour, protein powder, cinnamon, baking powder. Mix thoroughly.
- In separate larger bowl, add applesauce, egg whites, whole egg, almond extract, almond milk. Mix thoroughly.
- Gradually pour dry ingredient bowl contents into larger wet ingredient bowl, while mixing. Mix until fully incorporated. Fold in minced apple, dark chocolate chips.
- Measure about 1/2 cup of batter and pour onto waffle maker. Let cook for about 4-5 minutes, or as specified by your waffle maker. Repeat process until all batter is done. Makes about 4 waffles.
- Add toppings to waffles. Enjoy!
-you can sub in a mashed banana in place of the applesauce.
-if batter is too thick for your liking, just add some almond milk. Probably won't be needing it though.
-for any leftovers, you can store the waffles in a airtight container in the fridge, and it'll be good for about 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave and drizzle more peanut butter on top!
Did you try this recipe? How did it turn out for you?? I would love to hear from you! Sound off in the comments section below or use the social media buttons throughout the website. Enjoy!!