Protein Waffles (Kodiak Cakes but Better)
Yes, waffles! But more specifically, Kodiak Cakes. We love Kodiak Cakes because they carry Power Cakes: Whole grain pancake mix loaded with 14 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber--that's really good. But did you also know this company is homegrown right here in Utah? MAJ SCORE.
Waffle Gains
Who doesn't love waffles? They're a laid-back Sunday morning kinda food. Kodiak Cakes are big part of our diet in the winter for the GAINS. If you’re not a gym rat, gaining is a period of time when weight lifters focus on building more mass by eating extra calories and lifting heavier weights. Having a whole-grain carbohydrate source provides sustained energy for lengthy or strenuous workouts such as max lifts.
Spice it up!
Whether you're eating waffles for the gains or because they're generally delicious, do me a favor and throw this phrase out the window: just add water. Sure, you can just add water, but life is so much more exciting than that. You can add spices, you can add flavor, you can add texture, you can even add extra protein… so please, don’t just add water anymore.
Here's my favorite recipe to amp up Kodiak Cakes. None of these substitutions are essential so don't sweat if you don't have all of them on-hand. Instead, try adding what you do have and adjusting the flavors to your liking.
What I love about these substitutions is that they add tremendous flavor without much (if any) added sugar. Cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and vanilla extract are nearly calorie-free and a little goes a long way. Unsweetened almond milk will run you 3-5 grams of added sugar, but it's absolutely worth it.
How to Prep Kodiak Cake Waffles for the Week
We meal prep Kodiak Cakes all winter long. You have a couple options: you can store the batter inside your fridge and plop some onto a hot waffle iron each morning. OR, how we prep them is by making 6-8 waffles, allowing them to cool, then transferring each to a plastic bag and stacking them in the freezer.
In the morning, we grab a frozen waffle and pop it in the toaster before work. It’s so easy to batch prep these once and enjoy them throughout the week (or even month!)
Let’s Talk Toppings.
Dress your waffles up or eat them alone. Some of my favorite toppings include:
Coconut whip
Fresh fruit or real fruit spreads
Real maple syrup
Sugar-free syrup (Walden Farms makes a good one)
Nuts like pecans or pistachio pieces
A drizzle of almond or peanut butter & cinnamon
…or eat ‘em on their own!
KODIAK CAKES
but better
Ingredients
1 cup Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes dry mix
3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 egg
1/2 tsp real vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon (more to taste)
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice seasoning
Seasonal fruits, nuts, or seeds (optional)
Instructions
Heat up your waffle iron and spray it with cooking spray.
Combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk until combined.
Pour 1/3 cup of batter into waffle iron. Press for 90 seconds or until golden brown.
Top them off with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
How to meal prep waffles:
Waffles can also be frozen and stored for meal prep! Let them cool down before transferring individual waffles into plastic bags. Stack waffles the freezer and enjoy for up to 2 months. When you're ready to eat, pop one in the toaster oven for about a minute.
