How to Make Colorful Rainbow Waffles That Brighten Any Morning
Create gorgeous rainbow waffles with just a few ingredients! Perfect for brunch, parties, or anytime you want a little extra joy on your plate. This post may contain affiliate links.
Who says breakfast can’t be as fun as it is delicious? Rainbow waffles bring a splash of color to your morning, making them perfect for any celebration or just a bit of weekend magic.
Whether you’re planning a birthday surprise or need a way to brighten a dreary day, these vibrant waffles are sure to get everyone smiling. Best of all, they’re easy to whip up and just as tasty as they are beautiful.
Why You'll Love Rainbow Waffles
- Creative and Fun: Rainbow waffles are an instant mood booster. Their bright, layered colors bring personality to any breakfast spread, making them a showstopper for celebrations, parties, or even just a happy Saturday morning.
- Kid-Friendly: Getting kids excited for breakfast can be a challenge. But introduce a plate of rainbow waffles, and suddenly you’re the hero of the day.
Ingredients
- All purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Eggs
- Unsalted butter
- Buttermilk
- Vanilla extract
- Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet food coloring
- Whipped cream and Rainbow sprinkles
How to Make Rainbow Waffles
Turn your waffle maker on and let it preheat.
In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt with a whisk.
Add the eggs, melted butter, buttermilk, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Whisk until the batter is smooth.
Pour the batter evenly into 6 smaller bowls. You’ll have about 3 cups of batter total, so each bowl should hold ½ cup. Start with the first bowl and mix in ¼ teaspoon of red food coloring. Set it aside, then do the same with orange in the next bowl. Repeat for all six colors: yellow, green, blue, and purple.
Scoop each color into its own piping bag.
In the center of your waffle maker, pipe a circle of purple batter. Spread it into the grooves. Next, add a ring of blue batter around the purple. Continue with green, yellow, orange, and red, following that order.
Close the lid and cook until the edges are golden. My waffle maker only takes a couple of minutes.
When it’s done, move the waffle to a plate. Repeat the process until all your batter is used.
Cut the waffles in half to reveal the rainbow. Add whipped cream as clouds and sprinkle on toppings. Serve warm with syrup!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Rainbow Waffles
Achieving Vibrant Colors
Bold, bright colors are the hallmark of any good rainbow waffle, and gel food coloring is the secret weapon. Unlike liquid food coloring, gels are more concentrated, meaning you get intense hues without watering down your batter.
Here’s how to make your colors pop:
- Start with small amounts: A dab goes a long way. Begin with ¼ teaspoon of gel food coloring per batter portion, then adjust until you’ve got your desired shade.
- Mix thoroughly: Stir until the color is completely blended. You don’t want streaks of white batter peeking through.
- Experiment with shades: Feeling creative? Combine colors to create custom tones. Mix red and yellow for a peachy orange or add a touch of black to deepen hues.
Preventing Color Bleeding
The last thing you want is a runny tie-dye mess instead of crisp rainbow layers. The key to preventing color bleeding is keeping the batter slightly thick and working with care.
Try these tips:
- Don’t overfill the waffle iron: Layering too much batter can cause colors to squish together as they cook, muddling the rainbow effect. Stick to small amounts for each color.
- Pipe the layers: Using piping bags gives you precise control over how and where colors are placed. No piping bags? A zip-top bag with a snipped corner works just as well.
- Don’t rush: Let each layer settle briefly as you pipe it into the iron to help it hold its shape before adding the next color.
With a little patience and the right technique, your colors will stay crisp and defined, looking more like a rainbow than a watercolor painting.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
Rainbow waffles are all about the wow factor, but sometimes you need a little prep ahead of time to make the morning easier. Luckily, these waffles are just as tasty when made in advance.
Here’s how to stay ahead of the game:
- Make the batter up to 24 hours in advance: Prepare your waffle batter and divide it into individual bowls for coloring. Cover each bowl tightly and refrigerate. Bring them to room temperature and stir well before cooking.
- Freeze pre-cooked waffles: Let your waffles cool completely, then stack them with parchment paper between each layer to prevent sticking. Place in an airtight container or freezer bag, and they’ll keep for up to a month.
- Reheat like a pro: To revive frozen waffles, pop them straight into a toaster or oven. They’ll crisp up perfectly without going soggy.
If you’ve got leftover batter, you can refrigerate it for up to 2 days. Just keep in mind that you may need to give it a quick stir and add a splash of milk before using—batter tends to thicken in the fridge.
Rainbow Waffle Variations
One of the best things about rainbow waffles is how versatile they are. You can tweak the recipe to suit your tastes, dietary needs, or even a themed occasion. Whether you’re accommodating food restrictions, experimenting with new flavors, or just looking to make breakfast more fun, there are so many ways to put your own spin on these colorful creations.
Flavor Infusions
Want to take your rainbow waffles to the next level? Adding a bit of extra flavor is a simple step that makes a big difference. Here are a few ideas to experiment with:
- Vanilla Bean: Stir in a teaspoon of pure vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract to enhance the overall flavor. It pairs beautifully with the toppings you’ll add later.
- Cocoa Powder: For chocolate lovers, mix 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder into one or two portions of the batter to create a chocolatey layer. Think of it like a little surprise in every bite.
- Fruit Purees: Add a tablespoon of fruit puree—like strawberry, blueberry, or mango—to the batter. It brings natural sweetness and a bit of brightness without artificial flavors.
- Zest It Up: A dash of citrus zest (orange, lemon, or lime) goes a long way in freshening up the batter. It’s subtle but adds a nice pop against the sweetness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rainbow Waffles
What Food Coloring Works Best?
When it comes to achieving those vibrant rainbow colors, your choice of food coloring can make or break the final look. There are three main types: liquid, gel, and powder. Each has its strengths, so it’s all about what works best for your goals.
Powder Food Coloring: Less common but incredibly effective. Powder colors are super concentrated and don’t add any extra liquid. They’re great for achieving both bright and pastel shades, but they can be tricky to mix evenly into the batter without a little extra stirring.
Liquid Food Coloring: This is the most common and easy to find. It’s perfect for subtle, pastel hues, but getting bold colors can require a lot of drops. The downside? Adding too much liquid can thin out your batter, which means less fluffy waffles. Liquid color isn’t ideal if you want those super bright tones.
Gel Food Coloring: Your best bet for bold, vibrant shades. Gel is highly concentrated, so you only need a tiny amount to get intense colors. Plus, it won’t mess with the consistency of your waffle batter. This is the go-to option for most rainbow waffle enthusiasts.
More Rainbow Fun
- Rainbow Pasta Salad
- Rainbow Movie Night Ideas
- St. Patrick's Day Rainbow Cookie Bark
- 20 Colorful Rainbow Recipes
Rainbow Waffles
Brighten up your breakfast with colorful rainbow waffles! Easy-to-make recipe, simple ingredients, and perfect for kids and special occasions.
Ingredients
- 1 and ¾ cup (9oz, 262g) all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup (5oz, 150g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 and ½ cups (355ml, 12oz) buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet food coloring
- whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- Turn on your waffle maker to preheat it.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt to lightly sift them together.
- Add the eggs, melted butter, buttermilk and vanilla extract to the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
- Divide the batter between 6 bowls. You should have around 3 cups of batter so you’ll need ½ cup per bowl. Starting with the first bowl, add ¼ teaspoon of red food coloring to the bowl and stir to mix the color through. Set it aside and add ¼ teaspoon orange food coloring to the bowl. Continue doing this with all 6 bowls and colors.
- Transfer the each color batter to its own piping bag.
- Starting in the middle of your waffle maker, pipe the violet batter in a small circle. Make sure you get that batter in all the nooks and crannies. Next, take the blue and make a circle around the purple batter. Do the same with green, yellow, orange and red on the outside. Do it in that order.
- Replace the lid and cook until the edges are lightly browned. My waffle maker just takes a couple of minutes.
- Once done, move it to a plate and repeat the process until all the batter has been used up.
- Slice the waffles in half to give you a rainbow and add some whipped cream clouds. Serve warm with sprinkles and syrup.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 101Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 66mgSodium 373mgCarbohydrates 13gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 4g
This nutritional information is for reference only. We are not responsible for these calculations.
