A great big pumpkin pie with a flaky, buttery, to-die-for crust.

An ooey-gooey apple pie, fresh from the oven.

Steaming golden brown belgian waffles.

Imagine if all three of these mouth-watering dishes were combined. Now imagine yourself eating them without any guilt whatsoever.

Come back to reality and grab your apron and the biggest fork you own. Trust me, you’ll need it.

These delicious, crisp waffles combine the classic pumpkin flavor of the holidays with your grandmother’s famous apple pie. And they’re healthy. Deliciously, guiltlessly, healthy. At least, unless you’re like me and top them with mounds of strawberries, heaps of whipped cream, and half a bottle of maple syrup.

I kind of like to think the healthiness of the waffles balances out the unhealthiness of my toppings. Wouldn’t you agree? 😉

Pumpkin-Apple Pie Waffles

• 2 1/8 c rolled oats (or 1 3/4 c oat flour)
• 1/8 c spelt flour
• 1/8 c whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• scant 1/2 c applesauce
• 1/2 c pumpkin puree
• 1/4 c egg beaters
• 1 3/4 c milk of choice (I used almond milk)
• 1 medium apple
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp all spice
• 1/8 tsp ginger
• stevia to taste
• 1 tbs flax seeds

Process oats in a blender or food processor until they have the consistency of oat flour. In a mixing bowl, mix all dry ingredients together, including oat flour. Add milk, pumpkin, applesauce, and egg beaters and stir until combined. Add stevia until desired sweetness is reached (or substitute with about 2 tbs brown sugar). Chop up apple to bite-sized pieces and stir into batter. If desired, skin the apple before chopping, but this step isn’t necessary. Heat up a waffle iron and grease with cooking spray. Pour about 1 c of batter onto iron (if using an 8 in belgian waffle iron), sprinkle on scant tsp of flax seeds, close iron, and allow the waffle to cook for roughly 8 minutes (time may vary based on size). Once it’s cooked through, plate it and cover it in desired toppings. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information (from myfitnesspal.com)

Calories: 234

Fat: 4g

Carbs: 41g

Protein: 8g

(Yields 5 servings)