Chocolate Waffles

Updated Oct. 12, 2023

Chocolate Waffles
Kelly Marshall for The New York Times
Total Time
25 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Rating
4(123)
Notes
Read community notes

Waffles topped with something sweet are special, but the deep, rich notes from unsweetened cocoa and sweetness from dark brown sugar in this dessert cosplaying as breakfast may please chocolate lovers even more. Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream, and fresh berries for color and texture, or take them a step further with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. The waffle batter can be prepared ahead and stored refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Remove from the refrigerator and cook as directed in Step 3. The cooked waffles can be tightly wrapped and stored in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. To serve, toast a frozen waffle in a toaster, toaster oven or an oven set to 375 degrees. 

Featured in: 3 Quick Breakfast Waffles That Meet You Where You Are

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Ingredients

Yield:4 waffles
  • cups/164 grams all-purpose flour
  • 3tablespoons/20 grams unsweetened cocoa powder (regular or Dutch process)
  • ¼cup plus 1 tablespoon/70 grams dark brown sugar
  • 1teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼teaspoon baking soda
  • ½teaspoon coarse kosher salt (such as Morton)
  • 2large eggs, room temperature
  • 1cup/240 milliliters whole-milk buttermilk
  • 1teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2tablespoons/30 grams unsalted butter, melted, plus more for waffle iron
  • Sweetened whipped cream, for serving
  • Chocolate sauce, for serving (optional)
  • Fresh berries, such as strawberries and raspberries, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

450 calories; 13 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 73 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 37 grams sugars; 13 grams protein; 571 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Separate the egg yolks from the whites and put the whites in a medium bowl. Drop the yolks in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk and vanilla extract and stir together gently to form a batter. Do not overmix.

  2. Step 2

    Beat the whites to medium peaks using a whisk or a hand held mixer. Add the whipped whites to the batter and, using a rubber spatula, fold them in by gently scooping up some batter from the bottom and folding it over the whites on the top. Rotate the bowl and repeat until just incorporated. Fold in 2 tablespoons melted butter.

  3. Step 3

    Heat a waffle iron and, using a pastry brush or paper towel, lightly coat with melted butter. Cook waffles (using about ⅔ cup batter per waffle) until golden and crisp. Butter the iron between batches as needed.

  4. Step 4

    Serve waffles immediately as they are ready, or keep them warm in a 200-degree oven until ready to serve. Top with sweetened whipped cream, chocolate sauce or berries, or a combination, if desired.

Ratings

4 out of 5
123 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

I always use a neutral oil instead of butter for waffles for crispness.

These were very cake-y, and didn’t crisp up like good waffles do. I bet this batter would make a tasty pancake though!

A fast cake-fix! I like it! No more sad microwave mug “cake”

Made w my 4yo. We skipped separating the eggs and used whole wheat pastry flour. Just a tiny bit sweet and “a very yummy taste”

These waffles turned out perfectly. I had to make lactose free buttermilk from scratch but the result was the same.

Such an amazing article, thanks for sharing I will try it this weekend ;)

I thought these were deliciously chocolatey but not overwhelming. I made them according to the recipe and had with whipped cream on top. Perfect for a Sunday morning breakfast.

I would say these waffles are okay, but not worth the effort.

Really not worth the effort and clean-up. As others stated, the mixture is too thick. Disappointing

These were tasty! We reduced the sugar by half and added mini chocolate chips instead. I also did not bother separating and whipping the eggs (as my children rise before the sun....). As others noted, these don't crisp up when first made. However, they do nicely being reheated in the toaster, similar to Melissa Clark's waffles.

These weren’t as chocolatey as expected, chocolate sauce would have helped. Topped with sunflower butter/vanilla yogurt mixture, sliced bananas and whipped cream. Nice change from standard weekend pancakes.

I would not cook these again. They came out dough-y, not crisp as other waffles do. Even leaving them in the waffle iron longer did not help.

Tasty waffle change up. They are not crisp. We do think they’d make a nice pancake. Don’t be surprised the batter is very thick.

This was like chocolate cake for breakfast - in other words, perfect for Mother’s Day or any special occasion. I didn’t have cream to whip, so I warmed maple syrup to drizzle on top of blueberries and strawberries. Fellow gluten-free chefs: Cup4Cup works nicely here.

Very tasty! A perfect combination of cocoa and sweetness. I agree, a little more soggy than the usual waffle.

My store doesn't have full-fat buttermilk, so should I use the lowfat and add more butter, or just go with it, using the same amount of butter, and rationalize that it's slightly less unhealthy?

What if you don't have a waffle maker? Can use these recipes as if they were pancakes?

maybe if you add more liquid (milk//water// neutral oil)

Do you need the acid in the buttermilk or can I just use whole milk?

It adds a nice tang that goes well with chocolate. You can easily add 1-2 T of vinegar to the whole milk for a great substitute.

I really like what buttermilk brings, and I think a bit of yogurt or sour cream mixed with milk makes a better substitute than vinegar or lemon juice in milk.

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