Chocolate Belgian Waffles
Chocolate Belgian waffles make a deliciously easy weekend brunch treat but can be prepped ahead and served even on a busy school morning.
Dining out at a restaurant for brunch is such a huge treat for our kids but we don't get to do it very often.
Instead I've learned to make restaurant quality breakfast treats at home to spoil them with.
This easy chocolate Belgian waffle recipe was a huge hit when I pulled them from my waffle maker.
If you love light and fluffy waffles with delicately crispy edges, you're going to love this chocolate variation on the classic Belgian waffle!
Jump to:
- Why This is the Best Recipe
- Ingredients
- Mix the Dry Ingredients
- Mix the Liquid Ingredients
- Mix the Chocolate Waffle Batter
- Cook the Waffles
- How to Serve Waffles Family Style
- Make Ahead Tips
- Variations
- Serving Suggestions
- More Easy Waffle Recipes
- Birthday Cake Waffles
- Pumpkin Pecan Waffles
- Easy Buttermilk Waffles
- Peanut Butter Waffles with Chocolate Chips
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why This is the Best Recipe
My kids always get excited when they see me dig out our waffle maker. We think this is the best chocolate Belgian waffles recipe because:
- Quick and Easy: Prepping the chocolate waffle batter only takes a few minutes and uses regular ingredients from my pantry.
- Over the Top Delicious: These work for a decadent weekend brunch, but I can also top them with cream cheese and fresh strawberries for a breakfast I feel much better serving the kids before school.
- Make Ahead Friendly: Homemade waffles keep so well in the fridge and reheat perfectly in the toaster.
Ingredients
These easy chocolate waffles only need a few ingredients:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Buttermilk
- Eggs
- Butter
- Cocoa Powder
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Vanilla Extract
- Espresso Powder: This ingredient is optional, don't worry if you don't have it on hand. But adding a pinch of espresso powder to anything chocolate only enhances that delicious chocolate flavor. It does not make them taste like coffee.
- Salt
Mix the Dry Ingredients
Add all the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk them together.
This helps ensure that the cocoa powder is evenly distributed throughout the waffles.
It is especially important if you choose to use the espresso powder, you wouldn't want that to clump together in just one waffle!
Mix the Liquid Ingredients
Melt the butter and set it aside to cool slightly while you crack the eggs.
Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
Mix the Chocolate Waffle Batter
Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir them together just until combined and there are no more dry pockets of flour mixture.
Your waffle batter will still be a little lumpy and that is totally ok. This actually makes the texture of the waffle even better.
Cook the Waffles
Preheat the waffle maker while you're mixing up the Belgian waffle batter.
Each waffle maker will have different requirements for the volume of batter to use for each waffle.
My Belgian waffle maker calls for 1/3 cup batter for each waffle and makes 4 waffles at one time.
If your waffle maker makes just one large waffle at a time, you'll definitely want to reference the instructions that came with your machine.
For my size waffles, I cook the chocolate waffles for 4 minutes and they are perfectly cooked through. Machines may vary.
How to Serve Waffles Family Style
It's not fun to put the effort into making a special breakfast for the family only to end up feeling like a short order cook at a diner.
When I make waffles or pancakes for my family, I much prefer to serve them family style so we can all sit down and eat at once.
Simply preheat your oven to 200°F before you begin prepping the breakfast.
Place a large baking sheet inside the oven to warm through.
As you finish each round of waffles (or pancakes), transfer the griddled breakfast treat to the warm baking sheet and let it rest inside the oven until you are finished cooking all the batter.
Then you can plate the waffles on a large platter to bring to the table or dish up the servings all at once by the oven.
BONUS: Resting in a warm oven only makes the waffle edges even crispier, our favorite!
Make Ahead Tips
Homemade waffles can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days. Be sure to layer the waffles with waxed paper so they don't stick together.
You could also freeze the cooked waffles for up to 6 months. Separating the layers with waxed paper lets you thaw just one or two waffles at a time.
To reheat the waffles, just pop them in the toaster! I thaw frozen waffles in the fridge overnight first.
The toaster not only warms the waffle through but restores that crispy texture on the outside.
Variations
Double Chocolate Waffles: If you really want to increase the chocolate flavor, add a cup of chocolate chips to the waffle batter before griddling.
Chocolate Almond Waffles: Skip the espresso powder and add 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract and chopped almonds to the waffle batter.
Chocolate Waffles with Strawberries: Drizzle homemade strawberry freezer jam over the waffles and add fresh chopped strawberries on top.
Mexican Hot Chocolate Waffles: Add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne in place of the espresso powder.
Serving Suggestions
For a special family weekend brunch, I love to serve these chocolate Belgian waffles with big dollops of whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce or a scattering of chocolate chips on top.
When I'm treating my kids to toaster waffles before school, I prefer to simply dust a little powdered sugar on top or spread a bit of warm butter on the hot waffle.
You could also spread whipped cream cheese and add fresh chopped strawberries on top.
If you love chocolatey freezer-friendly breakfasts, you might also want to check out these chocolate fudge pop tarts.
More Easy Waffle Recipes
If you love to put that waffle maker to use, you won't want to miss these other delicious waffle recipes for an easy family breakfast:
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Belgian Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the waffle maker while you mix the waffle batter.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl or large liquid measuring cup, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold them in. Don't over mix, stop once there are no more pockets of dry flour mixture. Slowly drizzle in the melted butter while stirring. This helps to prevent the warmth of the melted butter from cooking the raw eggs.
- Spoon the chocolate waffle batter into the waffle maker according to the directions for your appliance. Typically, my machine requires 1/3 cup batter for each waffle.
- Close the waffle maker and cook the waffles for 4 minutes (or the time according to your appliance's instructions.)
Recipe Notes
How to Serve Waffles Family Style
To serve the waffles family style, preheat the oven to 200°F before you begin preparing the waffles. Place a large baking sheet inside the oven to warm up. As you finish griddling the waffles, transfer them to the warm baking sheet in the oven. This will keep them toasty warm while you finish cooking the rest of the batter. You can then plate the waffles on a pretty family platter and serve all at once at the table.Save This Recipe to Your Recipe Box
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