I’m going to be honest, these Cocoa Waffles happened because I wanted chocolate for breakfast without fully committing to baking an entire cake first thing in the morning lol. And somehow these ended up becoming one of those recipes I keep making over and over because they’re ridiculously easy but still feel a little extra.
If you love chocolate but don’t want something super sugary first thing in the morning, these are perfect. They have that deep cocoa flavor without tasting like straight-up dessert, and once you add maple syrup, powdered sugar, berries, or even chocolate chips on top, they somehow get even better.
The thing I really like about these waffles is the texture too. Crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and honestly very hard to stop eating while they’re still warm. If you already love recipes like Chocolate Chip Crumble Cake, Brownie Mug Cake, or Nutella Banana Crepes , these cocoa waffles definitely fit into that same comforting breakfast category.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
These cocoa waffles have a rich chocolate flavor without being overly sweet, which makes them really good for breakfast instead of feeling like you accidentally ate dessert at 8 a.m.
The buttermilk helps keep the waffles soft and fluffy inside, while the butter helps create those crisp golden edges everybody wants from a good waffle.
I also like that the batter comes together really quickly. There’s no separating eggs or doing anything complicated. You basically whisk everything together, pour it into the waffle iron, and that’s pretty much it.
Another good thing is how easy they are to customize. You can keep them simple with powdered sugar, load them with berries, drizzle chocolate syrup on top, or honestly just eat them plain standing in the kitchen while they’re hot. Not judging because I’ve done exactly that.
What You Will Need for these Cocoa waffles
A waffle maker is obviously the main thing you’ll need here. A basic Belgian waffle maker works really well because it gives the waffles crispy edges while keeping the inside soft.
A large mixing bowl helps make whisking the batter easier without cocoa powder flying everywhere.
A whisk is important for getting a smooth batter and helping break up any cocoa lumps properly.
A measuring cup with a pour spout makes transferring the batter into the waffle iron way less messy.
Ingredients
- 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Optional Toppings
- Maple syrup
- Powdered sugar
- Chocolate chips
- Fresh berries
- Butter
How to Make Cocoa Waffles
Preheat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer instructions.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder.
In another bowl or measuring jug, mix together the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Try not to overmix the batter.
Lightly grease the waffle iron if needed.
Pour the batter into the waffle maker. The amount depends on your waffle maker size, but around ¾ cup per waffle usually works well.
Cook the waffles until crisp on the outside and cooked through in the center. Most waffle makers take around 4–6 minutes.
Carefully remove the waffles and repeat with the remaining batter.
Serve warm with your favorite toppings. Fresh berries work beautifully here, just like in my Mango Chia Pudding
Tips
The espresso powder is optional, but it really helps deepen the chocolate flavor without making the waffles taste like coffee.
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a quick version by mixing milk with a little vinegar and letting it sit for a few minutes.
Try not to overcook the waffles because they continue crisping slightly after you remove them from the waffle iron.
These freeze surprisingly well too. Just let them cool completely, then freeze and reheat in the toaster later.
These would honestly be so good alongside Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea or Lemon Vanilla Iced Tea if you want a fun brunch situation.
Cocoa Waffles
Description
I’m going to be honest, these Cocoa Waffles happened because I wanted chocolate for breakfast without fully committing to baking an entire cake first thing in the morning lol. And somehow these ended up becoming one of those recipes I keep making over and over because they’re ridiculously easy but still feel a little extra.
If you love chocolate but don’t want something super sugary first thing in the morning, these are perfect. They have that deep cocoa flavor without tasting like straight-up dessert, and once you add maple syrup, powdered sugar, berries, or even chocolate chips on top, they somehow get even better.
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Preheat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer instructions.
-
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder.
-
In another bowl or measuring jug, mix together the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
-
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Try not to overmix the batter.
-
Lightly grease the waffle iron if needed.
-
Pour the batter into the waffle maker. The amount depends on your waffle maker size, but around ¾ cup per waffle usually works well.
-
Cook the waffles until crisp on the outside and cooked through in the center. Most waffle makers take around 4–6 minutes.
-
Carefully remove the waffles and repeat with the remaining batter.
-
Serve warm with your favorite toppings.
