Indulge in Rich, Chocolate Waffles with Endless Topping Ideas

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Our homemade Chocolate Waffles recipe is a perfect blend of rich cocoa and smooth ricotta. Ideal for breakfast or dessert, these easy chocolate waffles will delight the whole family.

Are you a chocolate lover looking for a new twist on traditional waffles? Our Chocolate Waffle recipe features fluffy, rich chocolate waffles, and its sweetness is perfectly balanced with a hint of rich ricotta cheese.

This particular recipe is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make. Whether you’re preparing a special breakfast for the family or craving a chocolatey dessert, these homemade waffles are sure to become a favorite. They even freeze beautifully, so you can enjoy one any day of the week with minimal fuss.

a plate of chocolate flavored waffles with blueberries and strawberries

About this Chocolate Waffle Recipe:

Flavor: Chocolate waffles have a similar flavor to chocolate cake. The lightly sweet waffles are the perfect base to whatever sweet toppings you’d like.
Texture: The waffles cook up to a fluffy perfection like you know and love in your favorite waffle recipes, but the ricotta cheese does add a rich, fudgy like texture.
Method: You’ll need a large bowl for mixing and a waffle maker to cook the waffles.

You’re missing out if you’ve never made cinnamon roll waffles!

Ingredients

A few notes about the ingredients:

Unsweetened cocoa powder. I really like a dark cocoa powder. Or you can use regular unsweetened cocoa powder and swap out one tablespoon for black cocoa powder.
Baking powder. Use aluminum free baking powder to prevent any metallic taste.
Ricotta cheese. Whole milk ricotta is best.
Vanilla extract. Use homemade vanilla extract if you can. 😋

How to Make Chocolate Waffles

Mix up chocolate waffle batter in 4 easy steps:

Combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar and baking powder into a medium bowl. Whisk well.
To a separate bowl, add the eggs, milk, ricotta and vanilla, Use a hand mixer to mix for 1-2 minutes until slightly frothy.
Drizzle the melted butter into the egg mixture, mixing the entire time you are drizzling it in.
Use a whisk to gently stir the wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.

collage of how to make chocolate waffles

To cook the waffles:

Preheat a waffle iron. Spray with cooking spray if your waffle maker requires this.
Ladle about 2/3 to 1 cup of waffle batter onto the hot waffle iron. (The exact amount of batter will depend on the size of your waffle iron.)
Close and set to cook for 2-3 minutes or until cooked through.

chocolate waffle batter in a waffle iron

chocolate waffles cooked in a waffle iron

pro tip

Place the cooked waffles on a wire rack to cool so that the steam doesn’t make them soggy.

Favorite Toppings for Chocolate Waffles

How do you eat chocolate waffles? There are endless ways! Pure maple syrup and butter is always an option, but try one of these for special occasions:

One of my favorite ways to serve them is with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top. It adds a lovely creaminess that complements the rich chocolate flavor.
Melt peanut butter in the microwave and use it as a sauce for the ultimate dessert waffles. You can even add chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups and combine it with a chocolate drizzle.
If you’re feeling extra indulgent, drizzle with a little bit of dark chocolate syrup or sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips in the batter for a double chocolate waffles experience. This will satisfy even the biggest chocolate cravings.
For a fruity twist, top your waffles with fresh berries or your favorite fruit syrup such as raspberry sauce or strawberry sauce. Raspberries or strawberries would be perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Add a handful of chopped nuts for a delightful texture.
Top with soft serve ice cream of make waffle ice cream sandwiches.

chocolate syrup pouring over chocolate waffles with whipped cream

Freezer Waffles and Reheating

One of the best things about this chocolate waffle recipe is how well the waffles freeze, making them a fantastic make-ahead option.

To freeze, let the waffles cool completely after cooking. Then, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to freezer bags or another container. They’ll freeze well for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to enjoy, there’s no need to thaw; just pop them straight into the toaster until they’re warm and crispy. It’s a great way to have a homemade waffle breakfast on busy mornings or a quick dessert ready in no time.

a plate of waffles with melted peanut butter and whipped cream

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put chocolate waffles in the toaster?

Yes! There’s no need to defrost them if they are frozen. Just pop them in the toaster to reheat.

Can you eat chocolate waffles cold?

Yes, if you’d like! After the waffles are cooked you can eat them cold if you prefer.

How do you keep waffles warm?

If you’re making waffles for a crowd and want to keep them warm, turn the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. As the waffles come off the waffle iron, place the waffles in a single layer wire rack. This prevents them from being squished if you stack them, and crisps them up a little.

How do you keep waffles from sticking to the waffle iron?

Newer waffle irons are often non-stick, which greatly helps with waffles coming off easily. Check your waffle iron manual to see if it is ok to use spray if you’d like to use it.

Clean your waffle iron plates. After some use, the plates can become sticky themselves which is obviously going to make the waffles stick also.

Be sure to allow your waffles to cook completely before opening the waffle iron. If they are not done, they are more likely to stick and fall apart.

closeup of a plate of waffles with fresh berries

Chocolate Waffles

4.50 from 4 votes

Rich and fluffy chocolate waffles made with ricotta cheese. These chocolate waffles freeze well which makes for a quick breakfast (or even dessert). Pop them in the toaster to warm them up!

Servings 14

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

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Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour 260 grams
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 50 grams
¾ cup granulated sugar 150 grams
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder 13 grams
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups 2% milk 12 ounces
⅓ cup ricotta cheese 88 grams
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup salted butter (melted)

Instructions

Combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar and baking powder into a medium bowl. Whisk well.
To a separate bowl, add the eggs, milk, ricotta and vanilla, Use a hand mixer to mix for 1-2 minutes until slightly frothy.
Drizzle the melted butter into the egg mixture, mixing the entire time you are drizzling it in.
Use a whisk to gently stir the wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
Preheat a waffle iron. Ladle about 2/3 to 1 cup of waffle batter onto the hot iron. (The exact amount of batter will depend on the size of your waffle iron.) Close and set to cook for 2-3 minutes or until cooked through.
Place the cooked waffles on a wire rack to cool so that the steam doesn't make them soggy.
Serve with your choice of fruits, syrups, whipped cream and more.

Notes

Makes 7, 7″ round waffles.

To freeze the waffles:

Place the cooled waffles in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for about 1 hour. After the waffles have frozen, package them in Ziplock storage bags and freeze. Freezing them first individually will help the waffles not stick together.

When you are ready to serve the waffles, pop the frozen waffles into the toaster and let them cook until they are warmed through and lightly crisped.

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the recipe making 7 waffles, with 1 serving being ½ of a waffle. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**