These Cake Mix Chocolate Waffles are super easy to make. With just a box of cake mix, you can make an incredibly easy and quick breakfast or the base for a fabulous dessert that everyone will love.
If you want more chocolatey goodness, try my Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Bark and my Chocolate Parfait recipes.
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Why this Cake Mix Chocolate Waffle Recipe is a Keeper
These decadent, easy chocolate waffles are as delicious as they are simple to make. Plus, they end up nice and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- 20 Minute Meal: Make this fluffy waffle in under 20 minutes!
- Easy Ingredients: If you have a box of cake mix laying around, you can definitely make these cake waffles. They’re not too sweet and only take a couple ingredients.
- Family Friendly: These chocolate cake waffles will be a hit with your kids, especially if you they them decorate the waffles with their favorite toppings.
What Are the Best Waffle Toppings?
Some great toppings include maple syrup, mini chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, a scoop of ice cream or chopped fresh berries.
Pro Tip for Crispy Waffles
Add a Tablespoon of cornstarch for crispier edges:
Cake mix waffles tend to be soft, so cornstarch mimics the crisp of traditional waffle batter without changing the flavor.
Ingredient Notes to Make this Recipe
All of the required ingredients to make rich chocolate waffles are easy to find at the store, but some of the ingredients may be around the kitchen already.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Cake Mix: You will need a box of chocolate cake mix, plus the ingredients called for on the box. This will be used in place of unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda and flour.
Variations and Substitutions to Make Chocolate Waffles
This recipe is so easy to change up. I like to experiment with ingredients to make different varieties.
- Eggs: Use applesauce or Greek yogurt in place of eggs. Use ¼ cup per egg. This keeps the batter moist but slightly denser.
- Dairy‑Free Milk: Almond, oat, or soy milk all work with no texture issues.
- Gluten‑Free Cake Mix: Most GF mixes work well; the waffles may be slightly more delicate.
- Extra Tablespoon of Cake Mix: Thickens a runny batter without altering flavor.
- Splash of Milk: A splash of whole milk loosens a thick batter for more even spreading. Try adding a little vanilla extract to the mix.
Special Equipment Needed for the Best Chocolate Waffles
Sometimes a recipe can be made much faster when using the right piece of kitchen equipment.
- Waffle Maker: You will need some sort of waffle maker to make chocolate flavor waffles, regular waffles, buttermilk waffles or regular Belgian waffles. Be sure to preheat your waffle iron before using. It will make them crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
How to Make Chocolate Cake Waffles
This chocolate waffles recipe comes together in 2 quick and easy steps. This homemade waffles brunch is so good, it quickly became one of my favorite recipes.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Make the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake batter according to the directions on the box of cake mix.
- Cook the Waffles: In a hot waffle iron, add about half of a cup of batter. Cook for about 4 minutes, or until your waffle maker says it’s done.
Prep Ahead Suggestions
This recipe is already really easy, but there are a few things you can do to prepare ahead of time. Or you can make the waffles and warm them up when you are ready to serve.
- Make the Batter: Make the batter in a large bowl the night before you want waffles. Cover well with plastic wrap and store in the fridge.
Alternate Cooking Methods
Make chocolate waffles recipes another way by using your stovetop or oven if you don’t have a waffle maker.
- Stovetop Pancakes: This is the closest match in texture. Heat a lightly greased skillet over medium heat. Scoop batter and cook like pancakes. They’ll be soft like cake‑pancakes with lightly crisp edges.
- Oven Waffle Bars: Great for feeding a crowd. Bake at 350°F for 18-22 minutes, until the top springs back. Slice into squares or sticks. Crisp the edges under the broiler for 1-2 minutes if you want that waffle vibe.
- Sheet‑Pan Waffles (with a silicone waffle mold): If you have silicone waffle molds, they mimic the shape perfectly. Mix together the batter and fill molds ¾ full. Bake at 425°F for 10-12 minutes. Flip onto a baking sheet and bake 3-5 minutes more to crisp the tops and golden brown.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Storing: Let waffles cool completely. Then, store leftover waffles in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Reheating: The quickest way to revive crisp edges is in the toasted. Toast on medium until warmed through.
- Air Fryer: 350°F for 2-3 minutes gives the best crisp‑back. You may need to increase cook time
- Oven: An oven is the best way to reheat many waffles. Heat at 350°F for 5-7 minutes if reheating a larger batch.
- Microwave: Softens the texture, but works in a pinch; about 15–20 seconds.
- Using Leftovers: Layer with eggs, bacon, or sausage for a sweet‑savory combo.
- Waffle Sticks: Slice into light and fluffy strips and air fry until crisp; serve with chocolate or fruit dip.
- Dessert Base: Top the rich chocolate flavor waffles with ice cream, whipped cream, or berries for a quick treat.
- Mini Trifles: Cube leftover waffles and layer with pudding or yogurt and chocolate sauce.
- Kids’ Lunchbox Treat: Toast and cut into bite‑size squares.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe
If your batter is too thick, add a tiny splash of milk. If it’s too runny, you can add a little more cake mix or all-purpose flour.
These waffles will taste like cake but the waffle iron gives them crisp edges and a fluffy, slightly chewy interior.
Yes, you can use any flavor. Try classic vanilla, carrot cake, red velvet or lemon flavors for pancakes and waffles.
Expert Tips to Love This Recipe
- Don’t Overmix: Stir just until combined. Overmixing knocks out air and makes the waffles dense instead of fluffy.
- Let Rest 3–5 minutes: This gives the dry ingredients time to hydrate in the wet ingredients, which helps the waffles cook more evenly and prevents gummy centers.
- Grease the Waffle Iron Lightly: Cake mix has more sugar than waffle batter, so it browns faster and can stick. A quick spritz of nonstick cooking spray keeps the edges clean.
- Cook Until the Steam Slows Down: Steam is your best doneness indicator. When it tapers off, the waffle is set inside and crisp outside.
- Cool on a Wire Rack: Stacking traps steam and softens the edges. A cooling rack keeps them crisp and prevents sogginess.
- Fold in Mix-Ins: Chocolate chips, sprinkles, or berries should be added gently at the end so they don’t sink or streak the batter.
- Serve With: Serve with Air Fryer Hash Browns or Fruit Salsa.
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Cake Mix Chocolate Waffles
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Ingredients
- 13.25 ounces Chocolate Cake Mix, plus ingredients for the mix
Instructions
- Preheat waffle iron.
- Prepare the cake mix according to package directions.
- Once the iron is preheated, spray with cooking spray and portion out about ½ cup of cake batter into the iron (or whatever your iron calls for).
- Cook for 4 minutes or until waffle iron indicates that your waffle is done.
Christina’s Notes
- Red Velvet Cake Waffles: Use a box of red velvet cake mix to make waffles.
- Birthday Cake Waffles: For a fun birthday breakfast, use funfetti cake mix or just add rainbow sprinkles to white cake mix.
- Brunch Waffle Bar: Make a waffle bar for brunch. You can serve regular and chocolate waffles along with toppings such as maple syrup, whipped cream, cherries, sprinkles, chocolate chips, fresh berries, chocolate syrup, strawberries, peanut butter, caramel sauce, crushed Oreos, peanuts, a scoop of ice cream, etc, the list goes on and on, you can get creative with it.
- Mini Waffles: Use a mini waffle iron to make mini waffles that your kids will have so much fun eating. Using a mini iron will result in about 18-20 mini waffles.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.