Easy Chocolate Belgian Waffles

The Funny Story Behind Belgian Waffles’ Name

The first American appearance of Belgian waffles dates back to the mid-1960s when the World’s Fair was being hosted in Queens, New York.

Back then, a Belgian native from the city of Brussels, Maurice Vermersch, set up a stall and started serving these delicacies. It was so popular to the extent that they had to hire 10 people just to slice strawberries to be used as toppings!

Maurice and his family initially named these treats Brussels waffles, giving the nod to their city of origin. However, since most Americans didn’t know where the city of Brussels was on the map, they eventually went with calling these sugary goodness treats Belgian waffles instead.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Chocolatey, fluffy, and sweet. Those are my favorite aspects of making and eating Belgian chocolate waffles. But heads up, there’s so much more to love about this recipe! 

• It’s super convenient. As this recipe calls for a boxed cake mix, it’s perfect for busy mornings when you don’t have time to measure tons of ingredients to make the waffle batter. 
• You can use versatile toppings. These waffles serve as a delicious canvas for a wide variety of toppings. Chocolate chips, whipped cream, maple syrup, and of course, berries are all great on top of these chocolate waffles.
• It’s a mom-approved family-friendly food. With five children around, I know how challenging it can be to find food that kids will actually enjoy. Luckily, these Belgian waffles are always kid-pleasers, so you don’t need to cook a separate meal for your little ones. 

If you love breakfast ideas that incorporate ready-to-use batter mixes, don’t forget to try making giant instant pot pancakes.

🥘 Ingredients

This recipe truly emphasizes its “easy” aspect, as you’ll only need a handful of ingredients to make it. 

• Boxed chocolate cake mix: Any brand will do, but double-check the expiration date on the box to ensure that your batter will be safe to eat and will produce fluffy waffles. 
• The ingredients listed on your cake mix box: For many cake mix boxes, you’ll only need to add wet ingredients, such as water, oil or melted butter, and an egg. However, be sure to read your manufacturer’s instructions, as they may require additional ingredients.
• Toppings of choice: When it comes to waffle toppings, you do you. I personally love adding whip cream, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, and a little bit of cocoa powder to this specific recipe. 

See recipe card for quantities.

🔀 Substitutions

A box of chocolate cake mix: If you don’t have one on hand, you can always make your chocolate cake batter from scratch.

Egg: If your cake mix calls for eggs, but you prefer an egg-free version, you can substitute 1 egg with half of a very ripe banana.

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

Breakfast always tastes better when you serve it with a twist. Here are some of the best variations you can try to make these chocolate Belgian waffles more enjoyable. 

• Enhance the batter: There are plenty of ways to enhance the batter of this Belgian waffle recipe. You can swirl some peanut butter into the batter while it’s in the waffle iron or add chocolate chips for an extra chocolaty treat. 
• Add a caffeine kick: If you love coffee, you can enhance the flavor of this breakfast by adding instant coffee or espresso powder for that extra energy boost.

Anytime you want a less-filling but equally flavorful treat for breakfast, you can also craft up some chocolate crepes instead.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

Prepare these tools, and you’ll be one step away from having these delicious waffles ready to eat. 

• Belgian waffle iron: Belgian waffle irons are known for their deep pockets and for creating thick waffles. However, if you don’t have a Belgian waffle maker at home, you can simply use a traditional non-stick waffle iron. 
• Cooking spray or barbeque brush: These tools make it super easy to grease your waffle iron evenly, helping you achieve that golden-brown waffle exterior. 
• Oven mitts: Waffles can sometimes be tricky to remove from your waffle iron. In such instances, using oven mitts or heat-resistant gloves to hold down your waffle iron while you remove the waffles makes the process so much easier.

🔪 How to Make Easy Chocolate Belgian Waffles

It’s time for the main event! Just follow the instructions below, and you’ll have these crunchy on the outside, yet soft on the inside, chocolaty treats in no time.

Step 1: Preheat waffle iron 

Every waffle maker is different. So, read your tool’s instruction manual to learn how to preheat it properly. 

Step 2: Prepare the cake mix batter 

Read the instructions on your cake mix box to make your batter. You should add the specified ingredients, but don’t be afraid of adding small variations to make your waffles taste even better. 

Step 3: Spray waffle iron with oil 

Any neutral oil, such as vegetable oil and coconut oil, will work. 

If you don’t have an oil sprayer, you can use a brush to grease the iron instead. Just make sure to apply the oil evenly so your waffles will have that uniform golden-brown exterior. 

Step 4: Pour batter into the iron 

Refer back to your waffle maker’s instruction manual to know the ideal amount of batter to add.

If your batter leaks out, simply reduce the amount on your next couple of tries until your waffle achieves the desired shape, thickness, and consistency.

Step 5: Remove waffles when cooked 

Personally, it takes my waffle maker approximately 4 minutes to cook the batter. For yours, however, that might be too long or too short, so you should adjust your cooking time according to the instructions provided with your specific iron. 

Step 6: Add your desired toppings 

Of course, you could handle the toppings yourself. But if you want a fun family activity, consider setting up a topping buffet at the table and let each person decide which toppings they want to add.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Serve these waffles with a delicious mocha frappuccino or Mexican hot chocolate for the ultimate breakfast combo filled with chocolate flavor.

👩‍🍳 Pro Tips

• Preheat the waffle iron: Ensure your waffle maker is hot enough before adding your batter to ensure that your waffles come out crispy.
• Don’t overmix the batter: Overmixing will prevent your waffles from achieving that fluffy texture. Use a spatula or spoon to fold your batter, and always use a gentle motion. 
• Keep waffles warm: As you cook the remaining batter, keep your cooked waffles warm by placing them on a wire rack inside a preheated oven set to 200°F (93°C) (for a maximum of 20 mins). Doing so ensures that all your waffles will remain warm and crispy when served.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chocolate Belgian Waffles: