Chocolate Chip Waffles are crispy on the outside, tender and cake-like inside, with melty pools of chocolate throughout.

These waffles make the best breakfast, and BONUS: the batter can be prepared the night before!

Chocolate Chip Waffles Recipe on a platter.

Chocolate Chip Waffles

I like to make a fun breakfast for my family once a week, usually on the weekend. We often have French toast, crepes, or waffles, along with eggs, bacon, and breakfast potatoes.

It’s fun to mix things up with different flavors of waffles or pancakes. Lately, we’ve been enjoying blueberry pancakes and banana waffles on repeat. A few weekends ago, I added chocolate chips into the waffle batter, and now my kids now think chocolate for breakfast should happen every time! 

You Can Make Waffle Batter The Night Before (In Fact, It’s Even Better!)

Preparing a big breakfast can be stressful, especially if you need it ready early. That’s why I love making waffles. You can mix the batter the night before and simply pour it into the waffle maker in the morning. This is super convenient for busy mornings or holidays like Christmas or Easter!

Letting the waffle batter rest overnight not only makes the morning easier but also improves the texture and flavor of the waffles. The flour absorbs the liquid, resulting in softer, more cake-like waffles. Plus, as the batter rests, its flavor becomes richer, just like bread doughs that rest overnight.

All the ingredients in this recipe prepped out for easy assembly.

Ingredients

  • Flour: White, all-purpose flour makes the waffles light and fluffy.
  • Salt: Brings out the flavors of the other ingredients.
  • Baking Powder: Helps your waffles puff up. To test if it’s fresh, mix 2 teaspoons in hot water; if it bubbles, it’s good to use.
  • Cinnamon & Vanilla: Both are optional but add a nice, sweet flavor.
  • Whole Milk: Makes the waffles rich.
  • White Vinegar: When mixed with milk, it creates homemade buttermilk that makes the waffles tender.
  • Brown Sugar: Keeps the waffles moist and adds a touch of sweetness. Use soft brown sugar, not hard and clumpy.
  • Eggs: Binds everything together and help the waffles keep their shape.
  • Vegetable Oil: Keeps the waffles soft. Canola oil works well too.
  • Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and flavor, plus necessary fat. Ensure it’s cooled after melting.
  • Mini Chocolate Chips: Melt into small pools of chocolate in your waffles! Yum!

The dry and wet ingredients being whisked together for these chocolate chip waffles recipe.

How To Make Chocolate Chip Waffles

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Bring all ingredients to room temperature.
  2. Make Buttermilk: Combine milk and vinegar, and let it sit.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: Put all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients: Add eggs, vanilla, sugar, and oil to the dry mix. Stir just until combined.
  5. Add Butter: Slowly mix in the cooled, melted butter. Then fold in the chocolate chips.
  6. Cook Waffles: Heat the waffle iron, pour in the batter, and cook until golden.
  7. Serve: Serve hot with your favorite toppings. Some ideas are listed below.

How To Eat Chocolate Chip Waffles

  1. Syrup: Pour some pure maple syrup (or pancake syrup) over them.
  2. Homemade Sauce: Try this incredible buttermilk syrup or blueberry syrup on top.
  3. Whipped Cream: Add a spoonful of whipped cream on top.
  4. Fresh Fruit: Top with berries like strawberries or blueberries, or add banana slices.
  5. Nut Butter: Spread some peanut or almond butter. 
  6. Powdered Sugar: Sprinkle some powdered sugar over them.

The chocolate chips being whisked into the mixture and it being cooked.

Is There A Difference Between Waffle Batter And Pancake Batter?

Yes, there is a difference between waffle batter and pancake batter! Pancake batter shouldn’t be used to make waffles. Waffle batter often has more sugar, which makes it brown better. It also has more fat, which helps make the outside crispy.

Variations

Double Chocolate Chip Waffles: Use two types of chocolate, like semi-sweet and dark, for extra flavor. Or, try my double chocolate waffles found in this Waffle Cake recipe!

White Chocolate Chip Waffles: Swap the semi-sweet chips for white chocolate chips. You could even add in some dried cranberries and orange zest for an extra-tasty waffle.

The Chocolate Chip Waffles fresh our of the waffle maker with syrup.

How To Keep Waffles From Getting Soggy

  • Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
  • Set a cooling rack on a large sheet pan. As soon as you take a waffle out of the waffle iron, place it on the cooling rack in a single layer.
  • Keep the sheet pan in the oven until you’re ready to eat.

Storage

Freezing Chocolate Chip Waffles 

  • Let the waffles cool completely at room temperature (on a wire cooling rack).
  • Place them on a tray lined with parchment paper.
  • Freeze the tray for about 1-2 hours until the waffles are fully frozen.
  • Transfer the waffles to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat, pop them in a toaster.

A bite of the breakfast being taken out.

Top Two Chocolate Chip Waffle Tips

  1. Get a Good Waffle Maker: If you often make waffles or want to invest in one, here’s the exact waffle maker I use and can’t recommend enough. Quality waffle irons can be pricey, but they really make a difference in how your waffles turn out!
  2. Rest the Batter: For fluffier waffles, make the batter the night before and store it in the fridge. Stir gently and cook in a preheated waffle maker the next morning. Or, let it sit at room temperature for at least 10 mins (up to an hour) before cooking.

More Tasty Breakfast Recipes:

5 from 2 votes

Chocolate Chip Waffles

Chocolate Chip Waffles are crispy on the outside, tender and cake-like inside, with melty pools of chocolate throughout.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10 -12 waffles

Equipment

  • Waffle Iron

Ingredients 
 

Dry Ingredients

  • 2-1/4 cup white flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, optional

Wet Ingredients

  • 1-1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon plain white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons lightly packed brown sugar (or use white sugar)
  • 4 large eggs, at room temp
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup (8 tbsp) unsalted butter melted & cooled to room temp

Add Later/For Serving

  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping if desired
  • My favorite syrup -- see Note 1 (or use maple/pancake syrup)

Instructions 

  • PREP: Get all the wet ingredients to room temp before starting (see Note 2). Whisk together milk and vinegar; set aside for 5 minutes to slightly curdle (DIY buttermilk!)
  • DRY: Whisk together "dry ingredients" in a large bowl.
  • WET: Right on top, add all "wet ingredients" except the butter. Whisk until combined. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the melted butter. Whisk until smooth. Don't over-mix. Gently stir in chocolate chips. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes if possible (fluffier waffles).
  • COOK: Preheat your nonstick waffle maker according to the model's instructions. Once heated, add 1/3 cup of batter per cavity. Cook until each waffle is nicely crisped on both sides and cooked through in the center.
  • ENJOY: Keep cooked waffles warm in the oven while finishing the batch (Note 3), or serve immediately with your choice of toppings.
  • MAKE AHEAD WAFFLES: Waffles turn out best when batter rests for a while. I like to make the batter the night before and then cook it the next morning! To do this: cover the batter tightly and store it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, give it a quick stir and cook it in a preheated waffle maker. It's great having the batter ready to go for breakfast, and the waffles taste even better!

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: My Fave Syrup: Combine 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and a pinch of salt in a medium-sized pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter melts and syrup slightly thickens (5-8 mins). Remove from heat, stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.
Note 2: Make sure all wet ingredients are the same temperature or batter will get clumpy (warm butter will harden when hitting cold ingredients). Here's how I do that: Melt the butter and set aside to cool to room temp. Warm the milk slightly in the microwave or let it reach room temp naturally. Run un-cracked eggs under warm water to bring them to room temp.ย 
Note 3: To keep waffles crisp, place them on a cooling rack set over a large pan. Put the pan in a 200ยฐF oven to keep waffles warm as you continue cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 19.1g | Protein: 5.6g | Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 41.7mg | Sodium: 158.1mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 6.9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hi there! Iโ€™m Chelseaโ€“the recipe developer, photographer, writer, and taste tester behind Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron (although my little ones help me out quite a bit with the taste testing part!). I LOVE getting creative in the kitchen and then posting my creations here for you to enjoy.

Thanks again for stopping by!

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5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. Briana says:

    Hi Chelsea, I am excited to make these tomorrow! Have you tried freezing and reheating leftovers?

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Yes! I let them cool completely on a wire cooling rack then freeze on a lined sheet pan until solid (1 hour) then transfer to an airtight container/bag. I pop them straight from freezer into a toaster!

      1. Briana says:

        5 stars
        Thanks, Chelsea! The waffles were great! Very dessert-like and decadent. I found out after making them that my husband prefers his without chocolate chips (what?!) so next time I will do half with and half without!

        1. Chelsea says:

          I am so happy to hear this! Thanks so much for your comment Briana! ๐Ÿ™‚