Chocolate Waffles

One thing I really love about this recipe is that it works great for breakfast and as a dessert. It is so yummy and chocolatey that it tastes great as is or decked out with any number of different toppings. They also freeze great and all you have to do is pop them in the toaster to re-heat. As with most baking, starting with room temperature items helps ingredients blend easier when mixing.

2 cups AP flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 eggs (separated)

2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup oil (avocado, canola or olive)

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate

Start by melting your chocolate in the microwave, 30 seconds at a time, stirring until smooth, then set aside to let cool. In a large bowl, whisk all the dry ingredients together. Make a well in the center and mix in the egg yolks, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Incorporate the dry ingredients until just combined. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until they form soft peaks then fold into other mixture. Lastly, fold in the melted chocolate. Lightly oil your waffle maker and cook as directed. You can make the batter ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready. There are tones of choices for toppings but here are a few of my favorite: maple syrup, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, caramel sauce, berries & chopped nuts. You can stack the waffles with whipped cream and berries in between each layer, then drizzle with chocolate sauce for a delicious and elegant breakfast or dessert. Enjoy!