"What do I need to make a Waffle Cake?"
- For starters - a waffle iron! Granted, this will generate a bit of heat, but NOTHING close to the level of an oven. You'll see my Belgian waffle maker in the video. I love this waffle maker and it's the only one I use regularly. But I've seen photos and videos of waffle cakes made with waffles of all shapes, styles, and sizes!
- I opted for cake mixes to keep this recipe super simple. This also means that you could flavor this cake however you'd like! Chocolate, vanilla, yellow cake, banana, red velvet - your options are endless!
- That said, you can definitely sub in whatever recipe you'd like if you prefer! Real Belgian waffles are more time-intensive than cake mix waffles, but they're also a little more structurally sound. Plus they're delicious!
- Also - feel free to try out other fillings / toppings if you'd like! One of these days I'm also going to try out assembling a waffle cake with stabilized whipped cream. (That stuff is one of my favorite things on the planet.) Until then, my favorite cream cheese buttercream recipe is below!
One more quick recipe note!
I learned pretty quickly that that without full waffles the cake de-stabilizes after a few layers. You might have to experiment with your iron a bit to fill it without overflowing it. But it'll be worth it when your cake's easy to stack!
Happy baking-without-baking!
Recipe below!
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Chocolate Waffle Cake
Waffle cakes are easy to make - and don't require an oven! This Chocolate Waffle Cake is a no-bake recipe; perfect for hot weather!
Equipment
- Waffle maker (I love our Hamilton Beach waffle maker - removable plates make cleanup super easy!)
- small piping bag + tip (I recommend a piping bag, but the piping tip is optional)
- Cake turntable (optional, but makes assembly much faster and easier)
- 8 inch cardboard cake circle (optional, but makes assembly much faster and easier)
- Sifter / sieve (optional; I used this to sprinkle cocoa powder over the top)
Ingredients
Chocolate Waffle Cake layers
- 1 Chocolate boxed cake mix
- ½ cup unsalted butter (or 1 stick melted & cooled)
- 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature )
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
- 6 ounces cream cheese (Âľ package; softened)
- ¾ cup butter (1 ½ sticks, softened)
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 Tablespoon clear vanilla extract
- ÂĽ teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)
Decorations
- 1-2 cups chocolate chips (more or less to your preference)
- Cocoa powder (for dusting)
Instructions
Chocolate Waffle Cake layers
- Melt butter and whisk in buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk in cake mix for 2-3 minutes until well combined.
- Measure about 1 cup of batter into your waffle maker – I found about one cup filled the waffle maker completely without overflowing too badly, and I had enough batter for 4 waffles. I recommend filling the waffle maker fully so your waffles are even and stacking them is easier.
- Once all your waffles are cooked, let them cool to room temperature before stacking/decorating – I found putting them in the fridge to cool actually made them more brittle and prone to cracking, so I don’t recommend it. :/
- While you’re waiting, make your filling/frosting!
Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting:
- Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add vanilla and salt if needed and beat until well combined.
Assembly
- Once your waffles are cool, you’re ready to decorate! Use some frosting to stick the waffle to your cake circle, and center your first waffle on the circle. I found filling the waffle easiest with my piping bag, but you could use an offset spatula to fill the center and just pipe around the outside – up to you! Sprinkle some chocolate chips over the frosting, and add your next waffle on top.
- Repeat the process with your remaining waffles!
Decorating
- I piped the top waffle to make the top look more decorative, and added a generous sprinkle of chocolate chips and a dusting of cocoa powder.
- And you’re done! Cut in and enjoy – your cake and your cool house!
Video
Notes
(Please note nutrition information is an estimate and may not be exactly accurate. Counts will be lower in all fields if the entire batch of frosting is not used.)Â
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice (1/12th cake)Calories: 710kcalCarbohydrates: 101gProtein: 8gFat: 33g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Mentioned in post: Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
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How long do you let the batter go in the
waffle iron?
It depends; my waffle iron has a green indicator light that turns on when the waffle is done, and I usually let it go about a minute past that (usually about 6-7 minutes total in my Belgian waffle iron). I like them on the crisper side for waffle cakes since I need them to hold some structure like cake layers would.