Chocolate Belgian Waffles

Hands-on: 30 to 40 min | Yield: eight 7 to 8 inch round or heart-shaped waffles

Ingredients

Starter

• 1/2 cup lukewarm milk
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1/4 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Batter

• 1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1/4 cup Hi-maize Fiber or King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour*
• 1/2 cup Double-Dutch Dark Cocoa or Dutch-process cocoa
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup (4 ounces) semisweet chocolate mini chips or coarsely chopped chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup pearl sugar* (optional)

Instructions

1. Stir together the starter ingredients, and let rest, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
2. Combine the flour, Hi-maize, cocoa, espresso powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
3. When the starter is ready, mix in the eggs, melted butter and vanilla extract, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
4. Add the dry ingredients, chocolate chips, and pearl sugar, mixing to combine.
5. Let the batter rest, covered, for 60 minutes.
6. Heat the waffle iron to the setting of your choice during the final few minutes of the batter's resting time.
7. Stir down the batter, then scoop a heaping 1/4 cup onto the hot waffle iron. Close the lid and cook until the waffle's done; irons vary, so we can't give a specific time here.
8. Transfer the finished waffle to a ready plate, and serve with whipped cream and chocolate sauce, if desired.

Notes

* Using flour instead of Hi-maize and omitting the pearl sugar will yield a less-crisp waffle.

Tip from our bakers: Instead of making and serving waffles one by one, make a full batch, and keep them warm in a preheated 200 degrees F oven until you're ready to serve.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: King Arthur Flour