Make Chocolate Waffles With Pancake Mix! [Tips + Recipe]
Although very similar, waffle and pancake mixes aren’t entirely the same. They contain the same ingredients, but the most significant difference is that waffles are fattier than pancakes. While pancakes are soft and smooth on the outside and fluffy on the inside, waffles are harder on the outside and soft on the inside. So, how can you make chocolate waffles with pancake mix?
You can make chocolate waffles with pancake mix, but you need to adjust the quantity of the ingredients. To get waffles, you can differentiate a pancake mix by a tablespoon of oil or butter or one or two eggs. Also, the waffles require more sugar in the mix than pancakes and, of course, cocoa powder to make them chocolate.
When I have two sets of guests arriving, the ones who prefer pancakes and those who prefer waffles, I find it very time-consuming to make two different batters. Also, it is cheaper to buy one mix for both purposes. Therefore, in the following text, I will share some of the hacks I’ve learned on making chocolate waffles with pancakes mix, how they differ, and what to put on chocolate waffles.
How to Make Chocolate Waffles With Pancake Mix?
While pancake mixes require adding milk, eggs, baking powder, and sugar to make waffles, the mix should be fattier. Since the surface of the waffles needs to be caramelized so that they get that crunchiness on the outside, waffle mixes need more sugar too.
To make chocolate waffles using a pancake mix, you should match the fattiness of the waffles with the pancake mix by adding some more ingredients. Adding cocoa powder is mandatory for chocolate waffles and covering them with melted chocolate after they are done.
Butter/Vegetable Oil
The waffle batter isn’t supposed to be as runny as the pancakes batter. Adding butter/vegetable oil will increase the fat content of the pancakes mix and contribute to the waffles’ soft and fluffy interior. Also, the butter will help you homogenize and thicken the entire batter.
Sugar
The outside of the waffles is supposed to be crunchy and caramelized. The only way you can achieve this is by adding enough sugar. The pancakes mix doesn’t contain as much sugar as the pancakes would be sticky, which they shouldn’t be, and they will be hard to flip.
On the other hand, the waffles’ surface needs to be harder and crunchier, which the added sugar will do.
Eggs
Separate the whites from the yolks and mix them separately. Add them to the pancake mix and mix until the mixture homogenizes. The eggs will bond perfectly with the butter and sugar and will significantly increase the fat content of the mix, making it the perfect waffle mix.
Milk
Adding full-fat milk or buttermilk will significantly alter the pancake mix and direct it toward the waffle side. The milk will also contribute to the waffles’ fluffy interior and make them creamier.
Cocoa
To make chocolate waffles, you naturally need to add cocoa powder to the batter. Because cocoa can be a bit bitter, add little by little. Start with a teaspoon and try the batter after each addition.
Order of Ingredients
It isn’t only essential to add the ingredients, but the order in which you add them plays a vital role in repurposing the pancake mix to waffle mix.
As I already mentioned, separate the whites from the yolks and mix them separately. Mix whites until they are foamy. Add the sugar to the yolks, and remix them in a bigger bowl.
Then add the dry pancake mix into the egg and sugar mixture. Sift the pancake mix and slowly pour into the eggs and sugar mixture while mixing with a mixer on medium speed.
Once the mixture homogenizes, add the melted butter/vegetable oil and the cocoa powder. Mix again with a mixer and add the milk/buttermilk while mixing.
In the end, use a wooden spoon and slowly stir in the foamy whites.
Jump to RecipeQuantity of Ingredients
Each pancake mix has the quantities of additional ingredients on the back of the box. See how much you need of each and add one or half more. If the box says eggs, you add one more. If it says a cup of milk, you add half.
The amount of butter/vegetable oil and sugar is less likely to be indicated; therefore, you need to play that by ear. Adjust the amount of sugar and butter/vegetable book according to your taste. The standard amount would be half a cup of butter/vegetable oil and half a cup of sugar, but again, feel free to adjust these quantities.
How Is Waffle Mix Different than Pancake Mix?
Waffle mix is fattier than pancakes mix, and it contains more sugar. Pancakes are supposed to be smooth on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and they also need to be more elastic than waffles, as you need to flip them.
On the other hand, the surface of the waffles needs to caramelize by the time they cook all the way through. That’s why they need more sugar because sugar caramelizes when cooked. Waffles also need more fat because their interior will burn until the sugar caramelizes if they are less fatty.
Therefore if you use unaltered pancakes mix to make waffles, they will turn out either burnt on the inside and hard on the outside or undercooked altogether.
What to Put on Chocolate Waffles?
The selection of ingredients with which to pair your chocolate waffles is vast. Try combining them with chocolate shavings on top of whipped cream. Pour melted chocolate on the waffles, and you have a chocolate bomb.
Strawberries, melted chocolate, and whipped cream are an excellent combination for chocolate waffles. Crushed nuts, almonds, and hazelnuts mixed with melted chocolate and orange are also an amazingly delicious idea.
Honey, orange slices, and dried fruit are excellent solutions if you are in the mood for something oriental and elegant.
Feel free to mix and match and experiment with other ingredients you like to enrich your tasty chocolate waffles.
Recipe for Chocolate Waffles Using Pancake Mix
Chocolate Waffles With Pancake Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup Boxed Pancake Mix
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1/4 cup Buttermilk
- 3 tbsp Melted Butter
- 1 Egg If you want to get an extra fluffy waffles, feel free to use two eggs.
- 2 tsp Cocoa Powder
- 1 tbsp Sugar
Instructions
- Separate egg yolk from egg white. Be careful to ensure there are no traces of egg yolk in egg white. Mix the whites using electric mixer until you get a firm, but fluffy texture.
- Add sugar to the egg yolk and mix them together in the bigger bowl.
- Sift the pancake mix into egg and sugar mixture. Mix them, then add melted butter and cocoa powder. Mix again, then add milk and buttermilk while mixing.
- Once the mixture homogenizes, use a wooden spoon to stir in the whites. Adding the whites slowly is crucial because it will ensure that your chocolate waffles stay foamy.
