Easy Cake Mix Waffles
This easy cake mix waffles recipe is perfect for any special occasion. But I really like to make them for birthday celebrations. If you make them with Funfetti cake mix and vanilla, they taste just like birthday cake! (And who doesn’t want cake for breakfast on their birthday?)
Deliciously sweet and fluffy on the inside, these crispy waffles will satisfy anyone looking to have a breakfast or brunch celebration.
Cake mix waffles are a little sweeter than a traditional waffle recipe which makes them perfect for special occasions.
Even better? Because they’re made with cake mix, they’re so easy to make and they always turn out.
To make the waffles a little extra special, top them with whipped cream, ice cream, colorful sprinkles, fresh fruit, syrup, or compote.
I used Funfetti cake mix for this recipe. But if Funfetti isn’t your thing, you can make this recipe with any type of cake mix. Lemon, red velvet, strawberry–-there are so many options. Go with your favorite!
Ingredients
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Here is your shopping list:
- Cake Mix – 1 15.25-ounce box of cake mix. I used funfetti cake mix, but you can use the flavor of your choice.
- Eggs – 3 eggs
- Oil – ⅓ cup of vegetable oil
- Flavoring – 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Toppings – whipped cream, ice cream, sprinkles, syrup and/or strawberries
Substitutions
- For a slightly different flavor, substitute another flavoring option for the vanilla. Lemon or orange extract with white cake mix makes a summery waffle. Peppermint extract will add a Christmas flavor to either white or chocolate cake mix. Pumpkin flavoring creates a fall version of white cake mix waffles.
How to make waffles with cake mix
Prep work
Spray the waffle iron with nonstick spray if it is not already nonstick.
Preheat the waffle iron so it is hot enough for the batter. Many have a light that turns on when they are ready.
Mix the batter
In a mixing bowl, add the cake mix, three eggs, one cup of water, ⅓ cup of oil, and one teaspoon of vanilla.
Mix the cake mix just until combined. This helps to prevent the waffles from coming out heavy.
Cook the waffles
Pour about 1/2 cup of the waffle batter into the center of the preheated waffle iron. The exact amount will depend on the size of your waffle maker.
Try not to get the waffle mix too close to the edges or it will leak out that sides.
Close the lid and bake for six minutes or until the light turns green.
You may need to cook them a little longer than other waffles to get them crispy.
Remove the waffle from the waffle iron and keep them warm in the oven until ready to serve.
To prevent them from getting soggy, I put them in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Serve hot with ice cream, whipped cream, syrup, sprinkles, or fresh berries.
Serving waffles for a crowd
My favorite way to serve waffles for a crowd is to create a make-your-own waffle bar.
This way you get out of the work of actually making the waffles. And your guests can customize them the way they want.
It is always a big hit at my brunches.
To set up the DIY waffle bar:
- Mix up a couple of batches of the waffle mix
- Put it out on a table in a big bowl, along with a half cup measuring spoon and a waffle iron (or two). This needs to be close to an electrical outlet so you can plug it in.
- Then layout all of the toppings in small bowls with spoons.
- Put up a “how to make waffles” sign, just in case people aren’t sure how to do it.
This works best for a buffet lunch since the waffles won’t all be ready at the same time.
If you’re serving a sit down breakfast or brunch, you can make a batch of waffles a little ahead of time. Then keep them on low heat in a single layer on a baking sheet in the oven until you’re ready to serve.
Or make them a few days ahead of time and freeze them. Then you can re-heat them all in the oven just before serving.
FAQs
How do you make waffles crispy?
If you want your waffles crispy, then you will need to make sure the waffle iron is hot prior to adding the batter to the iron. Because of the cake mix in this recipe, you may also have to cook them a little longer than usual.
Can cake mix waffles be frozen?
Yes. Simply make the waffles as directed. Let them cool completely, then freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag. To reheat,
heat them in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Or pop them in the toaster on the frozen waffle setting (if there is one).
Other brunch recipes you will enjoy
Easy Cake Mix Waffles
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 oz cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Optional toppings: Ice cream, whipped cream, syrup, sprinkles and fresh berries
Equipment
- Non stick spray (optional)
- mixer and mixing bowl
- measuring cups and spoons
- Waffle maker
Instructions
- If the waffle maker does not have a non stick coating, spray it with non-stick spray.
- Heat the waffle maker.
- In a mixing bowl, add the cake mix, 3 eggs, 1 cup water, 1/3 cup oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- Mix until fully incorporated.
- Pour about 1/2 cup of the cake mixture into the center of the hot waffle iron.
- Close the lid and bake for 6 minutes or until the light turns green.
- Remove the waffle from the waffle iron and keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.
- Serve hot with toppings.
Notes
- The exact amount of cake mix to use per waffle will depend on the size of your waffle maker. Read the manual for your machine to find out more.
- The waffles may have to cook a little longer than usual to make them crispy.
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Have comments or questions about our easy cake mix waffles recipe? Tell us in the section below.
This post was originally published on August 15, 2021 but was updated with new content on March 30, 2024.