Red Velvet Waffles are the fun, festive breakfast you make when regular waffles just won’t do. They have that classic red velvet vibe light chocolate flavor from cocoa, a tangy buttermilk base, and a bold red color that makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day, Christmas morning, or any weekend brunch that needs something special.
What I love about this recipe is that it’s still simple: you mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another, then fold them together and cook in your waffle iron. For toppings, you can keep it easy with maple syrup and whipped cream, or go full red-velvet-dessert mode with a quick cream cheese drizzle.
Ingredients (lists)
- 2 cups flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
- 1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
- Red food coloring (gel recommended)
Optional toppings (lists)
- Maple syrup
- Whipped cream
- Cream cheese frosting or cream cheese drizzle
Cream cheese drizzle (lists)
- 1/2 cup cream cheese (4 oz), room temperature
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Milk, a few tablespoons, added 1 tablespoon at a time until drizzle consistency
Instructions (lists)
- Grease your waffle iron and preheat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla, and vinegar until fully combined.
- Add red food coloring to the wet mixture until it’s slightly darker than the shade you want (it will lighten a bit after cooking).
- Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and fold until the batter is thoroughly combined.
- Cook waffles according to your waffle iron’s instructions; they’re usually done when they stop steaming.
- Serve warm with whipped cream, syrup, or a cream cheese drizzle.
Cream cheese drizzle instructions (lists)
- Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until the drizzle is as thin/thick as you like.
Tips for perfect color and texture
Use a good-quality red gel food coloring for the brightest color. Add the food coloring until the batter looks slightly darker than you want because the waffles lighten a bit as they cook.
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Red Velvet Waffles
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 waffles 1x
Description
Make a special breakfast with these homemade Red Velvet Waffles. They have a light cocoa flavor, tangy buttermilk, and a bold red color, and they’re perfect with whipped cream or an easy cream cheese drizzle.
Ingredients
Waffles
2 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
Red food coloring (gel recommended)
Optional Toppings
Maple syrup
Whipped cream
Cream cheese drizzle or cream cheese frosting
Cream Cheese Drizzle (optional)
1/2 cup cream cheese (4 oz), room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Milk, a few tablespoons (add 1 tablespoon at a time until drizzle consistency)
Instructions
1. Preheat the waffle iron and grease it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and vinegar until thoroughly combined.
4. Add red food coloring to the wet mixture until the batter is slightly darker than the shade you want, as the color will lighten a bit during cooking.
5. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and fold until thoroughly combined.
6. Cook the waffles according to your waffle iron instructions. In most cases, the waffles are done when they stop steaming.
7. Serve warm topped with maple syrup and whipped cream, or drizzle with cream cheese glaze.
8.
9. To make the cream cheese drizzle (optional): Beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches your preferred drizzle consistency.
Notes
Use a good-quality red gel food coloring for best color. Add the color until the batter looks slightly darker than you want because it will lighten after cooking.
Do not overmix the batter—fold just until combined for a lighter waffle texture.
Top with whipped cream for a simple option, or use the cream cheese drizzle for a classic red velvet flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Waffle Iron
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 waffle
