Breakfast doesn’t have to be healthy or delicious, you can have both! These hot chocolate protein waffles give you 12 grams of protein per waffle and are such a chocolaty treat to enjoy with the whole family. As a bonus, they’re gluten-free too!
Thank you to Chino Valley Ranchers for sponsoring this post and providing the eggs for this recipe!
Easy Healthy Hot Chocolate Protein Waffles Recipe
My kids and I went crazy for these waffles! They are delicious as is, but super fun and festive with the chocolate protein drizzle, mini marshmallows, and crushed candy canes!
It was one of the tastiest breakfasts I’ve had, while also giving an ample amount of protein for fuel and nourishment.
I’m so happy to partner with Chino Valley Ranchers to feature their Pasture Raised Liquid Whole Eggs in this recipe! The liquid whole eggs helped me make these waffles even quicker!
Between the eggs, cottage cheese, and protein powder, each waffle gives you 12 grams of protein. That’s a lot for 1 waffle! Enjoy 2-3 and you’re set with a filling breakfast that will keep you full for longer than your average waffle.
Why you’ll love this easy breakfast recipe
Sweet & Delicious – With the sweetened chocolate protein powder and the hot cocoa mix in the batter, you’re getting a good dose of chocolate goodness. Chocolate lover approved!
High Protein and Filling – I build my breakfasts around protein and these waffles make it easy to hit my goals! Personally, 20-30 grams of protein will keep me fuller longer, and I easily hit that goal with 2-3 waffles.
Meal Prep Friendly – You can prep the waffles in advance to make breakfast time super quick and easy. Once cooked and stored, a quick crisp in the toaster, air fryer, toaster oven, or oven warms them up and makes them fresh again!
Simple ingredients you’ll need for high protein hot chocolate waffles
Scroll down to view the full recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.
- Pasture Raised Liquid Whole Eggs
- cottage cheese
- non-dairy milk
- coconut oil
- peppermint extract
- rolled oats
- chocolate protein powder
- hot cocoa mix
- baking powder
How to make chocolate protein powder waffles
Step 1: In a blender add the liquid whole eggs, cottage cheese, milk, oil, peppermint extract, oats, protein powder, hot cocoa mix, and baking powder. Blend until the dry ingredients are fully mixed and blended into the wet ingredients.
Step 2: Preheat your waffle iron. When heated and ready to use, brush a little oil on the waffle grids and pour batter – use about ⅓-½ cup for regular waffles depending on your particular waffle maker. Close the lid and allow the waffles to cook for 5-6 minutes, or until the waffles are golden brown and crispy. Remove the cooked waffles and place them on a wire rack. Repeat with any remaining waffle batter.
Step 3: To make the optional protein drizzle, whisk together the melted coconut oil and protein powder.
Step 4: Serve waffles with your favorite toppings, or try the chocolate protein drizzle, mini marshmallow, chocolate chips, and crushed candy canes for a tasty festive holiday breakfast!
PS – These healthy protein waffles can also be cooked in a mini waffle maker for cute mini waffles!
Watch me make gluten-free chocolate waffles
The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!
How to store
Once your delectable protein chocolate waffles are done cooking, leftover waffles can easily be stored.
First, cool them to room temperature. Next, add to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze these waffles! Place the cooled waffles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (without stacking) and freeze them until frozen solid
Once the waffles are fully frozen, you can stack them in freezer bags, label them with the name and date you froze them, and store them for up to 6 months.
When you want a protein-packed chocolate waffle, remove it from the freezer, pop it in the toaster to rewarm, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Serve these waffles as part of your holiday table! Here are some favorite recipes we like to pair with this delicious breakfast when serving up a delicious, nourishing morning feast. Fresh fruit is always a great go-to option!
- Country breakfast sausage
- Easy blender green juice
- Almond flour pumpkin muffins
- Smoked salmon breakfast casserole
- Chai hot chocolate
Substitutions
Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this hot cocoa chocolate waffle recipe.
If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!
Eggs – An egg replacer like chia eggs or flax egg will not work very well in this recipe with it being gluten-free. Using 4 whole eggs or the liquid whole eggs in the recipe is a must.
Cottage cheese – While not quite as high in protein, ricotta cheese is a good alternative texture-wise for cottage cheese. Greek yogurt should work too!
Non-dairy milk – Use your favorite type of milk in this waffle recipe. Regular milk and dairy-free options like almond milk, hemp, oat, and cashew milk will work.
Coconut oil – Avocado oil is a great replacement for coconut oil, as is melted butter or ghee.
Peppermint extract – You can swap in vanilla or almond extract for the peppermint.
Rolled oats – Oat flour, quick oats, or old-fashioned oatmeal will all work in this recipe! You can also make these with whole wheat flour or your favorite gluten free flour mix.
Chocolate protein powder – You can swap in your favorite flavor of protein powder – vanilla protein powder or peanut butter or another festive flavor like pumpkin spice will work! Just know the flavor you opt to use will adjust the resulting flavor you get. Vegan protein powder will work great in this recipe to give you a nice protein boost!
Hot cocoa mix – Don’t have hot chocolate mix on hand? No worries! Use 2 tbsp cocoa powder and 2 tbsp cane sugar in place of the ¼ cup cocoa mix.
More healthy waffle recipes you’ll love
Healthy Hot Chocolate Protein Waffles Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup + 1 T Pasture Raised Liquid Whole Eggs
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 tbsp coconut oil melted
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 1.5 cups rolled oats
- 2 scoops chocolate protein powder
- ¼ cup hot cocoa mix
- 1 tsp baking powder
Optional toppings
- 2 tbsp coconut oil melted
- 1 tbsp chocolate protein powder
- mini marshmallows
- crushed candy canes
Instructions
- In a blender add the liquid whole eggs, cottage cheese, milk, oil, peppermint extract, oats, protein powder, hot cocoa mix, and baking powder. Blend until the dry ingredients are fully mixed and blended into the wet ingredients.
- Preheat your waffle iron. When heated and ready to use, brush a little oil on the waffle grids and pour batter – use about ⅓-½ cup for regular waffles depending on your particular waffle maker. Close the lid and allow the waffles to cook for 5-6 minutes, or until the waffles are golden brown and crispy. Remove the cooked waffles and place them on a wire rack. Repeat with any remaining waffle batter.
- To make the optional protein drizzle, whisk together the melted coconut oil and protein powder.
- Serve waffles with your favorite toppings, or try the chocolate protein drizzle, mini marshmallow, chocolate chips, and crushed candy canes for a tasty festive holiday breakfast!
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this dark chocolate protein waffles recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!
XO
Heather
4 comments
yum!! So delicious. I’m always looking for healthy, easy, and filling recipes to keep breakfast fresh. My husband doesn’t even like cottage cheese but he ate and enjoyed these waffles! Thank you!
That’s huge! Glad the hubs like it and you got to sneak in some extra protein at breakfast!
So chocolatey, you wouldn’t know they were good for you! I also love that you can make them ahead and freeze for easy breakfast on the go. Thanks so much for sharing!
I love to make and freeze them too! So glad you enjoyed the recipe Ashley 🙂