Waffle Cake

Whether you’re looking to eat a cake disguised as breakfast or breakfast that tastes like dessert, you can’t go wrong with waffle cake. It’s a breakfast-dessert hybrid of crisp and fluffy rainbow sprinkle-flecked waffles with rich cream cheese frosting. Stack them together to make a waffle version of a layer cake or dollop frosting on individual waffles for a handheld sweet treat. It’s just the thing for a celebratory birthday morning breakfast. The best part? You can swap out the confetti cake mix for any other type of cake mix you like to customize this waffle cake in any flavor combination you can dream up.

Ingredients for Waffle Cake

• All-purpose flour: Versatile all-purpose flour in combination with cake mix acts as the base for this waffle cake. You can substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
• Confetti cake mix: Rainbow-flecked cake mix adds the signature sprinkles that helps these waffles look read as birthday cake.
• Cornstarch: Adding a little cornstarch to the batter helps lighten the texture of the waffles and helps them cook crisp and brown on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside.
• Baking powder: Baking powder acts as the leavening agent, creating air bubbles in the batter and making the waffles rise.
• Rainbow sprinkles (optional): Though the confetti cake mix does include some flecks of color, we like adding additional sprinkles for more of a colorful payoff.
• Eggs: Eggs contribute richness, leavening and structure as they help bind the waffle batter together.
• Milk: Milk is the primary liquid in the batter and also thins the cream cheese frosting into a soft texture. We call for 2% milk but any dairy or non-dairy milk will work.
• Plain Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds a tangy flavor and creamy texture to the waffle batter while also providing a boost of protein.
• Vanilla extract and almond extract: It’s the combination of these two popular extracts that gives these waffles that signature birthday cake flavor. You can substitute a birthday cake flavor extract instead, if you have it.
• Cream cheese frosting: To mimic the look look of a birthday cake we frost these rainbow waffles with a simple cream cheese frosting made of confectioners’ sugar whipped with softened butter and cream cheese. Use the included recipe or take a shortcut and buy readymade cream cheese frosting.

Directions 

Step 1: Mix the waffle batter

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Preheat the oven to 300°F. Combine all-purpose flour, confetti cake mix, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and rainbow sprinkles. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, yogurt and vanilla and almond extracts. Add yogurt mixture to the flour and mix until smooth.

Step 2: Cook the waffles

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Preheat waffle maker coated with cooking spray. Bake waffles according to manufacturer’s directions until golden brown. Transfer cooked waffles to oven until ready to serve.

Step 3: Make the cream cheese frosting

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For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter on high until light and fluffy, two to three minutes. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until smooth. Beat in the vanilla. Add enough milk to reach desired consistency. Spread over warm waffles. For a cakelike look, cut waffles into fourths and stack them; decorate with birthday candles.

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Waffle Cake Variations

• Make them mini: Use a mini waffle maker to cook the batter to make miniaturized, individual waffle cakes.
• Swap out the cake mix: Trade the confetti cake for another kind of cake mix to change up the flavor. This waffle cake recipe would be particularly tasty using lemon cake mix, strawberry cake mix, or spice cake mix instead.
• Make a chocolate version: Swap the rainbow sprinkles for chocolate ones and the confetti cake mix for a chocolate one to make a chocolate on chocolate waffle cake.

How to Store Waffle Cake

The best way to cake mix waffles is actually in the freezer. Once they’re cooked, let them cool completely on a wire rack, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil. Once they’re wrapped, you can stack them in an airtight container or freezer bag. This method helps to prevent freezer burn and keeps them fresh for several months. If you’re likely to use them up within a month or two, skip the step of wrapping them individually and stash them in a freezer bag. Store the cream cheese frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Allow it to come to room temperature and re-whip it as needed to make it spreadable again.

Can you freeze cake mix waffles?

Absolutely! Freeze them according to the storage instructions above.

How do you reheat cake waffles?

Reheat individual waffles in a toaster set on low for a fast breakfast. Lay several waffles out on a baking sheet in a single layer and warm them in a low oven to reheat.

Waffle Cake Tips

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What’s the best waffle maker? 

Our Test Kitchen put a bunch of different waffle irons through their paces looking for the ones that were easy and intuitive to use, adjustable, easy to clean and that made golden, fluffy waffles. They chose three favorites.

How long do cake waffles take to cook?

Since each waffle iron is different, we suggest cooking the batter according to the manufacturer’s directions. In general, you’ll pour a scoop of batter across the iron and close the lid to let it cook. A large waffle typically takes around five minutes to cook and the best way to tell if it’s done is to take a peek. The waffle should be nicely risen and golden.

What else can you serve with birthday cake waffles?

If cream cheese frosting is too sweet for your taste, dress up cake waffles more traditionally with just a pat of butter and a drizzle of maple syrup or treat yourself to a mountain of whipped cream or whipped topping.