Indulge Guilt-Free with This Irresistible Keto Chocolate Chaffle Recipe!

For those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet, finding satisfying sweet treats can sometimes be a challenge. Enter the chocolate chaffle, a keto-friendly waffle that offers a delightful solution to chocolate cravings without derailing dietary goals. This article explores the world of keto chocolate chaffles, providing a comprehensive guide to making, storing, and enjoying this versatile treat.

What is a Chaffle?

A chaffle is essentially a waffle made primarily from cheese and egg. It's a remarkably adaptable recipe, and by adding low-carb flours like almond flour or coconut flour, along with other ingredients, the batter becomes fluffy and incredibly versatile. The basic keto chaffle recipe consists of shredded mozzarella cheese and egg. This mozzarella dough is also known as Fathead dough. Chaffles are popular among those following a low-carb keto diet because, like fathead dough, they are high in fat and very low in carbs.

Why Chocolate Chaffles?

Chocolate chaffles are the ideal breakfast when you want something sweet or the perfect dessert when you have a chocolate craving but don’t want to mess with the hassle of making a keto dessert with lots of steps and ingredients. These chocolate waffles are the solution to your chocolate cravings. They will satisfy your sweet tooth, while keeping it keto.

These sweet chaffles rock! They were approved by my chocolate loving son, Isaac.

Key Ingredients for Keto Chocolate Chaffles

Base Ingredients:

Cheese: While traditional chaffles often use mozzarella, chocolate chaffles benefit from using cream cheese or ricotta cheese instead. That way they don’t taste like sweet chocolatey cheese. Avoid using white soft mozzarella for salads, as it's too watery. You could replace half of the mozzarella with cream cheese.
Egg: This binds the ingredients together.
Low-Carb Flour: Almond flour is a popular choice for adding substance to the waffle. You can use coconut flour instead.

Chocolate Flavor and Sweetness:

Cocoa Powder: 100% unsweetened cocoa powder is recommended for a rich chocolate flavor without added sugar.
Sweetener: Monk fruit, erythritol, or stevia can be used to sweeten the chaffle. Adjust the quantity to match your preferred sweetness level. Swerve powdered sugar, which contains zero calories and zero net carbs, is also a great option.

Optional Additions:

Baking Powder: A touch of baking powder helps to give volume to these chaffles.
Vanilla Extract: Check that it is sugar free.
Sugar free chocolate chips: Scatter them over the waffle while it's still warm.

Equipment Needed

Waffle Maker: Chaffles require a waffle maker. A popular waffle maker is the mini waffle iron by Dash. The mini maker produces the perfect size chaffle. It is incredibly easy to use and to clean. Dash makes a variety of mini waffle makers. The regular Dash mini maker has waffle grates on both the top and bottom. Larger models of waffle makers can be used to make chaffles as well. You can use a regular size waffle maker if you’d like. The batter for this recipe will make 1 regular size chaffle. You can also divide the batter in half to make two chaffles.
Mixing Bowl: For combining ingredients.
Stick Blender or Immersion Blender (Optional): Using a stick blender or immersion blender makes all the difference for a fluffy chaffle batter. A regular food processor is too large, unless you double the recipe.
Silicone Spatula: If desired, use a silicone spatula to spread the batter to the edges of the waffle maker for a nice, clean edge. This is just for looks.
Wire Rack: For cooling the chaffles.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here's a general recipe that can be adapted to your specific ingredients and preferences:

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Prepare the Waffle Maker: Plug in your mini waffle maker to heat. Brush with a little oil to prevent sticking.
Combine Ingredients: In a small mixing bowl, add egg and beat lightly. Set aside. In a small bowl, place almond flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and baking powder. Stir to combine. Add dry mixture to egg. Stir to combine ingredients. Add shredded cheese and stir until all ingredients are combined.
Cook the Chaffle: When waffle maker is hot, spray top and bottom surfaces with avocado oil. Pour chaffle mixture into the center of the waffle iron. The chaffle batter needs to be poured in the center of the waffle iron. You don’t need to spread out the waffle batter. Don't over-fill the waffle maker! Add ½ of the chaffle batter to waffle maker. Close cover and heat for 3-4 minutes or until browned. The batter for this recipe will make 1 regular size chaffle. You can also divide the batter in half to make two chaffles. Cook for about 3 minutes. When the steam stops escaping from the sides of the waffle maker, it's done! It takes about 4 minutes in the Dash waffle maker. You can check at about 3 minutes without causing any harm.
Cool and Serve: Remove chaffle and set aside. Open the lid and allow the Chaffle to cool in the waffle iron for about 15 seconds. You'll then be able to lift it out with a fork without bending. Place on a wire rack to fully cool. After removing them, they will continue to crisp and firm for a few minutes. I love my keto waffles and these low carb waffles.

Tips for the Perfect Chocolate Chaffle

Don't Overfill: Avoid overfilling the waffle maker to prevent batter from spilling.
Cooling is Key: Allow the chaffle to cool on a wire rack to achieve maximum crispiness.
Experiment with Sweeteners: Adjust the amount and type of sweetener to suit your taste preferences.
Use an Immersion Blender: Blitz with an immersion hand blender until smooth.
Consider Toppings: These chaffles are awesome all by themselves. They make for a great breakfast, snack, or dessert option. I topped mine with some keto whipped cream and some keto chocolate chips. It is so amazingly easy to make your own keto whipped cream. If you have time, chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer 15-20 minutes prior to use. Then, in your chilled bowl, combine 1 cup of heavy whipping cream with 2 tablespoons of keto powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Beat with your electric mixer until stiff peaks form. This will take between 3-5 minutes. I used Lily’s chocolate chips to top my chaffles. You can use any keto chocolate chips you’d like! Chocolate drizzle: Place ¼ cup (40g) sugar free chocolate chips or 90 dark chocolate such as Lindt together with ½ cup coconut oil in a bain-marie. Sugar free chocolate chips: Scatter them over the waffle while it's still warm. For a great dessert sandwich, you can make a frosting of 2 TB cream cheese, 2 TB Swerve confectioners, and 1/4 tsp vanilla extract and spread it between two of these chaffles.

Variations and Substitutions

Nut-Free Chaffle: To make the recipe nut free, replace the almond flour with 3 teaspoons coconut flour. Another option would be 3 tablespoons sunflower seed flour.
Dairy-Free Chaffle: Use a dairy free / vegan mozzarella.
Vanilla Chaffle: To make a regular chaffle, simply omit the cocoa powder.
Different Sweeteners: Absolutely! You can substitute monk fruit with erythritol or stevia, but be sure to adjust the quantity to match the sweetness level you prefer.
Almond Flour Substitute: If you're looking for a nut-free option, you can use coconut flour, but remember to use only 1 tablespoon since coconut flour is more absorbent.

Storing and Reheating Chocolate Chaffles

Chaffles can be meal prepped ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Chaffle storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Freezing: To freeze chocolate chaffles, let them cool first. Then flash freeze each chaffle on a plate or pan in the freezer for 30 minutes. Chaffles may be frozen in an airtight storage container for up to 3 months.
Reheating: If frozen, allow to thaw overnight. Then reheat in a toaster oven, toaster, or air fryer. Reheat - Reheat in a toaster oven, toaster, or air fryer. Defrost overnight, then re-heat in the waffle maker or in the toaster.

Common Questions About Chaffles

Do chaffles taste of cheese? No, chaffles do not taste cheesy. Grated mozzarella has a neutral taste. And once you mix the mozzarella with other ingredients, it is impossible to detect a cheese flavour. The great thing about the cheese is that it makes the waffles very crispy on the outside, whilst the inside stays soft.
Is it necessary to spray the waffle iron with oil? There is no need to grease the waffle iron before cooking chaffles. Fat from the cheese provides enough grease to keep the chaffle from sticking to the waffle iron.
Can I use a regular waffle maker? No. Regular waffle makers are too large for chaffles.

Recipe Example

Yields: 2 chafflesPrep time: 5 minutesCook time: 4 minutes

Ingredients:

1 Egg
2 Tablespoons ricotta cheese or softened cream cheese
1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon Stevia Blend Add ½ Tablespoon more for extra sweet
2 Tablespoons Almond Flour may use 1, but the waffle takes longer to firm up

Instructions:

Preheat the waffle iron. Note: The instructions assume you are using a mini waffle maker, like the Dash. See notes if you're using a regular-sized or Belgian waffle maker.
Stir egg, ricotta cheese, cocoa powder, sweetener, and almond flour together in a small bowl.
Open the waffle iron and mist it with cooking spray.
Transfer half the batter (about ¼ cup) into the waffle maker. Use a silicone spatula to spread the batter to the edge of the well for a clean edge.
Allow the chaffle to cook for about 4 minutes or until the steam no longer escapes from the sides.
Gently remove with silicone tongs. It will be a little soft. The chaffles will continue to crisp and firm up for a few minutes after you remove them.
Repeat with the remaining batter.

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