Cake Batter Waffles From Scratch

Last updated on May 28th, 2026

Eat cake for breakfast? Yes, you absolutely can — and we’re not even sorry about it.

These cake batter waffles are made completely from scratch, which means no boxed mix required and no guilt about what’s actually in them. They taste like birthday cake in waffle form, and they come together in about the same time as a regular waffle recipe.

We’ve been making these on special mornings — think first day of school, snow days, and “because it’s Tuesday and we deserve it” days. These will definitely get the kids to the breakfast table!

The batter is simple, the ingredients are pantry staples, and they’reready before anyone has time to complain they’re hungry. These cake batter waffles just might become your new weekend tradition.

How to top your cake batter waffles

You’ve got plenty of options here, and all of them are good. We love a generous handful of rainbow sprinkles, but here are a few other ways to dress these up for breakfast:

• Powdered sugar for a simple, pretty finish
• Whipped cream if you’re already leaning into the dessert-for-breakfast vibe
• Fresh strawberries, blueberries, or bananas for something a little lighter
• Butter and maple syrup for the classic waffle treatment that never fails
• Nutella or peanut butter drizzle because of course
• Lemon curd — underrated on sweet waffles
• Honey with a pinch of cinnamon for a cozy, simple finish

Want to serve these as dessert?

Cake batter waffles aren’t just for breakfast — they make a fun dessert too. Try these toppings when you’re going all in:

• A scoop of vanilla ice cream melting right into the waffle
• Hot fudge or chocolate sauce drizzled generously over the top
• Strawberry sauce and whipped cream for strawberry shortcake with a twist
• Caramel sauce and a pinch of sea salt for more grown-up tastes
• Crushed Oreos or graham crackers for a little crunch

You can even create a waffle bar and let everyone build their own — it’s one of those ideas that sounds fancy but is almost no extra work. Just set out small bowls of your favorite toppings, keep the waffles warm in the oven on a low temperature, and let people go build their own.

It’s perfect for birthday breakfasts, holiday mornings, slumber parties, or anytime you have a crowd to feed and want something that feels special without chaining yourself to the stove. Bonus: kids are way more excited to eat something they made themselves.

However you top them, make a double batch. You can easily freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag to enjoy anytime!

Print Pin

Cake Batter Waffles

Course Breakfast

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsps vegetable oil
• 2 Cups flour
• 2 Cups milk
• ½ Cup sugar
• 3 Eggs
• 1 Tsp vanilla
• 4 Tbsps butter
• 2 Tsps baking powder
• Dash of salt
• ¼ Cup colorful sprinkles for topping

Instructions

• Preheat your waffle maker to medium heat, and brush it with the vegetable oil.
• Melt butter in the microwave.
• Use an electric mixer to mix the flour, milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla, melted butter, baking powder, and salt.
• Spoon the batter into the waffle maker, close the lid, and bake for eight minutes or until golden.
• Serve with colorful sprinkles and enjoy.

Notes

The waffles can be frozen in Ziplock bags for up to one month.