Chocolate Waffle Cookies are fudgy, chewy and almost brownie-like. As a kid, we called them Turtle Cookies because of their shape.
Baking the waffle cookie recipe in a waffle iron DOES give Chocolate Waffle Cookies a unique shape, with nubby little “turtle legs” sticking out from the sides. And the fudge frosting is mounded on top like a shell.
I’ll also show you a caramel pecan variation that gives them true chocolate turtle flavor. (Look for those instructions under the picture tutorial at the bottom of the page.)
My mom taught me to make these simple Chocolate Waffle Cookies, as a kid. I’ve tweaked the frosting a bit since then, but they’re still the same amazing waffle cookies I remember from childhood.
Every time I pull the recipe out again, I wonder why it’s taken me so long to bake another batch of waffle cookies .
I love them. My family loves them. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t, actually. If you love easy, fudgy, chocolate cookies, this chocolate waffle cookie recipe is for you!
The Ingredients
Chocolate Waffle Cookies do not use baking powder or baking soda in the batter. Baking powder, especially, would make the waffle cookies more cake-like, which is not the texture we’re trying to achieve. Not unlike some brownie recipes, the chewy, fudgy texture of waffle cookies is due in large part to NOT using leavening.
To make both the Chocolate Waffle Cookie recipe and some fudgy frosting, here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- Butter
- Cocoa Powder – This is the unsweetened baking cocoa powder, not hot chocolate mix.
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Vanilla Extract (I use homemade vanilla extract. Get the homemade vanilla recipe HERE.)
- All Purpose Flour (I made this particular batch of Waffle Cookies gluten free. You can do the same by simply subbing the same amount of Better Batter Gluten Free Flour Blend in place of the all purpose flour called for in the recipe card. It’s that easy!)
- Milk
- Powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
How to Make Waffle Cookies with Fudge Frosting
Heat up you waffle iron and lets make some waffle cookies! You’re gonna love them!
How to Make Original Chocolate Waffle Cookies
- Start by heating up your waffle iron. The cookie batter comes together in about 5 minutes, so having the waffle iron hot and ready gets you baking, quickly.
- Put the cocoa powder and butter into a 3 quart saucepan and melt them together over medium heat. Stir as you heat the mixture. Only keep the butter/cocoa mixture on the heat long enough to just melt the butter. Remove the pan from the heat as soon as the butter’s melted.
- Mix the sugar and vanilla into the butter/cocoa mixture. Mixing it will help to cool it even further. The goal is for it to just be warm to the touch.
- Add the eggs and mix them in thoroughly. Mix in the flour until you have a thick batter the consistency of brownie batter.
- Drop 4 spoonfuls of Chocolate Waffle Cookie batter at a time into the hot waffle iron. Bake the waffle cookies for 1 minute and then remove them to a cooling rack. Repeat until all the batter is used.
- Make the frosting by melting the sugar and butter together in a 3 quart saucepan.
- Remove from the heat and add milk, vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to blend the ingredients and create the fudge frosting. It doesn’t matter which one. I use a hand mixer, right in the pan. You will want a mixer though as the powdered sugar can get pretty lumpy if you try and mix it by hand.
- Frost the waffle cookies. The frosting will firm up as the cookies rest.
How to Make the Caramel Pecan Turtle Variation of Waffle Cookies
I was making these cookies for a gathering of 30 people, this week and decided to dress them up. They became truly turtle candy-like by adding pecans and caramel before the fudge frosting. I have to say, it was a smashing success. If you want to try this Chocolate Waffle Cookie recipe variation, before frosting the cookies, add these steps.
- Sprinkle the center of your baked waffle cookies with chopped pecans.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt two 11 oz. bags of Kraft Caramel bits with 2 Tablespoons of milk. It took just 2 minutes on high-power in my microwave, so keep a close eye on them.
- Once melted, spoon the caramel over the center of each waffle cookie, covering the pecans. (I didn’t get a picture of that step for some reason, but it’s pretty self-explanatory. You’ve got this!
- When the caramel has cooled and set up, frost the waffle cookies as directed in the recipe.
Tools I Used to Make Chocolate Waffle Cookies
- Waffle Iron [affiliate link] I use a standard waffle iron, not a Belgian waffle maker. The spaces would be too large in a Belgian waffle maker.
- Hand Mixer [affiliate link] You could mix up the frosting by hand, but you’ll get a smoother creamier consistency using a mixer
- Cooling Racks [affiliate link]
These are sure to become a fast family favorite! I hope you get a chance to make Chocolate Waffle Cookies (Turtle Cookies) to share with your favorite people, soon.
If you do make Chocolate Waffle Iron Cookies and find you love them as much as I and my family, please consider stopping by here to leave a comment with a 5 star rating. 5 star ratings help others find our recipes when doing a Google search. Thanks for being so supportive and awesome! Happy Baking!
The Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send you the link so you always have it at your fingertips. Plus, I’ll send a collection of easy recipes to your inbox every Friday!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Glenda Embree.
Chocolate Waffle Cookies (Turtle Cookies)
- Total Time: 16 minutes
- Yield: 40–45 cookies 1x
Description
Baking these fudgy Chocolate Waffle Cookies in the waffle maker gives them their unique “turtle-like” shape. The fudge frosting becomes the mounded “turtle shell”. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love Chocolate Waffle Cookies ( Turtle Cookies) and it’s nice to have a cookie recipe that doesn’t require heating up the kitchen with the oven.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 3/4 cup butter
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I use homemade vanilla extract.)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (For gluten free I used Better Batter Gluten-Free Flour. [affiliate link])
For the Frosting:
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups cocoa
- 2/3 – 1 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 lbs. powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
Instructions
For the Cookies:
- Spray and heat up your waffle iron to medium while you are making the cookie batter. (The temperature settings run from 1-5 on my waffle maker. I set it at 3.)
- Melt the butter in a 3 quart sauce pan. Only heat long enough to just melt it. You don’t want it to become super hot.
- Once the butter is melted, remove the pan from the heat and mix in the cocoa.
- Add the sugar and vanilla. Stir thoroughly to bring everything together. This will also help cool the mixture in the pan.
- Test the mixture in the pan by touching it. It’s okay if it’s warm. You just don’t want it to be so hot it cooks the eggs.
- Beat the eggs into the chocolate mixture. Continue stirring until everything is combined.
- Finally, stir in the flour. Continue stirring until all the ingredients come together evenly. Your waffle cookies batter will be thick and similar to the consistency of fudge brownies.
- Use a spoon ( I just use a spoon from the silverware drawer.) to drop the waffle cookie batter onto your hot waffle iron. I can do 4 at a time in mine. Adjust according to your own waffle maker.
- Bake the Chocolate Waffle Cookies in the waffle maker for 1 minute. Remove to a cooling rack.
- Repeat the process until all the chocolate waffle cookie batter has been baked.
For the Fudge Frosting:
- Melt the butter in a 3 quart saucepan.
- Remove from heat.
- Add the cocoa powder to melted butter and stir to form a thick paste.
- You can transfer the cocoa/butter mixture to the bowl of your stand mixer if you don’t own a hand mixer. I actually use my hand mixer and do it all in the same 3 quart sauce pan. You will want a mixer though as the powdered sugar can get pretty lumpy if you try and mix it by hand.
- Add milk, vanilla and powdered sugar. (Start with only 2/3 cup milk. Mix it all together and then decide if you need more . If you think you do, add a Tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.)
- Beat with your mixer until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- The frosting will be thick. But you do want it spreadable. You can add more powdered sugar or extra milk to get your desired consistency, keeping in mind that this frosting will get firmer as it sits in the fridge. Resist the urge to add more than you need. Start with a teaspoon at a time of extra milk to thin it or a Tablespoon at a time of powdered sugar. A little will go a long way. The pictures above are a good gauge of the consistency we like.
- Use the frosting to frost your Chocolate Waffle Cookies.
Notes
Chocolate Waffle Cookies do not use baking powder or baking soda in the batter. Baking powder, especially, would make the waffle cookies more cake-like, which is not the texture we’re trying to achieve. Not unlike some brownie recipes, the chewy, fudgy texture of waffle cookies is due in large part to not using leavening.
To Make the Turtle Cookie Variation of Waffle Cookies
- Sprinkle the center of your baked waffle cookies with chopped pecans after removing them from the waffle maker.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt two 11 oz. bags of Kraft Caramel bits with 2 Tablespoons of milk. It took just 2 minutes on high-power in my microwave, so keep a close eye on them.
- Once melted, spoon the caramel over the center of each waffle cookie, covering the pecans. (I didn’t get a picture of that step for some reason, but it’s pretty self-explanatory. You’ve got this!
- When the caramel has cooled and set up, frost the waffle cookies as directed in the recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 1 min
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
More Chocolate Recipes to Try
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Homemade Chocolate Pudding
Easy No-Bake Cookies
About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
These are really amazing cookies!! My kids can’t stop eating these!!
They’re the perfect size for kids! And, yes. Even my big “kids” still love them.
These turned out soo good, everyone loved it in my family. Thank you for the recipe.
You’re very welcome, Savita! I’m glad your family loves them!
These turtle cookies were just as good as my favorite bakery’s turtle cookies!! They were decadent and delicious!
Thanks for the kind words, Anjali! I’m happy you liked them.
These are delicious!
Can these Turtle Cookies be frozen?
Mary, they sure can!
Yum, these cookies look delicious. I bet my son would love them. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you, Natalie! I bet he would, too.
Oh wow, I would never have thought to use the waffle iron for cookies, amazing!
It works really well for these. Maybe I should put other cookie dough in the waffle iron!
I love turtles so naturally, I LOVED these turtle cookies. So good! They disappeared fast in my family!
Your family must be a lot like ours, Scarlet! It’s hard to be turtles.
These were so good and very easy!
Thanks, Paula! Glad you could stop by and leave a note, today.
Can’t wait to try it!
I hope you love them, Sherelle!