This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.

These little waffle cookies are made with vanilla cookie dough and cooked in a waffle iron until they are soft on the inside and crunchy and golden on the outside with a perfectly sweet vanilla taste. These are a favorite cookie recipe of ours – you’re going to love them!

Overhead view of six waffle cookies sprinkled with powdered sugar on a baking sheet


Mini Waffles as Cookies

If you have a waffle iron hiding in your cabinet, you are going to love this cookie recipe. Waffle cookies are easy to make and even easier to eat! You don’t need to turn on the oven for this waffle cookie recipe – the dough cooks in the waffle maker, creating waffle-like vanilla cookies that are golden brown and delicious.

There are different kinds of waffle cookies, and the version I’m sharing was inspired by French and Belgian waffle cookies, which are usually made with a simple vanilla cookie dough. Unlike stroopwafels, these are thick cookies that are soft on the inside. They’re as easy as a regular sugar cookie recipe, but instead of baking them in the oven, you can cook them in a standard waffle iron.

ingredients in waffle cookies

Ingredients Needed

  • Baking powder: this makes them nice and soft
  • Salt: for flavor, important if using unsalted butter
  • All-purpose flour: the best flour for making cookies
  • Butter: I always use unsalted butter, make sure it’s softened
  • Sugar: I like using granulated sugar in this cookie recipe but light brown sugar may be substituted.
  • Egg: make sure to buy large eggs
  • Vanilla extract: for flavor, you can mix and match any extract!

Variations

  • You can enjoy them plain, but at the very least, I recommend dusting the cooled cookies with powdered sugar. Just make sure they are cooled, so the sugar doesn’t melt.
  • After you make the dough, mix in chocolate chips or sprinkles before you cook the cookies.
  • Alternately, melt chocolate and dip the cooled cookies in it and then let them set. Feel free to add some sprinkles while the chocolate is wet to add a cute decoration.
  • These would also be delicious with a simple caramel drizzle or maple glaze. Or serve them with ice cream or maple syrup to dip in.

How to Make Waffle Cookies

  • In a small bowl, whisk the baking powder, salt, and flour.
  • In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs and vanilla.
  • Then add the dry ingredients. Once mixed, the dough will be thick and sticky.
  • Scoop one tablespoon of dough for each cookie. Drop it on the hot waffle maker.
  • Close the lid, cook the cookies until they are golden brown. Cool on a cooling rack.
Close up shot of a stack of waffle cookies

Best Waffle Maker for Cookies

You can use any waffle maker you have. The larger the waffle maker, the more cookies you can cook at once. Here are my favorite waffle makers:

Overhead view of waffle cookies on a baking sheet and more around it

Expert tips

  • To make things as easy as possible, be sure to spray your waffle maker with cooking spray so it’s easy to remove the cookies. 
  • The cookies will be very hot, so I use a fork to transfer the cookies from the waffle iron to the cookie sheet. The fork makes it easy to pull the cookie off the iron without burning yourself. As the cookies cool, they will harden.
  • Allow the cookies to cool before adding any powdered sugar, chocolate, or other decorations.

Storage

  • Store leftover cookies in an airtight container. Once you store them in an airtight container, they will soften again. Soft waffle cookies will keep for up to two days at room temperature.
  • To crips up softened cookies, you can reheat the in the toaster.
  • Freeze cookies for up to 3 months.

FAQs

Can I put cookie dough in my waffle maker?

You can put pretty much any cookie dough in your waffle maker, including premade refrigerated dough like chocolate chip, peanut butter, and sugar cookie dough.

Close up shot of a stack of waffle cookies

Waffle Cookies Recipe

5 from 24 votes
Have you ever considered baking cookies in your waffle maker? Now is the time! These Waffle Cookies are an easy vanilla cookie recipe made in your waffle maker.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Yield 26 cookies
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Powdered sugar for dusting
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Instructions

  • Heat a waffle maker to medium-high heat (or 350°F if you have that option). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • Whisk baking powder, salt, and flour in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, 1-2 minutes, then mix in eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients into wet and mix until smooth. Dough will be thick like cookie dough but will be sticky.
  • Working in batches, drop 1-tablespoon size balls of dough in your waffle maker. If you’re using a standard 7-8-inch waffle maker, you should be able to place 4 cookies at a time (one in each quadrant of the circle). Close waffle maker and cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on heat and size, or until the cookies are golden brown. Use a fork to help you pop them out of the waffle iron (be careful not to burn yourself). Place on cookie sheet to cool.
  • Continue making batches of cookies until you’re out of dough. Let cookies cool then dust with powdered sugar.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Cookies will soften as they sit.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Dust with powdered sugar for serving or melt chocolate and dip the cooled cookies instead.
  • Add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or sprinkles into the batter before cooking for a fun twist.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 127IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American

Favorite Easy Cookies



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

5 from 24 votes (23 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




15 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    If I were to do a chocolate version Should I reduce flour to add cocoa powder? If so how much flour to reduce to replace chocolate
    Thank you

  2. I am 81 years old and have been making these cookies for years, it was my grandmotherโ€™s recipe. Wow what can I say other than I love my grandmother, but will never be using her recipe again. These were so much easier and tasted better than the ones I used to make. Sorry, grandma five stars and thank you again for such a wonderful recipe. Have a wonderful holiday.