WAFFLING?
The best (and worst) frozen chocolate chip brands
Busy mornings call for fast, portable food that doesn’t drip, spill or otherwise muck up clothes or car. There are plenty of options, but one of the simplest 60-second breakfast solutions is a toaster waffle. Sweet, filling and so easy to eat on-thego, frozen waffles come in an array of flavors, including blueberry, buttermilk, cinnamon — and chocolate chip.
Made right, chocolate chip waffles are a treat that also provides a bit of protein and other nutrients. They’re great on a plate with butter and syrup — but can also be tucked into a napkin for breakfast on the run.
The best chocolate chip waffles are crisp and tender, slightly sweet and sprinkled with rich, sweet chocolate bits. Unfortunately, few frozen waffles hit that mark. Instead, many are flat, rubbery, dry or so flavorless that they aren’t worth eating.
Here’s the scoop on the delicious bites of waffle perfection — and the ones that were botched every which way. Nutrition details refer to a 55 g serving, or 1 to 1½ waffles, depending on size.
Julian’s Belgian Pastry Chocolate Waffles
These small, thick waffles are tender and sweet. Big vanilla flavors and rich, crispy bits of chocolate make them taste like homemade. (And you can top these with ice cream for an elegant dessert.) A 1.94-ounce waffle has 250 calories, 13 g fat, 240 mg sodium, 15 g sugar, 3 g protein. A 7.6-ounce box of 4 is $3.99 at Sprouts. ★★★★
Kodiak Cakes Proteinpacked Dark Chocolate Power Waffles
Fans of dark chocolate will love these healthy waffles that are minimally sweet, dense and full of nutty, earthy, dark cacao flavors. A drizzle of syrup quashes the slight bitterness of the chocolate. A 1.34-ounce waffle has 125 calories, 6 g fat, 195 mg sodium, 4.5 g sugar, 6 g protein. A 10.2-ounce box of 8 is $4.50 at Target. ★★★
Eggo Thick & Fluffy Double Chocolatey Waffles
Soft, cake-like texture with crispy edges give these a pleasant, dessertlike charm, but they are seriously lacking in chocolate flavor and have an unpleasant, fruity aftertaste. A 1.93-ounce waffle has 160 calories, 6 g fat, 240 mg sodium, 10 g sugar, 3 g protein. An 11.6-ounce box of 6 is $4.12 at Lucky. ★★
Eggo Chocolatey Chip Waffles
Familiarity and cost may be the primary reasons why these are so popular. They are thin, pasty, elastic and taste a lot like oil. The flavor of chocolate is shockingly absent. A 1.23-ounce waffle has 100 calories, 3.5 g fat, 185 mg sodium, 4.5 g sugar, 2 g protein. A 12.3-ounce box of 12 is $2.38 at Walmart. ★
Nature’s Path Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles
The biscuit-like texture of these nearly tastefree waffles is strange and grainy, and the chips are far too tiny to taste. A 1.23-ounce waffle has 110 calories, 4.5 g fat, 95 mg sodium, 3.5 g sugar, 1 g protein. A 7.4-ounce box of 6 is $2.69 at Target. ★
Van’s Power Grains Chocolate Chip Waffles
Bland, flat flavor reminiscent of paper and gummy texture make these an entirely regrettable bite. A 1.5-ounce waffle has 125 calories, 4.5 g fat, 100 mg sodium, 4 g sugar, 6 g protein. A 9-ounce box of 6 is $2.99 at Sprouts. (No stars)