These decadent chocolate oat waffles are perfect for that special breakfast occasion. The batter makes for the fluffiest of waffles on the inside, but with that classic crispy waffle crunch on the outside. Topped with the perfect pairing of toasted hazelnuts with a hint of sugar and vanilla. Finish with some whipped cream, fresh berries and a drizzle of syrup and you are in waffle heaven.

This post was made in partnership with PADERNO. Oh, what kitchen magic you can make with a few high-quality appliances. I’ve been working with them for almost a year now, and I can honestly say I’m in love with their products. Not only are they a Canadian company, but their new line of small appliances is also amazing. With the 3-Cup Food Chopper, you can make your oat flour at home. It’s compact and lightweight making it perfect for everyday use.

I also used the PADERNO 10-Speed Hand Mixer to beat the egg whites. This is the secret trick to fluffy waffles! The hand mixer has a digital timer that lets you easily track your mixing times too!

Chocolate Oat Waffles with Toasted Hazelnuts

Oat Flour

2 cups rolled oats (will yield 1 cup oat flour 1 cup coarse oatmeal).

Pulse oats in a food chopper until they become a fine powder or flour-like consistency. Sift the oat flour into a bowl to separate any larger pieces. I like to use the oatmeal for overnight oats and breakfast cereal. Store in an airtight container.

Toasted Hazelnuts

1 cups raw hazelnuts
1 tbs coconut oil, melted
1 tbs sugar
1 tsp vanilla

In a saucepan, heat the coconut oil and add hazelnuts, sugar, and vanilla. Toast until golden and fragrant, stirring frequently.

Waffle Batter

1 cup oat flour
½ cup whole-wheat flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
¼ cup chocolate chips
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs, separated
1 cup buttermilk
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt

Preheat your waffle iron.

In a mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (oat flour, whole-wheat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, sugar and salt).

In a separate mixing bowl, mix together the wet ingredients (egg yolks, buttermilk, olive oil, and vanilla). Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. TIP– Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes to allow the oat flour to soak up the liquid.

In another mixing bowl, beat the egg whites, on medium speed using a hand mixer, until they form soft peaks. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter, just until combined.

Oil your waffle iron and cook the waffles according to your waffle maker's instructions. Serve warm with hazelnut topping, maple syrup, fresh fruit and whipped cream!

Serving a crowd? TIP - Keep your waffles warm by placing in a 200-degree oven until you are ready to serve. Be sure to keep them in a single layer so they don’t get soggy. If lying on a baking sheet, line with a wire cooling rack as well. This will prevent the bottoms from becoming soggy as well.