Crispy on the outside, soft and custardy inside, folded into a cone and overflowing with vanilla ice cream, melted hazelnut chocolate, and chunks of Kinder Bueno… this Kinder Bueno Bubble Waffle with Vanilla Ice Cream tastes like something you’d get from a trendy dessert bar—without leaving your kitchen.
The bubble waffle itself is lightly sweet, golden, and full of airy “bubbles” that catch all the melty chocolate and ice cream. Every bite gives you warm waffle, cold ice cream, creamy hazelnut, and crunchy wafer. It’s pure fun in dessert form.
Why You’ll Love It
- Bubble-shop vibes at home: That Instagram-famous bubble waffle cone, but DIY.
- Texture overload (in a good way): Crispy edges, soft bubbles, creamy ice cream, crunchy wafer.
- Kinder Bueno heaven: Hazelnut, chocolate, wafer, and vanilla all in one bite.
- Customizable: Swap ice cream flavors, add sauces, or pile on extra toppings.
Ingredients
For the Bubble Waffle Batter
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp fine salt
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (180 ml) milk (whole or 2%), at room temperature
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (or neutral oil)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
You’ll also need a bubble waffle pan or bubble waffle maker. (You can use a regular waffle iron if needed—same batter, different look.)
For the Kinder Bueno & Ice Cream Topping
- 3–4 Kinder Bueno bars, roughly chopped (keep some pieces whole for garnish)
- 3–4 generous scoops vanilla ice cream (1 scoop per waffle, or more)
- 3–4 tbsp hazelnut spread (like Nutella), warmed slightly for drizzling
- 3–4 tbsp chocolate sauce or melted chocolate
- Whipped cream (optional)
- 2–3 tbsp chopped hazelnuts or mixed nuts (optional, for crunch)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Time & Yield
- Prep: 15–20 minutes
- Cook: 15–20 minutes (depending on your waffle maker)
- Assembly: 5–10 minutes
- Total: ~35–45 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 bubble waffles (3–4 servings)
Instructions
1) Make the Bubble Waffle Batter
- Mix dry ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Cornstarch
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Sugar
- In a medium bowl, whisk together:
- Mix wet ingredients:
- In another bowl or large measuring jug, whisk:
- Egg
- Milk
- Melted butter (or oil)
- Vanilla extract
- In another bowl or large measuring jug, whisk:
- Combine:
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients.
- Whisk gently until smooth and no big lumps remain.
- Let the batter rest for 5–10 minutes while you preheat the waffle maker—this helps the texture.
2) Cook the Bubble Waffles
Follow your specific bubble waffle pan/maker instructions—times can vary.
- Preheat & grease:
- Preheat your bubble waffle maker or pan.
- Lightly grease with a bit of melted butter or oil (a pastry brush or spray works great).
- Add batter:
- Pour enough batter to just cover the bubble molds—usually about ⅓–½ cup per waffle, depending on your machine.
- Gently tilt/rotate if needed so batter fills all the bubbles.
- Cook:
- Close the waffle maker and cook for 3–5 minutes, or until:
- The waffle is golden brown,
- The edges are crisp, and
- The bubbles are set and slightly puffed.
- Close the waffle maker and cook for 3–5 minutes, or until:
- Shape into cones (optional but iconic):
- While the waffle is still warm and flexible, carefully lift it out.
- Gently fold into a cone or taco shape and place inside a glass, cup, or cone holder to cool and hold its shape.
- If you prefer, you can serve them flat like a plate-style waffle instead.
Repeat with remaining batter.
3) Prep the Kinder Bueno & Toppings
- Chop the bars:
- Roughly chop Kinder Bueno bars into bite-sized chunks. Keep a few nice pieces for the top.
- Warm the sauces:
- Slightly warm the hazelnut spread in the microwave for a few seconds until pourable.
- Have chocolate sauce or melted chocolate ready.
- Get everything ready:
- Set out:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Chopped nuts (if using)
- Whipped cream
- Powdered sugar
- Set out:
You want everything on standby, because warm waffle + cold ice cream is the magic combo.
4) Assemble the Kinder Bueno Bubble Waffles
- Base layer:
- Place each warm bubble waffle (cone or flat) on a plate or in a serving cup.
- Ice cream:
- Add one or two scoops of vanilla ice cream into the center or top of each waffle.
- Kinder Bueno:
- Sprinkle chopped Kinder Bueno around and over the ice cream, tucking some into the waffle bubbles.
- Drizzle:
- Drizzle generously with warm hazelnut spread and chocolate sauce.
- Finish:
- Add whipped cream if you like.
- Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts.
- Dust lightly with powdered sugar.
- Top with a whole or half Kinder Bueno piece for a showy finish.
Serve immediately while the waffle is still warm and the ice cream is cold.
Serve It Like This
- Serve in:
- Tall glasses or dessert cups if you shaped them into cones.
- Flat on plates if you left them unrolled—knife-and-fork style.
- Add a side:
- Fresh strawberries, raspberries, or sliced banana for a fruity contrast.
- Perfect for:
- Movie nights
- Birthday parties
- Weekend “treat yourself” dessert
This is a shareable dessert—but no one will blame you if you keep a whole one to yourself.
Pro Tips for the Best Bubble Waffles
- Don’t overfill the iron: Too much batter will overflow and lose the bubble shape.
- Serve quickly: Bubble waffles are best when they’re fresh and just-cooked.
- Warm + cold contrast: Let waffles cool just a minute or two so they’re not piping hot, then add ice cream so it doesn’t melt instantly.
- Keep them crisp: If you’re making several, you can hold finished (plain) waffles in a low oven (200°F / 95°C) on a wire rack until assembling.
- Use good vanilla ice cream: Since the ice cream is a huge part of the flavor, a creamy vanilla makes a big difference.
Variations & Twists
- Nutty Crunch Bubble Waffle:
- Add 2–3 tbsp finely chopped hazelnuts or crushed wafer cookies directly into the batter.
- Chocolate Bubble Waffle Base:
- Swap 2–3 tbsp of the flour for cocoa powder for a chocolate waffle.
- Kinder Bueno Banana Split:
- Add sliced bananas, extra chocolate sauce, and a cherry on top.
- Salted Caramel Drizzle:
- Add a drizzle of salted caramel sauce along with the hazelnut spread for extra richness.
- Different Ice Cream Flavors:
- Try hazelnut, chocolate, or caramel ice cream instead of vanilla for a more intense dessert.
Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating
- Batter:
- You can mix the batter and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Stir gently before using.
- Cooked Waffles:
- Best fresh, but you can refrigerate plain bubble waffles in an airtight container for 1–2 days.
- Re-crisp in a low oven (around 300°F / 150°C) for a few minutes before serving.
- Ice Cream & Toppings:
- Keep ice cream frozen until the last minute.
- Sauces can be made ahead and gently rewarmed as needed.
Once assembled, these are not good for storing—enjoy right away.
Nutrition (Per Loaded Waffle – Approximate, for 4 servings)
- Calories: ~550–750 kcal
- Fat: ~30–45 g
- Carbs: ~60–85 g
- Protein: ~8–12 g
(Will vary depending on how much ice cream, sauce, and chocolate you use.)
Why This Recipe Works
A lightly sweet, cornstarch-enriched batter gives the bubble waffle its signature texture: crisp at the edges, tender in the bubbles. Serving it warm makes it the perfect base for cold vanilla ice cream, so every bite has that hot–cold contrast. Kinder Bueno adds creamy hazelnut filling and crunchy wafer pieces, while melted hazelnut spread and chocolate drizzle pull everything together into one over-the-top, dessert-shop style treat.
Final Thought: When you’re craving something extra, fun, and totally over-the-top, a Kinder Bueno Bubble Waffle with Vanilla Ice Cream is the kind of dessert that looks like a celebration and tastes even better.