Learn Desserts

Would you believe waffles make a great dessert?  It is also fun to invite friends over for a waffle dinner.  I love their reaction to the invitation.  They usually say, “Umm, sounds wonderful!”  So, I try to make sure the dinner is wonderful!  I then get to work trying to come up with a to-die-for fruit topping and maybe even a homemade flavored whipped butter to set out on a pretty plate.

A Sweet Side thought:  When I am out Hodgin’ and Brougin’ at fleamarkets I pick-up wonky little serving dishes.  I really don’t care what they were meant to be used for as much as I care about what I can us them for now.

Example: A sweet little bowl to serve homemade flavored whipped butter for an exciting waffle dinner or dessert!

Since a waffle iron is obviously a necessary item to own for this particular baking adventure.  Let me share with you a couple of different options.  First, is the well known Belgium waffle iron.  I decided on a professional model that you would find, say, in a hotel that lets you make your own waffles.  It’s so easy to use because it comes with a little measured pitcher so you don’t have to worry about over filling the iron by very much.  This type of waffle iron has a spill over tray for when you do over fill, so no worries there.  You just have to clean up when its all over.  I nearly always over fill a little bit so I use a spatula to scrape it off of the sides iron as it is cooking so the waffle is nice and round when it is finished.

Remember, a Belgium iron lets your waffle have deep wells for fruit and or syrups, so the over-all waffle is very big and fluffy.

The traditional waffle iron produces a very different result than the Belgium waffle iron.  I have an older one just like the one my mother had.  It makes four small waffles at once.  They will be thinner and crispier (if left to bake long enough).

I just depends on what type of waffle you want to serve.  I would venture to say that I make Belgium waffles 90% of the time.  I like the way they look when presented.

My husband prefers traditional waffles for dessert however, because he makes an ice cream sandwiches out of two traditional rectangle waffles.  I usually buy vanilla bean or old fashion vanilla ice cream for his waffle sandwiches. I think they do better if you cook them until they are a little more crispy than soft because they won’t immediately become soggy with the addition of the ice cream.  Don’t worry about melting ice cream,  that is just part of the fun!

Okay, so you now that you have decided on a waffle iron, are you ready for a wonderful waffle recipe?

2 1/2 cups Better for Cake Flour

2 tablespoons Rumford Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 egg, separated (preferably organic)

Measure, sift and mix the first three ingredients together. Set aside.

Now, seperate your eggs.

Put eggs yolks, milk, oil and vanilla in a bowl and mix together.

Now, add your cake flour mixture to your egg yolk mixture.

Next, turn on your waffle maker so it will be nice and hot.

Put your egg whites in an electric mixer and beat until they are big and fluffy.

Carefully fold your now fluffy egg whites into your waffle mixture.

Spray your waffle iron with cooking spray.

You are now ready to measure out your waffles into the waffle iron.  Use your little measuring cup that came with your waffle iron.  If you don’t have one of these, then measure out about a cup or so of batter.

If you don’t have a waffle iron that beats when the waffle is finished, then keep close watch.  You make have to experiment with the timing at first.  Just remember that waffles are usually ready when you stop seeing steam coming from the waffle iron.

Serve them up immediately or keep them covered in a platter in the storage area of your oven or in the microwave.

Hot maple syrup or a homemade fruit syrup in always yummy!  Save one for me!