I try to resist having too many kitchen gadgets squeezed into my apartment’s small galley-style kitchen, but somehow I ended up with two waffles irons. One for flatter, traditional waffles and then one of those huge Belgian waffle makers that you see in hotel complementary breakfast line-ups.
Yikes. That’s a big waffle maker. But I figure the more I use it, the more justification I have for owning it. Danielle recently described a breakfast she had in a restaurant as a “dance in your seat meal” – sourdough waffles with candied walnuts and sliced bananas, served with vanilla butter. Hmm…yum.
I was pretty sure I could recreate it with just a few adjustments. I don’t have sourdough starter, but one of the recipes that came with my waffle iron uses yeast. It’s an easy recipe to put together, and in fact, most of it is done the night before, which I always like with breakfast recipes. The waffles ended up tasting fairly sourdoughy actually, plus they were wonderfully crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
I didn’t have walnuts, but I sugared macadamia nuts using the same method used for the peanuts in the Snickery Squares recipe. For the vanilla butter, I mixed softened butter with my homemade vanilla extract and just a little powdered sugar. I considered using a real vanilla bean, but I got lazy.
Overall, it was great! I wasn’t crazy about the banana, either because it was too ripe, or because I eat bananas so much that I’m just not interested in them in a weekend breakfast. But the nuts were great, and it was nice not having to slather everything in maple syrup. The real find of this meal was the waffle recipe, which is the best I’ve ever made, and will certainly be my standard recipe in the future.
Good Night Waffles (adapted from the Waring Pro Belgian Waffle Maker instruction booklet)
I reduced the butter in this recipe from 8 tablespoons to 6 tablespoons since I knew I’d be topping the waffles with vanilla butter. Because the waffles seemed so good with the lower amount of butter, I figured I might as well stick with it.
½ cup water
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2¼ teaspoons (one packet) instant dry yeast
2 cups whole milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1. The night before, or at least 8 hours before baking, combine the warm water, granulated sugar, yeast, milk, melted butter, and salt. Beat in the flour until smooth (this may be done using a hand mixer on low speed). Wrap bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let stand overnight (or for 8 hours) on the countertop – do not refrigerate.
2. When ready to bake, preheat your waffle maker on your preferred setting. While the waffle maker is heating, stir the eggs, vanilla extract, and baking soda into the batter. Measure out enough batter for your waffle maker and pour into the preheated waffle maker. Use a heat-proof spatula to spread the batter evenly over the grids. Close lid and bake the Belgian waffle in the waffle maker until it indicates the waffle is done.
3. Remove waffle and repeat until the desired number of Belgian waffles has been made. Cover remaining batter and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Waffles may be kept warm in an oven at low-heat (200°F). Place Belgian waffles on a cookie sheet on a rack in the warm oven.
This made 6 waffles for me. I served it with 3 sliced bananas, 1 cup sugared macadamia nuts, and 3 tablespoons vanilla sugar. Vanilla sugar was made by mixing 3 tablespoon butter with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.
Yeasted waffles are my favorite…I usually use Marion Cunningham’s recipe from Fannie Farmer, but I’m going to have to try yours…they look amazing.
So JEALOUS that you have not one, but TWO waffle makers!!! I’ve been really yearning for one ever since I ate is amazing bacon sourdough waffle at the Original House of Pancakes in Chicago this past January. Hubba-hubba, that waffle made my toes curl! Maybe, if I’m a good girl for the rest of the year, Santa will bring me a waffle iron for Xmas.
Whoa, that is too decadent! Now you’re going to make me actually buy a waffle maker! (Nowhere near as sophisticated as yours, though 😉 )
Oy vey. I don’t need anything else taking up room in my little kitchen either, but I could sure go for a waffle iron now. Thanks a lot.
Mmmm… I know some people here in my home, who would kill for such a treat!
Wow… how appetising! …and with candied Macademia nuts, must be out of this world!
I am so coming over for breakfast! Do you think the recipe would work in a regular waffle baker?
Jules – I’m almost positive it will. I’ve made a very similar recipe in my regular waffle maker.
I LOVE that you made this! I wish I had a waffle maker just to recreate it like you did!
Oh wow, those look fabulous! I love the waffle maker!
My mouth is watering. I have never made yeasted waffles, but what an amazing idea! It looks so delicious. Good work.
Drool. Those look perfect!!
We have that waffle maker! We planned on making some waffles this Saturday, so I will have to try your recipe.
P.S. I also have an apartment galley kitchen. Fortunately, I have an L-shaped closet in the hallway where I store many kitchen things, from small appliances, extra dishes, food, and pans. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have that closet.
Alicia – I have a random closet near the kitchen too. Thank god! It’s stacked with random boxes of kitchen gear.
I’ve been peeking around your blog a bit. It’s wonderful. I love your photos and recipes. I’ll be checking back again!
I have the same waffle maker(bought it from Costco)…and have been eyeing a raised waffle recipe from Essentials of Breakfast & Brunch (from Williams Sonoma). It is exactly the recipe you mentioned here….except that my recipe in the book is halved. Since that will only make 3 waffles in this waffle iron, I guess it would be wise of me to double the recipe 😀
Thank you for the review of the waffle recipe. It gives me confidence that breakfast this week-end won’t be a disaster 🙂
yum-yum! :). Thanks for the share
Hello! I stumbled across your webpage by way of searching for a picture of sliced bananas. I am creating a picture cookbook for students with autism to use in my classroom and then plan on selling it for a fundraiser next school year. Would it be possible for me to use the picture of the sliced bananas you have? I would give you credit for the picture with your webpage! 🙂 The recipe I need this for is a strawberry banana smoothie!! Thank you so much for your consideration!