Waffle recipe have graced the breakfast table for many years but their origin is much different than the ones we have now. During the medieval period making waffles required an apparatus with 2 metal plates joined together by hinges and was manipulated by long wooden handles in which a mixture of oats and barley was placed. Today we use something similar but our waffles have a leavening agent that makes them fluffy instead of flat like crackers.
Many different countries have their own ways of making waffles. American waffles are served most of the time with breakfast and they use baking powder to make them rise. The pilgrims arriving in American in 1620 where the ones who brought the waffle over from Holland, but they made the thick Belgian waffles. Belgians are also called Brussels Waffles and these rise more than the American type. In the streets of Belgium and nearby countries they are offered by vendors on the street and they are covered with a sprinkling of powder sugar and whipped cream and chocolate can also be spread on top.
Another waffle coming from the eastern section of Belgium has a sweet, dense consistency and are called Leige Waffles. The inspiration for them was brioche and they are uniquely wonderful because when you bite into them they crunch. You then taste a sweet flavor because they are treated with pearl sugar before they are cooked and it caramelizes while it is in the iron. You can find these plain or with cinnamon on every street corner. In Hong Kong street vendors sell grid cakes. This is a four section waffle on which peanut butter and sugar has been spread. It is folded in half to eat. Waffles from the Dutch are unique as well because the cut the waffle the thin way in half and spread on brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and syrup then replace the other half like a sandwich. Heart shaped waffles are common in Scandinavia and are served with jam on top.
Waffle batter is slightly thicker than pancake batter so that it won’t run out of the iron. There are several types of irons from the metal clamp down type that have to be placed over a fire or on a burner of a stove to electric waffle irons. Some waffle irons are round and separate the waffles into four sections while others might only make two sections. There are even waffle irons that make pretty patterns in the waffles or deeper ones to make Belgian Waffles. Waffles can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner if you please and you can make them sweet for desserts as well.
Buttermilk waffles are a favorite variety. You can make a batch by combining in a bowl 1 and two thirds cup flour, 1 and a half teaspoon baking powder, 1 half teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 fourth teaspoon salt. Combine in a different bowl four large eggs and 2 cups buttermilk and beat well. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir by hand. Take 2 whole sticks of butter and melt them in saucepan. Pour it over the batter. Mix well and take note that your batter is supposed to be lumpy. Use a waffle iron with its accompanying instructions to cook the waffle and serve it up while it is warm with syrup, jam and honey.
Belgium Waffle irons are a little bit different than regular ones in that the waffles produced are a little bit bigger and waffles can be made to be desserts instead of main dishes. Belgian recipes are a little more complicated but the waffles taste so good you won’t mind making them. To start cut off a large piece of waxed paper. Sift one and one fourth of a cup of cake flour, two teaspoons baking powder, one fourth cup sugar, and a shake of salt onto the wax paper. You will have to separate the yolks from whites of four eggs and put the yolks in a bowl. You will use the whites later so keep them. Add to the bowl a half cup of milk and one and one and a half teaspoons of vanilla and whisk until combined. Add one half of a cup of butter that has been melted. Take the ingredients on the waxed paper and gradually pour them into the bowl while mixing well. Take the whites of the egg and beat them until they are stiff but make sure they are not dry. Scoop them into the batter and fold them in. Bake in a waffle maker made for Belgian waffles and serve with confectioner’s sugar sprinkled over or you can put some chocolate chips and whipped cream on top. They are good with strawberries that have been sliced or different fruits served on top.
Banana Nut Waffles are a unique treat for the family. Combine in a large bowl three fourths of a cup of flour, one tablespoon of baking powder, one fourth of a teaspoon of salt and one fourth of a cup of wheat germ. In a small bowl you will need the yolks of two eggs saving the whites to use later. Add one fourth of a cup of oil and one and one half of a cup of milk to the yolks and blend well. Pour into the flour combination and combine well. Crush 1 cup nuts in a grinder or blender or you can use pumpkin or sunflower seeds and pour into the bowl. Peel a banana that is over ripe and mash it with a fork and add with three tablespoons plain yogurt. Combine well. Take the reserved whites of the eggs and beat until stiff then fold into the batter. You can add a bit more milk if the batter seems to be over thick. Cook in a waffle iron and serve with syrup or with honey.
Waffles are definitely not the crisp small cracker they were in days gone by. Today they are main dishes served with jams, chocolate, and syrup. Look for a recipe that combines chicken with waffles for a main dish treat. Waffles are sold on the street just like the wafers were in the middle ages and they are included in many menus. They take a limited amount of time and effort to make and everyone loves waffles whether it is for a main dish or if it is for a dessert.
You can find your Sunday morningwaffle recipes on Ben Cooks website dedicated to waffles. If you need to learn how to make waffles his site is the place to check.
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