How to cook delicious waffles: recipes

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

It is believed that waffles are the national Belgian sweet. In fact, it is a pan-European product, the origin of which is attributed to the ancient Greek culture, and its name is of Dutch origin and means "honeycomb".

Dessert story

Made from sweet dough with eggs, waffles were a festive food sold at fairs, festivals and other places where you can meet a lot of people. Today it is no longer a festive dish, but quite an everyday dessert. You can buy them at any store. But if you try them hot, fresh out of a waffle iron, you will never want to buy a ready-made product. Homemade waffles may not be the kind of thing to start making early in the morning before work, but if you have time to spare, this is a great option to indulge in a tasty one.

Waffles can be served with banana, fried egg, ice cream or chocolate syrup. In fact, almost all toppings can be paired with this confection.

How to cook dough

The waffle recipe has gone through many changes. Before the advent of chemicals in the 19th century, dough was prepared with yeast. Baking powder is more common in modern instructions, however, as a matter of course,and in combination with bicarbonate of soda.

There is no doubt that both ingredients help to make the dough tender, but rising yeast waffles have a more interesting taste and delicate texture. Using yeast may look like a hassle, but you can make this dough in minutes before bed and start baking in the morning.

Another important ingredient in a waffle recipe is buttermilk. However, its acidity can affect other ingredients in the dough. If you are using a recipe with dry yeast, it is best to use a mixture of milk and buttermilk. Some chefs also recommend adding cream.

Which components are especially important?

The classic waffle recipe uses regular flour, but there are also variations with a small amount of corn flour. It is believed that this makes the products more crispy. In addition, experts advise not to mix wet ingredients with dry ingredients in one step. The gradual addition is necessary in order to thoroughly combine all the ingredients, otherwise the active formation of lumps begins to draw the gluten out of the flour, and as a result, the dessert will turn out to be tough.

The classic waffle recipe calls for melted butter in the batter, although some cooks find it okay to use a mixture of butter and margarine. Some recipes that use baking powder also advise separating the eggs by beating the egg whites to add extrasplendor dough.

How to complement the taste?

Like pancakes, waffles can be flavored with just about anything, but a little sugar and s alt help bring out the flavor. Many add vanilla, which is ideal if you plan to serve them as a sweet dessert. Experts also recommend adding nutmeg, smoked paprika, and a combination of fennel seeds and lemon zest, depending on which topping you suggest using.

Waffle iron must be carefully prepared. If you start baking the waffles at too low a temperature, the center of the waffle will remain raw, while a brown crust will quickly form around the edges. That is why the appliance must be heated evenly before cooking.

What does a classic Belgian waffle recipe look like?

To make the perfect Belgian waffles, you need the following ingredients:

• 180 ml milk;
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast;
• 1 tablespoon light brown or regular sugar (or more to taste);
• 245 grams of flour;
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal or polenta;
• 1/2 teaspoon s alt;
• 240 ml buttermilk;
• 6 tablespoons melted butter;
• 1 large egg, beaten;
• oil for lubrication.

How to make this dessert?

Waffle recipe with photo looks like this. Heat the milk in a small saucepan (you can use the same one you melted the butter in). Stir in yeast and a pinch of sugar, then leave it alonemixture until the surface is covered in tiny bubbles. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining dry ingredients in a large bowl while whisking the buttermilk, melted butter and egg in a deep bowl.

When everything is ready, pour the milk with yeast into the liquid ingredients, then slowly pour the mixture into the dry. Mix gently with a spoon or spatula. Cover and let the dough sit at room temperature for an hour (overnight is better).

Then brush lightly with oil and then heat up the waffle iron. Pour in enough batter to cover the base, spread it out with a metal spatula, then raise the temperature slightly and close the lid. Cook for about 45 seconds until golden on the underside, then flip and repeat for about 4 minutes until golden and crisp on the other side. This is a universal waffle recipe for an electric waffle iron.

These items can be served hot or cold.

What else are culinary secrets?

Proper waffles should be crispy on top but a little airy in the middle, and also smell appetizing. What are the secrets of making a delicious dessert, in addition to those listed above. After a series of practical experiments, you can verify the following.

If you want to use a soft waffle recipe, you must follow a certain rule. The dough should contain well beaten egg whites. When you beat them to stiff peaks, they contain a lot of air and make the dough look likesouffle. The result is waffles that are incredibly light and airy, rather than heavy and dense.

As noted above, some chefs recommend adding cornmeal or starch to the dough. Although considered an optional ingredient, it improves the taste and texture of the finished product. The addition of cornmeal protects the waffles from absorbing excess liquid (steam during cooking). This is how the recipe for crispy waffles was born.

How to flavor sweet waffles?

Amaretto liqueur (almond) is a good natural flavor. This makes the waffles more tasty and fragrant. If you do not have this liqueur, be sure to use some kind of vanilla or almond extract or any other spice. This affects not only the smell, but also the taste of the dessert. However, don't mix too many fragrances at the same time.

It is also worth noting that modern housewives love various substitutes too much. This makes it easier to prepare the dish, but can greatly affect the taste. Be sure to use real milk buttermilk in your waffle recipe. Condensed milk or other similar products will not work here. This is true for any homemade waffle recipe.

And of course, you will never get a quality product if your waffle maker doesn't work too well. Do not use a defective or malfunctioning appliance. Not only the correct temperature is important, but also the uniformity of heating, as well as the ability to completely distribute the liquid insideforms.

What to serve waffles with?

Of course you can serve waffles straight. If you cook them in compliance with all the rules, they will turn out tasty and fragrant. But still, it is advisable to pour them with maple or berry syrup or honey. The combination of butter and powdered sugar applied to a hot dessert is also ideal. Some default waffle recipes call for the finished product to be topped with a layer of sweet topping.

Another good tip

If the waffles are still damp after baking, place them at 180 degrees in the oven for 5 minutes directly on the metal racks (not on the baking sheet). This will dry out the dough by removing excess steam from it and make the products crispy.

And another improved waffle recipe

This variant of waffle preparation is different from the classic one. Such products are crispy and golden and at the same time airy inside. Perfect for dessert or a light snack, they can be served with butter, syrup, jam and many other toppings. For them you will need the following:

• 2 eggs separated into yolks and whites;
• 2 cups whole buttermilk;
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil;
• 1 tablespoon of amaretto or similar flavored liqueur;
• one and a half cup of all-purpose flour;
• 1/2 cup cornstarch;
• 1 tablespoon baking powder;
• 1/2 teaspoon s alt;
• 3 table spoons of sugar.

How to do it?

An improved waffle recipe in a waffle iron is as follows. Separate the egg yolks from the whites, and thoroughly mix the egg yolks, buttermilk, vegetable oil and amaretto.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder and s alt. Set aside.

Mix remaining egg whites with sugar and beat until stiff peaks.

Slowly pour the buttermilk liquid into the flour mixture (make sure the batter is still liquid), then gently fold in the egg whites, making sure to keep them as fluffy as possible. Place batter in preheated waffle iron and bake for about 3-4 minutes.

Waffle rolls

In addition to Belgian fluffy waffles, many are familiar with crispy waffle dough tubes filled with cream since childhood. This recipe is very different from the classic one, because the dough here has a different texture. To make this dessert you will need the following:

• 200 grams of butter or margarine;
• 4 large eggs;
• glass of white sugar;
• 2 cups all-purpose flour.

How to make it?

First of all, you should melt the butter or margarine in a water bath. You can also do this in the microwave, but be careful and step by step. Using a mixer, you need to beat the eggs, while you do not need to separate them into whites and yolks (you can also do this with a whisk or blender).

In the melted butter, gradually add sugar and flour, and pour in the beaten eggs. All components must be mixed very carefully. The finished dough should be similar in consistency to sour cream.

Grease a waffle iron with a little oil, heat evenly and start baking waffles, pouring one tablespoonful of dough at a time. Approximately two to three minutes are enough for one tube before baking. As soon as each product is ready, roll it into a tube while hot. While they are still warm, you should add the stuffing to them.

Both boiled condensed milk and any jam can be used as a filler. You can also make cream or custard, but in this case, you need to wait for the tubes to cool slightly, and only then start filling them.