I have delayed way too long in getting a waffle iron. This recipe makes me weep for the lost waffle years I will never get back. Tweaked slightly from Serious Eats, this makes 6+ waffles in a 7 inch belgian waffle maker. I like uneven edges rather than uniform looking waffles so I slightly under filled the waffle maker.
This will be my Saturday morning go to from now on. The batter mixes up quickly but it takes about 30 minutes to make 6 waffles which is a slight drag. You can put a cookie sheet with a rack in the oven and keep the waffles at 200 degrees until you’re ready to serve. These are so damn good that I’m already thinking about getting a 4 slice waffle maker so I can make them more quickly which means making them more often. Yeah, they are that good.
Vanilla Bean Brown Butter Waffles
2 2/3 cup AP flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 vanilla beans, split and scraped
3 1/2 cups cultured lowfat buttermilk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, browned
4 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Brown the butter until foam subsides and it goes from being a lemony yellow to a toasty brown. As soon as it smells nutty, take it off the heat and transfer to a heat proof bowl. If left in the pan it can go from toasty perfection to burnt.
Heat your waffle maker and set to medium high. (That’s what worked for mine but you’ll have to test yours out to see what works best. Plus, I like mine on the crispy side and you may have another preference.)
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Scrape the vanilla seeds into the dry ingredients and whisk until they are evenly distributed.
Add buttermilk, browned butter, egg whites and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Some lumps are fine and it is always better to under mix than over mix waffle or pancake batters.
For uneven edged waffles, pour 1/2 cup batter into your waffle iron. Cook for 5-6 minutes. Top with chopped fruit and serve with vanilla yogurt and maple syrup. I have a feeling you will be seeing a lot of waffle recipes in the coming weeks so stay tuned. But as no fail, damn good recipes go, this is a good ‘un.