Here's a fun question from Jennie, who is throwing a waffle party for her husband this weekend. She writes:
I'm throwing a birthday brunch gathering for my husband this Sunday. Instead of brunch basics though, I'm envisioning a full-out Waffle Bar - I'll churn out homemade Belgian beauties and my guests can choose from an array of fabulous toppings. Here's where I'm stuck:
1. Thoughts on making waffles ahead of time and keeping warm in the oven? Will they get soggy?
2. For toppings I've got fresh fruit, Nutella, dark chocolate sauce, maple syrup and whipped cream. What else would be delish on waffles?
Jennie, what a fun birthday idea! I think waffles make a great brunch centerpiece; they aren't an everyday breakfast food, and it's fun to fill up those little holes with syrup.
This also reminds me of the waffles I had at a concert just before Christmas. They were made by Taste From Belgium, a Cincinnati company. (Forgive the heinous photo; all I had was a phone.) They make these thick, almost rotund, waffles with a rich, yeasty chewiness and texture. They make the dough ahead of time and roll it into balls with ice cream scoops. Then they slap the refrigerated dough on their seriously industrial waffle iron and cook it for a few minutes. They sprinkle the waffles with pearl sugar while they're cooking so the outside gets all caramelized. They hand you the finished waffle, piping hot, in a little sleeve of paper -- no forks needed.
These things are heavenly. They made me see waffles in an all-new way. So, obviously I am going to suggest a yeasted waffle recipe - they just have more heft, and they also seem to hold up better than the regular soda-batter waffles.
I would also suggest doing like Taste From Belgium and making and scooping your dough the night before. Then you can make waffles to order very quickly; you may not even need your oven. Here are some yeasted waffle recipes:
• Craving: Overnight Yeasted Waffles
Also, here is Taste From Belgium's website. If you are in Ohio, check them out.
• Taste From Belgium
For toppings, we don't have a lot of ideas - yours sound great. Perhaps add some creme fraiche, honey, and jams? You could also have dishes of crumbled bacon, cheese, and green onions for anyone who wanted to try a savory version.
Readers... more waffle bar ideas?
Related: Weekend Project: Family Brunch!
(Image: Martha Stewart's Gingerbread Waffles)
Waffles stay warm in the oven pretty well if you put them either directly on the rack or on a wire rack on a cookie sheet. They stay nice and crispy.
Your suggestions sound lovely for toppings but I like peanut butter, too (with syrup. Yes, it's very very sticky but also very, very good). Good jams would be nice, or maybe lemon curd. Cinnamon and sugar, maybe?
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile
My uncle is super into waffles and makes a killer banana sauce for them. It definitely has bananas and sugar, plus milk, and is pureed, but I don't know the specifics. It's basically liquid banana so I don't think they really matter too much.
view mandarinmarie's profile
Yum! I also recommend confectioners sugar with a squeeze of fresh lemon.
view purdygirl's profile
This site has a recipe for chunky peach topping for pancakes that would be great. I just made it last night and it got rave reviews.
view spossberg's profile
try heating up your favorite jelly or jam in the microwave until its pourable. i love apricot on waffles!
view jaygarf's profile
Ice Cream! Waffle cones, or just a waffle - You decide!
view hmr's profile
I second cinnamon and confectioner's sugar. Also, butter!
And I LOVE the idea of having savory toppings, too. Maybe even salsa?
view nani-susie's profile
Lemon curd - delicious, and you can just make it in the microwave. It keeps well in the fridge, too, so you can easily make it ahead.
view marisab's profile
Raspberry coulis - just puree a pound of raspberries with a tablespoon or two of sugar. Divine on waffles, with or without other toppings.
I usually make waffles the night before, freeze them, and re-heat them in the oven - refrigerating them isn't good for the texture.
Also, try using spelt flour for waffles sometime. It produces the best waffles I've ever made.
view Stiletto's profile
Fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, peaches) and nuts (pecans, almonds and hazelnuts) are wonderful toppings but why limit yourself to sweet toppings. Have bacon, sausage and cheese and encorage your guests to make breakfast sandwiches with the waffles. They are delicious. Great, now I am drooling all over my keyboard.
view Luxeport's profile
Do like the Norwegians, where waffles are practically the national food and eat your waffles with strawberry jam and sour cream, I never would have tried the combo but everyone I introduce it to loves it! I will never go back to maple syrup!
view marr's profile
Can never make enough fried apple or pear slices for weekeend waffles, by fried, I mean sauteed in butter, also like to use any type of frozen fruit, esp. berry combinations and sugar, cooked into sauce, boiled honey and bourbon, with toasted pecans, endless.....
view Kate (NC)'s profile
Yes, berry coulis. I make mine without sugar using frozen fruit. Thaw the fruit and puree with an immersion blender. It's better than syrup and healthier!
We used to eat waffles with ice cream as a treat when we were kids, but that's probably overboard for breakfast.
view kelleyk's profile
You can make all the waffles the day before, freezen them, and then reheat them in the oven.
Walnuts/Pecans with blueberries or bananas are great on waffles. So is honeycomb, greek yogurt and fruit! Strawberry or orange butter is my fave!
view CarrieCooks's profile
carmelized apples! Chop up apples into a pan with lots of butter and sugar and some cinnamon and whatever else, cook until they are soft and yummy.
view inothernews's profile
Oh yeah, lingonberry jam from IKEA!
view inothernews's profile
Strawberries, chocolate chips, peanut butter, bacon.... not all together of course.
view girlhealthy's profile
While waffles are awesome, I should point out that my friend Amy Snider had an amazing Oatmeal Bar brunch party in her book FIBER BOOST.
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Fiber-Boost-Everyday-Cooking-Healthy-Amy-Snider/9781552635926-item.html?PRODUCTTYPE=1&AFFID=107610
view Dana McCauley's profile
NotMartha did bacon stuffed waffles last week that look amaaaaazing:
http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2009/02/23/bacon-stuffed-waffles/
view erin in indy's profile
The only way I can EVER get crispy waffles is to pop them into the toaster for a bit after cooking them. Just as good frozen and thawed as straight out of the waffle maker.
Might be a fun idea to have a toaster or two on hand, as people like their waffles different levels of crispness anyway.
Unfortunately sometimes it means breaking the waffle in 1/2 or even 1/4 to fit it into a standard toaster slot.
Toppings? Cant beat a variety of fresh fruit, berries especially.
view adamwa's profile
haven't tried it, but the waffle topping recipe in this post looks great:
http://good-life-eats.blogspot.com/2009/02/to-taste-tuesday_24.html
these waffles are fabulous! we just put them on a wire rack to cool and freeze in gallon freezer bags. to reheat pop in the toaster.
http://good-life-eats.blogspot.com/2008/12/waffles.html
this topping is from a french toast recipe, but I think would be awesome on waffles now that I'm thinking about it!
http://good-life-eats.blogspot.com/2009/02/french-toast-with-caramelized-pears.html
also, I love any kind of berries with whipped cream!
view goodLife{eats}'s profile
I've had waffles topped with white sauce my entire life. It is so yummy and easy to make. Heat 2 cups of milk in a sauce pan. In a separate bowl, sift 1/4 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Add 1/2 cup of warmed milk to the sugar mix and stir until dissolved. Gradually add to the pot of milk. Cook until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Enjoy!
view carmelita 's profile
I'm pretty sure ANYTHING on those plates in the first photo will be amazing!
view Damfino's profile
i'm a fan of greek yogurt with a fruit sauce of some kind, or peanut/almond butter with maple syrup.
view ellenp1214's profile
Maybe for a sovory twist (depending yoru budget) some smoked salmon, dill, and crème fraîche or cream cheese ?
Some scrambled eggs (it does require making just a big bowl and sitting them on the table, where they risk being soggy..) and peppery bacon ?
Very chunky applesauce and nuts ?
view Marie-Eve's profile
how about that browned butter that was featured on the Kitchn last week? After that's made, whip it with some sugar or honey. That on some waffles with bacon and maybe a fried egg... mmm damn you guys for making me hungry!
view chusmabilly's profile
Carmelita's white sauce comment made me think of sausage gravy - which while good on biscuits, would also be good on waffles.
view sara jane's profile
Well this is a little late, but I do this every year for my holiday party! Here is what I usually have, in addition to the classic maple syrup.
thinly sliced bananas mixed with brown sugar
cinnamon and sugar
blueberries
diced apples mixed with sugar and cinnamon
ice cream (I usually use EggNog around the holidays, but a good vanilla would be delicious too.)
mini chocolate chips
peaches in a light syrup (I can these in the summer, but you can get store bought)
plain powdered sugar
sliced strawberries with a hint of sugar
jellies/jams
view cptmoll's profile
Thanks everyone!! Waffles turned out great - just ended up doing them to order and fending off the hordes with egg casserole while they waited.
Next time:
1. I will make lemon curd!
2. I will try yeasted waffles!
3. I will DEFINITELY try some savory options - the recipe for the bacon stuffed waffles sounds ridiculously good.
4. I need a bigger apt/kitchen so I can have more people over for waffles!
view willson's profile