Lemon Belgian Waffles with Blueberry Syrup

I can't believe I've had this blog for nearly 10 months and I haven't posted one waffle recipe yet! Breakfast foods are some of my favorites to make (and blog) so I can't tell you why I've waited until now to do a waffle post. 

In my home I make pancakes and french toast more often than waffles and I think one reason I prefer to do so is because with Belgian waffles you can only make one at a time. With pancakes and french toast I can make like 6 at a time. I've been wanting to buy one of the Belgian waffle irons that cooks two at a time. I have a long list of kitchen gadgets I want, you'd think the list would get shorter as I get more things but it just gets longer. I don't get into fancy clothes and home decor just fancy kitchen accessories =). I'm running out of kitchen storage space.

Anyway, thanks to this recipe I know waffles are going to make their way into my home far more often, even if it means cooking one at a time until I get a double Belgian waffle iron. These are crisp on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. Just as a waffle should be. You get a perfect flavor combination when you pair the vibrant, citrus flavor of the lemon waffle with the sweet, mellow flavor of the fresh blueberries. I decided to add a little bit of applesauce in this recipe rather than doing all oil. I like to be just a little healthy when I can =). If you want to you could replace the applesauce with more oil or butter but I do love them just as they are. Also, if you didn't notice I added the lemon poppy seed variation at the bottom. All you have to do is add poppy seeds since these are already lemon. Enjoy!

Lemon Belgian Waffles
Yields 5-6 waffles


Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup milk 
2 Tbsp vegetable oil (or melted butter, cooled)
2 Tbsp applesauce
2 large eggs, separated
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 tbsp lemon zest
2 Tbsp lemon juice


Directions:
Preheat a Belgian waffle iron (and butter if necessary). In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together buttermilk, milk vegetable oil, applesauce, 2 egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice. In a small mixing bowl, using and electric hand mixer, beat 2 egg whites until soft peaks form.
While whisking, slowly add flour mixture to buttermilk mixture and whisk just until combine (don't over-mix, batter should be slightly lumpy). Using a rubber spatula, gently fold egg whites into batter just until combine. Cook batter (mine fit about 3/4 cup) on waffle iron according to manufactures directions, until golden (cooking time will vary depending on brand and model of waffle iron). Slowly lift lid when removing waffle from iron so waffle doesn't split. Serve warm with Blueberry Syrup, Vanilla Cream Syrup, Maple Syrup or butter and powdered sugar. 

Lemon Poppy Seed Variation: simply mix in 3 Tbsp poppy seeds into flour mixture and prepare as directed. I would recommend serving them with Vanilla Cream Syrup and if you want to make it Lemon Vanilla Cream Syrup just add a little bit of lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Blueberry Syrup


Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 cup cold water
2 cups fresh blueberries (frozen works too, I use frozen when not in season)
1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice


Directions:
Whisk together sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Stir in water, add blueberries and lemon juice. Cook mixture over medium high heat, stirring frequently until mixture reaches a boil. Once mixture reaches a boil, reduce heat to medium low and allow to gently boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour syrup into a blender, cover and blend on low speed about 1 minute until well pureed. Alternately, if you don't want skins and seeds, force mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Store in refrigerator up to one week (You will likely have some left over, it makes great blueberry lemonade. Just add cold blueberry syrup and lemon juice to sparkling water to taste).


Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Coconut French Toast with Coconut Syrup

Hello Breakfast! Ordinary French toast gets a major upgrade with a few exciting coconut additions. This fluffy french toast is made with creamy coconut milk and then it gets more real coconut flavor from pure coconut extract. Then it's cooked until perfectly golden and drenched with an irresistible, deliciously sweet coconut syrup (which again is full of real coconut flavor from coconut milk and extract) and to finish it's sprinkled with what more but the real thing, shredded sweetened coconut. 
I listed below additional ideas for this french toast which I cannot wait to make in the future. This recipe is definitely going into my breakfast (and dinner) rotation! Enjoy and share!

Coconut French Toast
Yields 10 slices (about 5 servings)


Ingredients:
1/2 cup canned coconut milk, well shaken
1/2 cup milk
5 large eggs
1/2 tsp coconut extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
10 1" slices day or two old French Bread
Coconut Syrup, for serving, recipe follows
Sweetened shredded coconut, for serving, optional


Directions:
Preheat a non-stick electric griddle to 350 degrees. In a blender, combine coconut milk, milk, eggs, coconut extract, vanilla extract, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend on low speed about 10 seconds until well blended. Pour mixture into a shallow bowl. Butter preheated griddle and dip bread slices into egg mixture and allow bread several seconds to absorb the mixture (I like to gently squeeze it like a sponge to make sure it gets soaked all the way through) then allow some of the excess to drip off. Cook on buttered griddle until golden on bottom, then lift bread with a spatula and butter griddle again. Then flip french toast to opposite side and cook opposite side until golden brown. Serve warm with coconut syrup and sprinkle with optional sweetened shredded coconut.


So I haven't tried this yet but I need to very soon, this french toast would be excellent if each slice were coated in a combination crushed cornflakes and ground sweetened shredded coconut (after you dip it in the egg mixture) and then cooked on a buttered griddle as directed. And to go one step further you could slice each piece of bread down the center stuff it with bananas with a little bit of brown sugar or crushed pineapple, diced mangoes or diced strawberries with sugar.


Coconut Syrup


Ingredients:
6 Tbsp butter
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup canned coconut milk, well shaken
1 pinch salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp coconut extract


Directions:
Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in sugar, coconut milk and salt. Bring mixture just to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and coconut extract, whisk mixture for about 10 seconds until frothy. Serve warm. Store in refrigerator up to one week in an airtight container.


Recipe Source: Cooking Classy (adapted slightly from my Buttermilk French Toast and Vanilla Cream Syrup)

Doughnut Pancakes with Doughnut Glaze Syrup

Yes. Yes, yes, yes! Doughnuts collide with pancakes to make one unbelievable breakfast (or dessert)! If you want to show someone how amazing you think they are, say for the up coming Father's Day or a birthday then these are a great way to express your love and appreciation for that special someone =). I know I'd feel pretty awesome getting these for breakfast in bed on my Birthday. I'm always trying to think of new recipes, new food ideas and things out of the ordinary. This is a result of one of those random thoughts. I love to create new recipes, you could probably say I'm addicted. It's hard to keep me out of the kitchen basically. These are one of the funnest recipes I think I've made. Who doesn't love a sweet, tender doughnut or a fluffy stack of pancakes? Everyone who tried these thought they were delicious, and the kids faces lit up with utter excitement just upon seeing them. These taste just like cake doughnuts and pancakes in one. They're fluffy, perfectly sweet and melt in your mouth delicious. Can I eat these for every meal =)? Enjoy and share!

Doughnut Pancakes
Yields 10-12 (4-5 inch) pancakes


Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups milk
2 large eggs
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp applesauce
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil, for brushing griddle
1 recipe Doughnut Glaze Syrup


Directions:
Preheat an non-stick electric griddle to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, 2 Tbsp vegetable oil, applesauce and granulated sugar until well blended. Add in dry ingredients and mix until combine (batter should be slightly lumpy, don't over-mix). Pour half of the batter into a sandwich size ziploc bag and seal bag (I tried pouring all of it into a large ziploc and just found it was easier to work in two smaller batches). Brush preheated griddle generously with vegetable oil (I used a silicone baster and brushed the areas where the pancake batter would be poured. The vegetable oil is an important part of the "fried" doughnut flavor so that's why I stated "generously"). Cut about a 1 inch corner off the ziploc bag (while holding it with the tip pointing upward so the batter doesn't pour right out), then carefully pipe doughnut shapes onto oiled griddle*. Cook pancake until golden on bottom, then lift pancake with a spatula and brush griddle again with vegetable oil then carefully flip to opposite side. Cook opposite side until golden. Repeat process with remaining batter. Serve Doughnut Pancakes warm, with Doughnut Glaze Syrup and sprinkles of course =).


*note: the first one will probably be a practice pancake, the second should look better once you get the feel for it. The batter will spread slightly as it cooks so keep that in mind when judging how large you keep the hole in the center of the circle. Also, after piping each pancake, return bag with the cut opening facing upright so batter doesn't continue to pour out. If you find it too difficult to get the shape you want you could just ladle (and slightly spread the batter so the centers aren't thicker) onto the griddle and do normal shaped pancakes then use a small circle cookie/fondant cutter and cut a circle through the center of the pancake after it's been cooked.


Doughnut Glaze Syrup


Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract


Directions:
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once butter has melted, stir in powdered sugar, salt and milk. Whisk until sugar has dissolved completely then stir in baking soda and whisk for about 30 seconds until frothy. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Serve warm over Doughnut Pancakes. Store in refrigerator up to one week.

Banana Bread Pancakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Syrup

I admit it I'm pancake crazy =). I should start a food blog dedicated to pancakes. That's just how much I love pancakes. There are endless flavor possibilities and who doesn't love a warm fluffy pancake smothered in syrup to wake up to first thing in the morning? The great thing about this version is that they have all the flavors of banana bread but they are ready to eat in less than half the time. Plus you get this amazing Cinnamon Cream Cheese Syrup generously smothered over them which you don't get on banana bread. This pancake recipe will very likely keep you coming back for more. You can now have another use for the overripe bananas in your home, so move over banana bread you aren't the best thing for speckled bananas anymore. 

Banana Bread Pancakes

Yields about 1 dozen 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp milk

1 cup mashed well, overripe bananas (about 2 bananas)

1/4 cup sour cream

1 egg

2 Tbsp butter, melted

banana slices, for garnish (optional)

chopped walnuts or pecans, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Preheat a non-stick griddle to 325 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, set aside. In a separate mixing bowl whisk together buttermilk, milk, mashed bananas, sour cream, egg and melted butter. Add dry ingredients to milk mixture and whisk just until combine (batter should be slightly lumpy, don't over-mix or your pancakes won't be as fluffy). Pour about 1/4 cup mixture onto buttered preheated griddle and using the measuring cup slightly spread the batter outward keeping a circular form (this helps them to be more even so you don't get the fat center and thin sides). Cook until bubbles begin to appear on the surface and bottom is golden, then flip pancake and cook opposite side until golden. Serve immediately with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Syrup and garnish with optional banana slices and chopped nuts.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Syrup

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup buttermilk

4 oz cream cheese

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium low heat. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, buttermilk and cream cheese. Cook mixture, whisking constantly until cream cheese has melted. Stir in baking soda and whisk for about 10 seconds until very frothy. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Serve warm. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week. 

Note: leftover syrup is delicious over oatmeal, especially with a ripe banana mixed in.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy