How to make Belgian waffles – recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass

Updated at: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 20:01:38 GMT

Step 1

Prep 15 min

Step 2

Rest 1 hr+

Step 3

Cook 25 min

Step 4

Makes 10

Step 5

1 Make the batter well ahead

Step 6

2 Add the yeast to warm milk

Step 7

Melt the butter in a pan and set aside.

Step 8

Warm the milk to roughly blood temperature, then stir in the yeast and a pinch of sugar, then leave to sit until the surface of the milk is covered in tiny bubbles (if this doesn’t happen, either your milk was too hot or the yeast is dead).

Step 9

3 Mix the dry

Step 10

Meanwhile, put the flour, cornmeal or polenta, if using, in a large bowl. (Polenta is optional, but will give the finished waffles some extra crunch; it’s often found in the speciality or world food aisles of larger supermarkets. Add another tablespoon of flour if you aren’t using it).

Step 11

Add the salt and the rest of the sugar, and whisk to combine.

Step 12

4 Mix the wet , then add to the dry

Step 13

Beat the buttermilk, melted butter and egg in a jug (if you can’t find buttermilk, use 240ml extra milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar stirred in).

Step 14

When the yeast is ready, whisk the milk mix into the same jug, then gently stir it all into the dry ; don’t overmix or your waffles will be tough.

Step 15

5 Cover and rest

Step 16

Cover the bowl loosely with a tea towel or similar and leave to sit at room temperature for an hour or so, or overnight (this can either be at room temperature or in the fridge, if you prefer). I think the longer rise gives them an even better flavour, but they’ll still be good if cooked on the same day.

Step 17

6 Grease the waffle iron

Step 18

Turn the oven on low, to keep the cooked waffles warm later, unless you have an audience ready to eat them as fast as you can make them.

Step 19

Lightly grease a waffle iron, then put it on a medium-high heat (or, if using an electric one, whatever setting the manufacturer recommends). Make sure the iron is hot before adding any batter.

Step 20

7 Cook the first waffle

Step 21

Pour in just enough batter to cover the base of the waffle plates, spreading it out with a spatula and bearing in mind that it will rise during cooking, then turn down the heat slightly and close the lid (again, if using an electric waffle maker, follow the manufacturer’s ). Cook for about 45-60 seconds, until golden on the underside.

Step 22

8 Flip and cook on the other side

Step 23

Flip the waffle iron, so the other side is now on the heat (you won’t need to do this with an electric maker) and cook for up to four minutes, or until golden and crisp on the other side. Serve at once, or put in the oven to keep warm while you repeat with the remaining batter.

Step 24

For a quick compote to serve on top, put 500g berries of your choice in a medium pan with three tablespoons of fruit juice or water and a teaspoon of sugar or honey. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and bubble until the fruit has broken down. Taste and add more sugar, or a pinch of sweet spice, if you fancy.

0 liked

0 disliked