Source: Everybody eats Well in Belgium Cookbook By R. Van Waerebeek
Makes 4 servings.
Preparation time: 1:20 hours
Tips: Buttery and sweet, serve with fresh fruit.
Sugar Waffles from Liege
Ingredients
Preparation
Batter 1:
5 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast, 2 env or 1 1/4 oz fresh
1/4 cup warm water (about 100 F degrees
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1/3 cup milk, warmed at 100 F Degrees
Batter 2:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 cup pearl sugar or 3/4 cup crushed cubes
1. Prepare Batter 1: In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water with 1 tablespoon of the flour and the sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Sift remaining flour into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture, egg and milk. Mix well with wooden spoon to make a smooth batter. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until the batter has doubled or tripled in volume. (see note 1)
3. Meanwhile, prepare Batter 2: In a medium size bowl, mix the butter, flour, salt, vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon (if using), granulated sugar, and pearl sugar into a paste.
4. With your hands, work Batter 2 into batter 1 until well mixed. Batter is stiffer than a usual waffle batter, using a spoon dough will cling to it and not drop. Sprinkle a little flour on top of batter.
5. Using a large spoon and a spatula, spoon a lump of dough in the middle of each waffle section of your a medium-hot waffle iron. For a square 4 section like mine, drop 4 lumps quickly, gently spread with spatula and close iron .Don't let the iron become too hot or the sugar will burn. Bake until the waffles are golden brown but still slightly soft, 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Serve the sugar waffles lukewarm or cooled to room temperature on a rack.
Waffles are soft and very buttery, I like mine with fresh fruit to contrast their richness.
Sugar waffles will keep well for several days in a airtight container, if you manage to have any left over.
NOTES : I added this recipe in honor of my mother, a native from Liege, Belgium. Although she loved waffles, she did not make them at home.
1) To create a warm environment for the batter to rise, turn your oven to preheat at 200 F degrees for 10 minutes and turn it off. Let the batter rise in the oven with the door closed.
Makes two (7" , 4 section waffles) = 8 ( 3.5" square waffles)
