YEASTED WAFFLES
DON’T BE AFRAID OF YEAST. I know it’s scary and alive and honestly sometimes hard to find in the store lately, but yeast is your friend. It’s alive! And full of flavor. Yeast is what makes bread taste good. It adds a layer of complexity to any recipe. And waffles are a great place to start on your yeasted journey.
The YEASTED WAFFLE is probably the safest and yummiest way to introduce yourself to yeast in baking. First off this recipe has no kneading or manipulating the batter. You just add it and let it do it’s work. Yeast is alive, feeds on sugar and expels CO2 so that’s how you get an airy soft bread. But in a waffle iron, you get that soft airy inside with a crisp outside.
Plus the flavor! Yeast ads a “sour” note but before you freak out and think you’re about to whip up a batch of War Head waffles, relax. We’re not talking about that kind of sour. This subtle savory flavor will only complement and enhance all that maple syrup and butter (or fruit). And allowing your batter to rise overnight just gives the yeast more time to add a nice savory note to a sweet breakfast staple.
Make your batter the night before and add your eggs in the morning while making oven bacon for a perfect breakfast morning.
Yeasted Overnight Waffles
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon active-dry-yeast
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 400 grams (3 cups) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Combine the yeast and the warm water (about 90F) in a large mixing bowl and whisk for a few seconds. Let stand for a few minutes. Melt the butter. Combine the butter with milk, salt, and sugar. Make sure the mixture has cooled to luke warm, then mix into yeast mixture. (You don't want your liquids to be too hot or too cold when working with yeast. They like luke warm environments around 90F). Add the flour and whisk until a thick, shaggy batter is formed and there is no more visible flour.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot of your kitchen overnight. The batter will double or triple in size.
- The morning of, beat the eggs together with a whisk then add the baking soda and continue to whisk. Beat the eggs and baking soda into the batter until combined.
- Make the waffles according to your waffle maker's instructions. Cooking time will vary but typically 4 to 6 minutes is perfect.
- Serve immediately with fancy maple syrup and butter. Toast leftovers as a great snack.