Waffles - YUM! I think of them as a very indulgent breakfast option, but in fact they aren't really too high in sugar and fat, (depending on your recipe, of course, and what you choose to put on them!).
The thought of mixing up batter and making them fresh first thing in the morning is lovely, but in our house, not likely to happen, (we're in a 'toddler up before 6am' phase, and dragging some cornflakes into a bowl is about as much as I can muster most days!). So, I've been experimenting with making up batches of waffles and freezing them, then just popping them straight in the toaster in the morning., topping with fresh fruit, yoghurt and a drizzle of maple syrup.
I also love waffles as a pudding, and below is one of the most 'naughty-but-nice' ideas I've tried. It sounds like a terrible faff, making waffles and making a plum crumble, but I cheated (!) so it's super-easy and such an awesome dessert if you have friends or family round.
I'll be the first to admit that I always thought a waffle-maker was one of those faddy kitchen gadgets that you might use once or twice, then push to the back of the hardest-to-reach cupboard and forget about until you next move house. Needless to say, I've never tried using one, but I do absolutely LOVE waffles, so was intrigued and excited when Sage by Heston Blumenthal asked if I would be interested in receiving a No-Mess Waffle Maker to review.
No-Mess? Is waffle-making particularly messy? Oh yes! Well, it would be without Heston's clever little 'moat' around the edge - you see, the batter has a raising agent in, (baking powder or yeast in Beigian waffles), so unless you pour in precisely the right amount of batter, it expands and oozes out the sides as it cooks. With any lesser waffle maker, this would end up all over your worktop, but with this super-duper No-Mess version, it pours into a trough, which as well as being neat and tidy provides whoever's cooking with a tasty pre-breakfast treat! (Just to make sure they are OK, you understand).
The No-Mess Waffle Maker also has adjustable browning control, which is particularly useful when I'm making a batch to freeze - you want them slightly under-done as they will get a second toasting when you get them out of the freezer. I've also found that different recipes brown at very different rates, so keep checking the first of any batch. I made a vegan waffle using chia seed as an egg-replacer. Really delicious, (I actually preferred it to the 'Classic Waffle' recipe below so will add in options if you want to try it), but it did need cooking for a little longer to get really crisp.
What do you like on your waffles?
Plum Crumble Waffles (Vegan)
Ingredients
For the Waffles:
- 100 g wholemeal flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 20 g sugar
- pinch salt
- 145 ml dairy-free milk (soya, oat or nut milk)
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ banana
- 20 g dairy-free margarine melted
For the quick plum crumble topping:
- 6 plums halved and stones removed
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 100 g ready-made crumble mix (check it is vegan)
- handful porridge oats
Instructions
- Start by making the plum crumble topping - preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F / Gas Mark 6. Place the halved plums skin-side-down in a greased oven-proof dish, (try to tuck them as closely together as possible, so use a fairly small dish). Scatter them with 1 tablespoon sugar, then the crumble mix and oats. Bake for 30 minutes or until the crumble is golden and crispy.
- Meanwhile, make the waffles - combine in the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl. Next, in a mixing jug combine the milk, vanilla extract, banana and melted margarine. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix with a for for a minute or too until smooth.
- Heat up the waffle maker. Pour in one-third of the batter, close the lid and cook until ready. Repeat for the final two waffles. Slice them into quarters, plate up two quarters per serving, and top each with half a crumble-topped plum. If you want to make the waffles ahead, just cook a little less (so they are a little paler than usual), then pop the quarters in the toaster for a minute before serving. This would be lovely with a scoop of vegan ice cream or drizzle of soya custard!
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Nutrition
Disclosure: Sage by Heston Blumenthal sent me a No-Mess Waffle Maker - there was no expectation of a positive review. This post contains affiliate links.
Choclette says
This sounds gorgeous and as I don't really like sweet things for breakfast, making them into a dessert sounds perfect. that waffle maker sounds rather wonderful too. But please don't tell me you can buy crumble mix Kate?
thevegspace says
Hahaa - oh I feel terribly guilty now Choclette, yes I bought crumble mix just to save another element in the recipe / 10 mins prep time / another dirty bowl in the process. But it is not as good as homemade, quite powdery with no lovely chunks you get in proper crumble, though adding a handful of oats does improve the texture.
Camilla says
Gorgeous photos and recipe which have inspired me to get my waffle iron out this weekend;-)
thevegspace says
Thanks Camilla - let me know what you put on your waffles, always looking for new ideas!
kate @veggie desserts says
This sounds absolutely amazing. I love plums, I love crumble and I love waffles. What a fantastic combo! And the waffle maker looks great. 🙂
thevegspace says
Thanks Kate - yes a little indulgent perhaps, but tasted gooood!
Nadia's Healthy Kitchen says
Looks and sounds absolutely divine Kate! 😀 Love the idea of using a crumble as a topping for waffles, yum! Pinned 🙂
thevegspace says
Thanks Nadia! Felt a little guilty that everyone else's waffle recipes I linked to were super-healthy, and mine was basically two desserts piled on top of each other, but they did taste good!!