Belgian Yeast Waffles

Paul insisted that I blog about these immediately. He officially declared them "The Best Waffles Ever" while stuffing his face with his 2nd or 3rd. At dinnertime, he was STILL talking about them. "How can you go back to regular waffles after having yeasted ones?" He seriously hasn't been this impressed by something in a long time. Then again, Paul does love waffles.

And he is absolutely right about these.

They are airy, light, and have an incredibly crisp exterior encompassing a wonderfully creamy interior. Not to mention this recipe is ridiculously simple ease and convenient to throw together. You simply mix the batter up the night before, let it hang out in the fridge overnight, and everything is pretty much ready for you to make a delicious special breakfast in the morning! We topped ours with strawberries, whipped cream, and maple syrup but they were almost good enough to eat on their own.

If you like an especially yeasty flavor (more on the sourdough side), definitely add the sugar! If you prefer a more mild yeast flavor, you may omit it. We personally loved the yeast flavor - but then again, we are big fans of sourdough bread.

Give these a try! They may become your new favorite waffles.

Yeasted Belgian Waffles

from King Arthur Flour

This recipe yields about 5-6 waffles depending on the your particular appliance. If you do not have a Belgian waffle maker, go ahead and use your regular waffle iron. I'm sure it will still be delicious!

1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk

6 tablespoons butter, melted

2-3 tablespoons maple syrup (optional)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine. The mixture might be lumpy - that's ok! Cover with plastic wrap and let it hang out on the counter for 1 hour. The mixture should begin to bubble.

After 1 hour, place in the refrigerator until the next morning.

Cook on your waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Top with more maple syrup and bananas, strawberries, whipped cream, and/or chocolate syrup!