Crispy Waffles With Salted Caramel Couls Food

CLASSIC CRISPY WAFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat a waffle iron to medium-high. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (to keep cooked waffles warm). Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together the milk, butter, shortening and eggs in another bowl. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and gently stir until just incorporated (it's okay if there are some lumps).
• Lightly brush the top and bottom of the waffle iron with butter. Fill the waffle iron about three-quarters of the way full (some waffle iron should still be showing). Close the lid gently and cook until the waffles are golden brown and crisp, 6 to 7 minutes. Keep the cooked waffles warm in the oven or covered with foil on a plate while you make the remaining waffles.
• Serve with maple syrup, butter, sugar or fruit preserves.

CRISPY WAFFLES WITH SALTED CARAMEL COULIS

Steps:

• make salted caramel coulis
• Combine the sugar and water in a heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and boil without stirring until the syrup is a deep amber color, occasionally brushing down the sides with a wet pastry brush and swirling the pan, about 10 minutes.
• Add the cream (mixture will bubble vigorously) and stir over low heat until any caramel bits dissolve. Remove from the heat. Stir in the butter and salt. Transfer the caramel to a small pitcher or bowl. Cool.
• make waffles
• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl to blend. Whisk the milk, eggs, and melted butter in a medium bowl to blend. Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients in the large bowl and whisk until batter is smooth.
• Heat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions (medium-high heat). Brush the grids lightly with peanut oil. Pour enough batter onto each waffle grid to cover generously (heaping 1/2 cup batter for an 4 1/2 by 3 1/2-inch grid); spread evenly with an offset spatula. Close the waffle iron and cook until the waffles are golden brown and crisp on both sides, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Cut each waffle in half, forming either rectangles or triangles. Divide the waffles among 4 plates. Dust with confectioners' sugar and drizzle with the coulis. Serve waffles, passing remaining salted caramel coulis separately.
• Special equipment: Waffle iron

CHOCOLATE & SALTED CARAMEL WAFFLE BREAD & BUTTER PUDDING

Steps:

• Fill a large pan with a few centimetres of water and set over a medium heat. Set a large heatproof bowl over the pan - it should sit on top without touching the water. Break the chocolate into the bowl, then tip in the cream, milk, butter, caster sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Reduce the heat to low, and stir the mixture until everything has melted together and is glossy. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
• Spread the caramel over the base of a baking dish (ours was 30 x 22cm), then sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt. Cut the waffles in half diagonally, then arrange over the caramel in overlapping rows.
• Pour the egg yolks into the warm chocolate mixture, mixing well as you do until all of the egg is fully incorporated. Carefully pour the chocolate custard over the waffles, ensuring they're fully covered. Leave to soak for at least 1 hr, or cover and chill overnight.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and uncover the dish if it has been chilled. Bake the pudding for 30 mins until the custard is set with a slight wobble in the centre. Leave to stand for 5 mins, then dust lightly with icing sugar, if you like, and scoop into bowls to serve.

WAFFLES WITH BANANA & SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the sugar, golden syrup and butter in a saucepan and heat gently, stirring occasionally, until everything has melted together. When the mixture starts to bubble, stir in the double cream and cook for 2 mins. Stir in 1/2 tsp salt, then take off the heat and allow to cool slightly in the pan.
• Heat the waffle maker (if you don't have one, you can use a griddle pan instead - see tip). Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks. In a separate large bowl, mix together the flour, bicarbonate, caster sugar and a pinch of salt. Make a well in the centre and add the egg yolks and melted butter. Start mixing with a balloon whisk; keep whisking as you slowly add the milk until you get a smooth, thick batter. Carefully fold in the egg whites with a metal spoon. Use a ladle to pour the batter into your waffle maker and cook for 5 mins or according to the manufacturer's instructions. Repeat until all the batter has been used up - keep cooked waffles warm in a low oven until serving.
• Just before serving, heat the remaining butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and fry the banana pieces until golden. Divide the waffles between 4 plates, top with the fried bananas, drizzle with salted caramel and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if you like.