Cinnamon Pecan Waffles

It's finally Friday and that means that it's almost the weekend!! The thing about the weekend that I love best is a slow, home-cooked breakfast. There's something about breakfast, at home, with a giant cup of freshly brewed coffee paired with warm fuzzy socks and uncombed hair (which Moses calls my "crazy hair") gets me every time. I love it when Moses and I end up hanging out in the kitchen so long that Vienna even decides she needs to make her way into the kitchen cause all of the other rooms in the house feel lonely. Next week, thanks to the power that is Thanksgiving, we all get a really long weekend that officially starts on Thursday! That basically means four whole magical breakfast opportunities. 

Waffles are one of those weekend luxuries that you don't turn to often enough. Or at least we don't. And now I'm kinda kicking myself wondering why because gosh, they're so damn good. On top of that, they're easy to throw together. Measure out few ingredients, whisk them together, and waffle! And they're awesome because you can customize them by adding spices, nuts, shredded coconut, cheese...yup, pretty much anything.  Today's waffle recipe def tops the list of most-loved because cinnamon and pears. And I love pears paired with spices. But you probably already guessed that after my nutmeg & pear pie. 

Why is it that pears are somewhat underrated, and I really don't get it because they're incredible. They're cozy, delicious, and beautiful! Especially when they're caramelized with brown butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. And when you plop a big dallop of vanilla bean mascarpone whipped cream, like woah. Yeah, like woah (and yeah, I just said that). That vanilla bean mascarpone whipped cream is definitely my favorite new waffle topping, or anything topping tbh. Trust me when I say that these are definitely being made next Thursday 'cuz my dad loves waffles almost as much as Moses and I do! Btw, I'm taking over the Simply Organic Instagram account today, sharing some of my favorite recipes in partnership with my favorite food sharing community, feedfeed, in case you're into things like cardamom rolls or ginger-rose shortbreads. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a happy week before Thanksgiving!!

Cinnamon Pecan Waffles with Caramelized Brown Butter Cinnamon Pears & Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Whipped Cream

Makes 8 - 10 waffles, depending on waffle iron

INGREDIENTS

WHIPPED CREAM

  • 3/4 c. heavy whipping cream, cold

  • 1/2 c. mascarpone cheese, softened at room temperature

  • Seeds of 1/2 vanilla bean

  • 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar

WAFFLES

  • 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter + 8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

  • 4 large red pears, cored and cut into 1/4-inch wedges

  • 1/3 c. + 1/4 c. packed light brown sugar, divided

  • 1/4 c. granulated sugar

  • 1 1/2 tsp. + 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

  • 1 tsp. kosher salt

  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

  • 2 eggs, room temperature and separated

  • 1 c. whole milk

  • 1 1/4 c. buttermilk

  • 1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 c. cornstarch

  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

  • 1 tsp. baking soda

TOOLS

  • Heavy bottomed skillet with lid

  • Mixing bowls

  • Small bowl

  • Plastic wrap

  • Measuring cups and spoons

  • Waffle iron/maker

  • Whisk

  • Stand mixer

  • Silicone spatula

  • Wire cooling rack and baking sheet

FIX

WHIPPED CREAM

  1. In the bowl of stand mixer, fitted with paddle attachment, combine cream and cheese and whip on medium speed until soft peaks start to firm.

  2. Add seeds of 1/2 a vanilla bean and powdered sugar and whip on low until combined.

  3. Transfer to a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator.

WAFFLES

  1. In a large, heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, melt the 3 tablespoons butter. Cook until it starts to brown then lower the heat to medium and immediately add the pears, 1/3 c. light brown sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir occasionally and cook until the pears are tender and the sugar caramelizes and becomes a syrupy consistency, around 15 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract and remove pan from heat. Cover with lid until ready to serve.

  2. Preheat your waffle iron/maker according to the manufacturer's instructions and preheat your oven to 200 °F.

  3. In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks, whole milk, buttermilk, 8 tablespoons melted butter and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla. In a medium bowl whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, the 1/3 cup sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk the flour mixture into the yolk mixture until smooth.

  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, around 1 minute. Using a silicone spatula, fold half the whites into the batter, then gently fold in the remaining whites.

  5. Fill wells of waffle maker according to manufacturers instructions and close lid. Cook until golden brown and crisp, around 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer cooked waffles to a wire rack on a baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Continue to fill wells and cook waffles until all the batter has been cooked.

  6. Top with caramelized pears and whipped cream.

  7. Serve and enjoy!

Note: Feel free to reduce the amount of salt if you desire!

Huge thanks to Simply Organic and feedfeed for sponsoring this post but as always all opinions are my own. Like the fact that I'm a huge fan of Simply Organic spices and love that they're all, well, organic! 

food, recipesAlana Kysarbreakfast, cinnamon, waffles, pecan, mainsComment