Gingerbread Waffles with Orange Maple Syrup Recipe

I love gingerbread.  I actually think that I enjoy making (and eating) ginger bread cookies more than the girls!  I think I must love late fall and early winter the most simply because I have so many excuses to make something with gingerbread!  This morning, the girls decided that they wanted to make waffles—but, they wanted something different.  How about gingerbread?  They were not so sure at first—but, after a few bites of these gingerbread waffles with orange maple syrup—the recipe was a hit.  I think these waffles just edged out our old standby--waffles with cherry sauce.

Ingredients for our Gingerbread Waffles with Orange Maple Syrup Recipe

 

Gingerbread Waffle Ingredients

1 ¾ c. All Purpose Flour (or 1 c. All purpose and ¾ c. Whole Wheat Flour)

1 Tbsp. Baking Powder

½ tsp. Salt

½ tsp. Cinnamon, ground

1/8 tsp. Cloves, ground

¼ tsp. Ginger, Ground

2 Large Eggs, lightly beaten

1 ¾ c. Milk

1 Tbsp. Granulate Sugar or Sugar Alternative

2 Tbsp. Molasses

½ c. Cooking Oil

Orange segments for garnish (optional)

Whipped Cream (optional)

Orange Maple Syrup Ingredients

½ c. Granulated Sugar or Sugar Alternative (like Stevia)

¼ c. Frozen, Orange Juice Concentrate

½ c. Maple Syrup

¼ c. Butter

Instructions for Gingerbread Waffles with Orange Maple Syrup

 

Prepare and preheat the waffle maker.  Preheat your waffle iron according to manufacturers instructions.  Spray each waffle well with non-stick cooking spray.

Prepare the gingerbread waffle batter.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.  Thoroughly mix to incorporate the spices completely.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, cooking oil, and molasses.  All at once, stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until well blended.

Cook the waffles.  Add waffle batter to the waffle iron according to package instructions.  I use a little over ¼ c. of batter in each well of my Belgian waffle maker.  Be sure to spread the batter evenly over the iron’s surface.  Cook the gingerbread waffles according to waffle iron instructions—generally until the device stops steaming.  Carefully remove the waffles from the waffle iron and keep warm.

Prepare the orange maple syrup.  While the waffles are cooking, combine the sugar, orange juice concentrate, maple syrup and butter in a small saucepan.  Cook and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves and a syrup forms—it does not take long.  Do take care to avoid over cooking for the sugar will caramelize.

Garnish and serve the gingerbread waffles.  Drizzle the warm orange, maple syrup over the warm waffles.  I garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and a few orange segments.  In a pinch, I’ll use canned and drained mandarin oranges.  We served with maple sausage and additional orange segments. 

Waffles are so versatile—they are not just suited for breakfast.  This was a yummy, Sunday brunch—but, I think I could even use these for busy night dinner. 

Enjoy!