Pumpkin Waffles with Caramelized Apples and Walnuts

To continue my pumpkin infatuation, here are pumpkin waffles with caramelized apples and walnuts!  Yum.  What a perfect way to start off your weekend!


Pumpkin Waffles with Caramelized Apples and Walnuts
adapted from smitten kitchen and other sources (for topping)

Waffles:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
4 large eggs, separated
2 cups well-shaken buttermilk
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin (I recommend organic!)
3/4 stick (6 TB) unsalted butter, melted
cooking spray or vegetable oil for buttering waffle iron

Topping:
2-3 TB unsalted butter
2 apples, sliced thin
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup toasted walnuts

 Preheat oven to 250F and preheat and oil waffle iron.

Sift or whisk together all dry ingredients (everything thru cloves).  Whisk egg yolks together in a large bowl with buttermilk, pumpkin and butter until smooth.  Whisk dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until smooth.

In a mixing bowl with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until they hold soft peaks.  Gently fold them into the batter, until just combined.

Spoon batter into waffle iron, spreading the batter quickly.  If you have a Belgian waffle iron, you may use about 2 cups of batter to make 4 4-inch waffles.  If you have a traditional waffle iron, I used between 1/3 and 1/2 cups of batter and made LOTS of traditional waffles.  I forgot to count, sorry, but they fed my family and I had plenty of leftovers for myself and the clever girl for 2 additional breakfasts!  Cook waffles according to the instructions of your particular waffle iron.

Transfer waffles directly to rack in the oven to keep warm and crisp.  Or serve them piping hot as they come out of the waffle iron!  If you prefer not to put them directly on your oven racks, place a cooling rack in a rimmed baking sheet and place in the oven while the oven is heating up.  Then just put the waffles on this contraption to keep warm!

To make topping:  Melt butter in a medium skillet.  Add the apples and cook for approximately 4 minutes or until crisp.  Add syrup and toasted walnuts and toss to coat.  Serve on top of hot waffles!
Printable Recipe

Yum.  What  a fantastic breakfast!