10 REASONS WAFFLES ARE BETTER THAN PANCAKES


Waffles with maple-toffee apples

Every year on my birthday, I get waffles with strawberry salsa and vanilla ice-cream for breakfast and it's always the best breakfast of the year. It's not yet my birthday, but I've decided that I need more waffles in my life. So with my brand-spanking-new waffle iron in hand, I present, 10 reasons waffles are better than pancakes:
  • It's a well-known fact that the first pancake always burns or cooks weirdly. What a waste of time and batter.
  • When you make waffles, you don't have the tedious task of turning them. (I've never been able to throw a pancake in the air to flip it anyway.)
  • Pancakes are pretty easy and very common, but waffles are a treat... unless you've been living with me since I bought my waffle iron!!
  • Pancakes have less calories due only to the fact that you can make them as small as you like. Who would ever ask for a small waffle??
  • Waffles cook all the way through - every time. There is no gluiness in a waffle.
  • Waffles are perfect for being cut into symmetrical pieces. Many say pancakes are to be rolled, but often the roll is too thick and the syrup just oozes out the ends. (Crepes are the pan-fried delicacy that are best rolled and/or folded. Just sayin'.)
  • Waffles have genius cubic grooves that allow them to carry more butter, syrup, sauce and/or icecream to your tastebuds. Some say pancakes soak up the syrup, but quite frankly, I have never seen a pancake soak enough syrup to match the depth of a waffle's grooves.
  • Waffles are always the same size and shape, which is pleasing to an OCD, ratio-obsessed foodie like me.
  • Cold waffles have the ability to be toasted and reheated back to glory. This ability is totally unparalleled by their cakey counterparts.
  • Waffles are crispier, but they still maintain a slight fluffiness inside each ridge. If your pancakes are crispy, they're probably burnt.

What you'll need:
1 cup plain flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
310ml buttermilk
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 egg, separated
1/4 teaspoon sea salt flakes
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Caramelised apple:
20g butter
4 small red apples
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup

What to do:
To make the caramelised apples, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the apple, sugar and maple syrup and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved.

Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid and cook, turning the apples halfway, for 20 minutes or until tender. Set aside and keep warm

To make the waffles, place milk, butter and egg yolk into a large bowl and whisk until combined. Add the flour, sugar and baking soda and whisk to a smooth mixture. In a separate bowl, which the egg white and salt until soft peaks form. Carefully fold this into the batter.

Heat waffle iron, brush with melted butter and pour in a quarter to half cup of batter. Cook for 3-4minutes or until golden and crisp. Place the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and combine. Sprinkle hot waffles with cinnamon sugar and serve with caramelised apples and yoghurt… or ice-cream.