With the celebration of Canadian Thanksgiving last weekend, I have been getting into the holiday mood. Now I know that it isn’t even Halloween yet, but I absolutely love the Holiday Season! Is it sad that I even listened to a few Christmas Songs on my iPhone last week? Yep. It happened.
With the new addition of Matthew, last year was our first Holiday Season spent as a family. With all of the holiday busyness, multiple Christmas celebrations and many Church services, Allan and I wanted to ensure that we set aside time to spend as a family opening presents and praising God intimately.
Upon waking on Christmas Eve morning we enjoyed gingerbread waffles topped with berry syrup, sliced bananas and whipped cream. After breakfast we opened presents in our jammers. It was the perfect, lightly snowy morning. We plan to carry on this tradition every year.
Although gingerbread is certainly a season flavor, these waffles do not need to be relegated to a once a year appearance. They are delicious any time of the year. In honor of Canandian Thanksgiving, we enjoyed gingerbread waffles topped with homemade strawberry syrup (1 bag frozen strawberries simmered in 2 tbsp unsweetened organic apple juice) and whipped coconut kefir.
Not only is this a wonderful recipe that you should add to this week’s food plan, I also wanted to share this recipe to benefit a good cause. Foodbuzz has partnered with Frigidaire for the Talk Turkey campaign to benefit Save the Children. Every time that someone talks turkey by sharing a holiday recipe or tip at Make Time for Change, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children. In addition, you could win a new range.
Gingerbread Waffles Adapted from my Soaked Sweet Potato Waffles
This waffle recipe is a breeze to whip up the night before in your blender. In the morning simply add a couple ingredients and start making waffles.
Makes 5-8 waffles
1. Place the following ingredients in a blender and process at highest speed for 3 minutes:
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, kefir, whey or nondairy milk soured with 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbls olive oil, melted coconut oil, melted earth balance, sunflower oil or grapeseed oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole grains, see grain variations note below
The batter should always swirl in a vortex in the blender. If it doesn’t, slowly add more liquid until the hole reappears. This is the secret to light and tender waffles. Batter for pancakes may be thicker, but keep batter relatively thin to keep it churning.
2. Cover blender; let stand at room temperature overnight or 12-24 hours.
3. Preheat waffle iron to medium-high.
4. Just before baking, add, cover and reblend on highest speed for 1 minute:
1 farm fresh egg
Optional additional liquid (if batter needs thinning for vortex to appear), I added 1/4 cup unsweetened organic apple juice to sweeten things up a bit
5. Blend in briefly, but thoroughly:
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp maple extract
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp cloves
pinch sea salt
6. Pour batter onto hot nonstick waffle iron. Bake in waffle iron until browned and crispy. Enjoy immediately. To recrisp waffles briefly heat in a toaster.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for easy breakfasts or frozen for several months. To reheat, simply toast until warm and crispy.
Top with berry syrup, applesauce, real maple syrup, nut butter, coconut oil or grass-fed butter.
Grain Variations
We usually use 1/2 cup short grain brown rice, 1/2 cup oat groats and 1/3 cup buckwheat groats; however, you can use any combination of the following grains or simply use a single variety of grain.
Kamut, spelt, wheat, farro – use 1 1/2 cups groats
Gluten-free variations: Brown rice, Millet, Gluten-Free Rolled Oats (uncooked),Gluten-Free Oat Groats – equal parts of any of these grains to total 1 1/2 cups of groats
Buckwheat groats – reduce to 1 cup, it expands
Barley -hulled, not pearled. Reduce to 1 cup, it expands
Quinoa – Thoroughly rinse quinoa in strainer the night before 1-2 minutes; let stand in bowl of water overnight; drain and rinse about 1 more minute. This removes bitter flavor. Batter will be very thin. Fill waffle iron almost completely to the edges.
Note: 1 1/2 cups grain =2 cups flour
—–
This post is part of the Family Favorites series that focuses on our most adored meals that are both kid- and adult-friendly, have minimal weekday prep time and are flavorful and sustaining.
Previous Family Favorites Posts:
i want these right now!! they sound so good 🙂
I have a few in the freezer and want to thaw them now!