While everyone is our family has their own personal favorite foods, waffles are pretty much our favorite family food, which is funny, because until Christmas 2014, we pretty much never made waffles. Maybe, every once in a while, we would make chocolate chip waffles if we were bored of pancakes. My waffle iron only made one waffle at a time and it was a pain in the butt, so that was the extent of it.
Then two things happened that changed everything:
- In 2014, my in-laws got me a new waffle iron for Christmas that makes 4 waffles at one time and has an adjustable heat setting.
- In February 2015, I attended a business conference and while at a fantastic pre-event dinner hosted by GoDaddy, some friends showed me photos of Krispie Kreme Donut Waffles and I sent the photos to my kids and promised to make them when we got home.
Those waffles started our family on a waffle kick that has been so much fun and so very delicious!
A few weeks ago, I shared our recipe for Stuffed Apple Pie Waffles With Caramel Sauce and those waffles got me thinking… What if I wanted a waffle with apple pie flavors, but no pie crust? Could I make a more savory than sweet apple pie waffle?
And that had me wondering something else… Could I waffle an apple by itself? Baking an apple in a waffle iron can’t be that different from a baking an apple in the oven, can it? And, how much of a mess would it really make?
Waffled Apple Slices
Before I even get to the Apple Cinnamon Waffles, we have to talk about the Waffled Apple Slices. I made a couple first just to see if it would work — and it did. Holy monkeys these babies were yummy. Let’s just say that I really glad I had extra apples on hand, because I made a few extra Waffled Apples to eat while I made the waffles.
To make the Waffled Apple Slices all you need are some crisp apples, like Fuji Apples. Then you simply slice the apples, lay the apple slices in a preheated waffle iron, close the lid, and wait about 2 minutes. The apples come out baked with these gorgeous waffle marks on them — the perfect topping for the Apple Cinnamon Waffles.
Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Recreating the flavor of apple pie in a waffle worked fantastically in these Apple Cinnamon Waffles. You don’t even have to make a special waffle batter — I just used the Krusteaz Waffle Mix.
The key to making the waffles extra delicious is mixing chopped apples, brown sugar, toasted pecans, cinnamon, and a little nutmeg into the waffle batter. It’s like all the best parts of apple pie filling made into waffle batter. Then you just scoop the batter into your waffle iron and cook the waffles like you would any other waffle.
When the Apple Cinnamon Waffles come out of the waffle iron, they are a beautiful brown color, speckled with cinnamon and nutmeg. You can see apple chunks and pecan pieces, giving you just a peek at the yummy goodness you can expect in your first bite.
Serving Apple Cinnamon Waffles With Waffled Apple Slices
Once all of the Apple Cinnamon Waffles are made, it’s time to make the Waffled Apple Slices that you’re going to use to top the waffles. I just stick the waffles in the oven preheated to 200 degrees so they stay warm.
When the Waffled Apple Slices are ready, plate the waffles, top them with the apple slices, and drizzle with maple syrup. Trust me, after one bite, you won’t know whether to serve these as breakfast or dessert — but you’re going to want them for both!
Apple Cinnamon Waffles With Waffled Apple Slices
All the flavors of warm apple pie without the pie crust!
Ingredients
- Waffle Mix
- Apples
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Brown sugar
- Toasted pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat waffle iron on medium heat. Chop apples into small pieces, saving one whole apple to slice later. Toast chopped pecans under the broiler.
- In medium bowl, prepare waffle batter according to the directions on the package. Add the chopped apples, toasted pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, and just a dash of nutmeg. Add just a tablespoon or two of brown sugar, you want just enough to add a bit of sweetness, but not so much that the sugar caramelizes in the waffle iron. Mix the ingredients into the batter until just combined..
- Scoop waffle batter into the waffle iron, being careful not to overfill the waffle wells. Cook according to the waffle mix packaging. While the waffles are cooking, slice the remaining apple.
- Remove cooked waffles from the waffle iron. Place apples slices in the waffle iron and cook for 2-3 minutes or until apple slices have golden brown waffle marks on them.
- Serve Apple Cinnamon Waffles topped with Wafled Apple Slices and drizzled with maple syurp.
Notes:
The amount of apples, sugar, and spices will depend on the amount of waffles you're making.
