Pecan Waffles
intro
Crisp-edged, fluffy pecan-studded waffles, warm and nutty, drizzled with maple syrup for a cozy, satisfying weekend morning treat.
Ingredients
Steps
Toast the pecans
Heat a dry 8-inch skillet over medium-low heat, add 1 cup (100g) chopped raw pecans, and toast for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until fragrant and light golden brown. Transfer immediately to a cool plate to prevent burning, and set aside ¼ cup (25g) of the toasted pecans to use as a topping.
Preheat waffle iron
Plug in a standard 7-inch waffle iron, set the heat to medium-high, and preheat for 5 minutes until the surface reaches 190°C (375°F). Lightly coat the waffle grids with non-stick cooking spray or a thin layer of melted butter if your iron does not have a non-stick coating.
Mix dry ingredients
In a large 2-quart glass mixing bowl, add 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons (8g) baking powder, ½ teaspoon (3g) fine sea salt, and 2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar. Whisk the dry ingredients for 30 seconds until fully combined, then dig a small 2-inch wide well in the center of the mixture to hold the wet ingredients.
Whisk wet ingredients
In a separate 1-quart medium bowl, crack 2 large eggs and whisk lightly for 20 seconds until the yolks and whites are fully combined. Add 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, 4 tablespoons (57g) cooled melted unsalted butter, and 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract, then whisk for 1 minute until the mixture is smooth and pale golden.
Combine waffle batter
Pour the entire wet ingredient mixture into the well in the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to stir gently just until no dry flour streaks remain, about 15 seconds of mixing; small lumps in the batter are normal, and overmixing will cause tough waffles. Fold in ¾ cup (75g) of the toasted pecans, then let the batter rest for 5 minutes at room temperature to activate the baking powder.
Cook waffle batches
Pour ½ cup (120ml) of rested batter directly onto the center of the preheated waffle iron grids. Close the lid and cook for 3-4 minutes per waffle, until deep golden brown and crisp, with no visible steam escaping from the edges of the iron. Transfer cooked waffles to a wire rack set over a baking sheet in a 95°C (200°F) oven to stay warm while you cook the remaining batter, about 3 more waffles total.
Top and serve
Place one warm waffle on each of 4 plates, top each with an optional 1-teaspoon pat of unsalted butter, sprinkle evenly with the reserved ¼ cup (25g) of toasted pecans, and drizzle each serving with 2 tablespoons (30ml) of pure maple syrup. Serve immediately while hot and crisp.
Tips
2.Do not stack cooked waffles directly on a plate while waiting to serve: stacking traps steam that softens the crisp outer edges. A wire rack in a low oven allows air to circulate, keeping waffles crisp for up to 20 minutes.
3.For extra nutty crunch, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of finely chopped pecans directly onto the preheated waffle iron right before pouring the batter, which creates a caramelized, nutty crust on the outside of each waffle.
OMG these waffles are a total game changer for our Sunday brunch rotation! I toasted the pecans a couple extra minutes like the recipe note suggested and they added the perfect nutty crunch. My husband and three kids devoured a whole batch in 10 minutes flat, even my super picky 7 year old asked for seconds. SO fluffy, not dense at all like every other waffle recipe I’ve tried before. Can’t believe how easy these are too, 30 minutes start to finish is totally doable on a lazy weekend!
Made these for my roommate’s birthday breakfast and he thought I ordered them from that fancy waffle shop downtown. The only tweak I made was adding a tiny pinch of cinnamon to the batter, and drizzled them with maple bourbon syrup. 10/10, will be making these every weekend from now on. Way easier than I thought it’d be, no fancy equipment needed.
Meal prepped a batch of these on Sunday and popped them in the toaster all week for quick breakfasts before work! They hold up so much better than store-bought frozen waffles, and the toasty pecan flavor comes through even after reheating. Total win for busy weekdays when I don’t have time to cook from scratch.
Wait, how do you get them so fluffy?? I followed the recipe exactly but mine came out a little flat. Did I overmix the batter maybe? I used a hand mixer on high because I thought that would make them lighter, oops. Flavor was great though, the pecans were chef’s kiss.
Brought these to our neighborhood potluck last weekend and they were the first dish gone! I set up a little topping bar with whipped cream, caramel sauce, extra chopped toasted pecans, and fresh berries, people were raving about them all night. Even got asked for the recipe by three different neighbors!
Super easy recipe even for someone who burns toast half the time! 30 minutes total from start to finish, no fancy ingredients needed. I didn’t have pecans so I used toasted walnuts instead and it still slapped, would definitely make again. Next time I’ll grab pecans though, I bet they’re even better.
Made these for my grandkids when they visited this weekend, they said they’re better than the waffles we get at our favorite diner! I loved how the pecans added a nice toasty flavor without being too crunchy for my sensitive teeth, I chopped them a little finer than the recipe directed. My kids loved it too, even my son who swears he hates “fancy breakfast food”.
Quick question – can I mix up the batter the night before and store it in the fridge? I’m hosting a big crew for breakfast before my son’s early morning football game and want to cut down on morning prep work! These look too good not to make, but I don’t wanna wake up at 5am to mix batter lol
Skipped the added sugar in the batter to make these a little more savory, topped them with fried chicken and hot honey for brunch. Absolute chef’s kiss, the nutty pecan flavor pairs so perfectly with the crispy spicy chicken. Way easier than I expected for such a fancy-tasting meal, 10/10.
Just pulled my first batch out of the waffle iron and wow, they’re so light and fluffy! The toasted pecans smell absolutely incredible, my whole apartment smells like a cozy breakfast diner. Can’t wait to dig in with my husband, this already looks way better than the boxed waffles we usually make on weekends.