It's a short week - celebrate with chocolate chestnut waffles! Then make them again for Waffle Wednesday (totally a thing). And then Thursday because it's almost the weekend. Whatever the day, I'm sure you can find a reason for chocolate waffles.
Before we go any further, important things first: I got my lollipop! The Grad division office had a sign up that read, "Don't worry, we'll NEVER discontinue the lollipops!" It seems I wasn't the only one who asked with a quivering lip. This time my mom got to come with, so it felt much more eventful - only then I faced the dilemma about whether to eat the lollipop or save it as a keepsake (hoarder, much?). My mom apparently read my inner struggle and detoured us to See's to pick up a box of lollipops - "for eating," she said.
Besides getting a lollipop, since you last heard from me I've taken a quick trip to Denver to tour Rodelle's Vanilla Factory, hosted both sides of the family for a long weekend, prepped a billion pounds (actual measurement) of potato salad, mac & cheese, and chocolate cupcakes for a blowout celebration, and finally, sniffled my way through the graduation ceremony. My body rebelled with a cold that took me out all of last week. This weekend I definitely needed some R&R.
The definition of which I'm pretty sure includes Sunday brunch. With waffles. And chocolate - because: I graduated so we can celebrate with waffles topped with ice cream and berries any time of day for at least another month.
The dean might be in need of some R&R too - I blew my runny nose all through the ceremony, then had to shake her hand to accept my fake diploma. (Sorry, Dean!) Between sniffles and nose wipes, I spent the whole ceremony trying to figure out how I could politely refuse to shake the dean's hand on stage in front of a full auditorium. (You can't, that's how.)
Word to the wise: if you feel a cold coming on, bring tissues and hand sanitizer.
Then when you're in recovery, make a huge batch of these waffles and don't even share. Don't skimp on this balsamic roasted berry sauce either - double the recipe and eat it warm over everything for a whole week. These waffles are ultra chocolatey but not overly sweet, making them perfect for brunch.
They also go well topped with roasted berries and ice cream, which dresses them up as dessert (or breakfast still, if you're into that kind of thing *coughDADcough*). As waffles should be, they're crispy on the outside and light and chewy on the inside.
I planned to have these ready to go before I went down sniffling, but it turns out perfecting the art of the stovetop waffle iron is a delicate process that takes a few batches. When I saw these all-too-handsome waffles (and these) from Soymilk + Honey, I stalked her on Facebook to find out where she got her waffle iron (Thanks Sarah!).
She was right, this stovetop iron is the shit, but it comes with very little in the way of instructions. Here's what you need to know: medium heat, spray with oil, 90 seconds, flip, 90 seconds, peek in, heat more for crispiness if needed. Devour.
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Recipe
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chestnut Waffles with Balsamic Roasted Berries
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries, stems removed and halved
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 tablespoon balsamic, I use chocolate balsamic
- 1-2 tablespoons Bob’s Red Mill tapioca flour, corn starch will also work to thicken the sauce
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons chestnut flour
- ¼ cup gluten-free oat flour
- 3 tablespoons sweet rice flour, different from "white rice flour" or "brown rice flour"
- 3 tablespoons Bob’s Red Mill tapioca flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder, I used Rodelle
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ cup and 2 tablespoons whole milk, room temperature
- 2 large eggs, whites and yolks separated
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, I use Rodelle Organic
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- Optional: 2-3 tablespoon powdered sugar, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Toss the berries, balsamic, and tapioca starch together in a small oven-safe glass baking dish and roast for 20-25 minutes, until the berries have softened and the sauce begins to thicken, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, heat your waffle iron.
- In a medium bowl, sift the chestnut flour, oat flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Whisk together the milk, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and melted butter in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Using a stand mixer or an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until they become thick and foamy, about 2 minutes. With the mixer still running, slowly pour in the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, and beat until stiff shiny peaks form.
- Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients and whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the batter until just combined - do not over mix.
- If using an electric waffle iron, cook waffles according to manufacturer directions, lightly spraying the iron with canola oil.
- If using a stovetop waffle iron, be sure to heat up both sides for at least 3 minutes on medium heat. Lightly spray the top and the bottom of the waffle iron with canola oil. Pour ¾-1 cup of batter into the middle of the waffle iron and cook for 90 seconds. Flip the waffle iron and cook for another 60-90 seconds. Gently open the waffle iron to check the waffle and, if needed, continue cooking until both sides are crispy. (Every stove is slightly different, but mine is ready after 90 seconds on both sides). Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining batter.
- Serve topped with powdered sugar and a spoonful of balsamic roasted berries.
MB @ Bourbon and Brown Sugar -
Oh my goodness... I've contemplating chocolate waffles as a "snowpocalypse" breakfast treat (we are expecting two feet of snow in DC today). These look amazing! Thanks for the inspiration!
Andi @ The Weary Chef -
This may be the most glorious stack of waffle I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of waffles. Love that they are GF so I can try them!
Thalia @ butter and brioche -
Yum.. chocolate, chestnut and berries.. what a perfect combination. These waffles look divine Sarah and I am very jealous that you got to eat them!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Thalia!
Carol Borchardt -
This looks so delicious and your photography is amazing! Was great meeting you at the Indulge PDX Conference!
Sarah Menanix -
Aw - thank you so much Carol! It was so great to meet you too - I'm so glad we were seated near each other:) xo!
Carla (@charliesue) -
What you MIGHT have done is put a little of this balsamic berry sauce on your palm for him. Germs mingled with a sweet treat! What more could he want?!
(YOU DID IT!! I am SO PROUD OF YOU!!)
(And by "it" I mean you made waffles on the stove top. Duh. What else would I be talking about?)
Sarah Menanix -
Haha for the dean? (It's a she.) But also - WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT? Here's have a treat.
GiGi Eats -
Whoa baby! There are no wordsssssss to describe how much I want to bury my face in this stack of deliciousness!
Sarah Menanix -
Hehe - I totally did. For dinner - two nights in a row;) Thank you so much, Gigi!
Sarah from Soymilk + Honey -
Ooh yay! So glad you liked the waffle iron and thanks for the shoutout :) Totally throwing these into our "Waffle to-do list" as they look delish!
Sarah Menanix -
Yay! I hope you love them! Thanks for helping me pick out my new favorite kitchen toy:)
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life -
Congratulations! And I'm so glad you finally got your lollipop!
I hope you are feeling better, I'm sure a few stacks of these delicious waffles will cure whatever ails you :)
Thanks also for the handy hints on a stove-top waffle iron. I have one waiting to be used (in the process of building so everything is packed away!) and I was waiting for someone to give me instructions! Thank you Sarah!
Now I know exactly what our first breakfast in the new house will be :)
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Amy! I'm finally feeling 99.9% better (definitely in part from the waffles;) I hope you make stovetop waffles soon! I can't wait to see!!
Kelly - A Side of Sweet -
Whoo! Congrats on graduating! I'm so stoked that you've got that PhD locked down! These waffles look fab!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much lady!! It feels like such a relief (even though I've somehow managed to stay busy even without the darn dissertation!)
Sheri -
These are a must when I visit next! Chocolate and berries are my favorite combination!
Sarah Menanix -
I'll make them for you any time, mama!
Alanna -
Waffle Wednesday! These are as beauteous as they are tasty. IN LOVE with the combination of chocolate, chestnut and balsamic berries. So lucky I got to eat these. :D (p.s. marry me?!)
Sarah Menanix -
(yes.)
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits -
Suuuuuper yums in the tums!! Absolutely love that these berries have that touch of balsamic in them. And hoor-freakin-yay that you got the lollipop!!
Sarah Menanix -
Yahoo!!! Thanks so much Lisa! <3
Tessa | Salted Plains -
Yay for graduation! Congrats!! Sounds like it has been a whirlwind. I still have yet to try chestnut flour (and I really want to!) so these waffles sound like the perfect way to do that. They have the prettiest hue, too. I hope you get some much needed rest this week!
Sarah Menanix -
Such a whirlwind - even in the two weeks since graduation! I'm finally coming up for air now. Thank you so much for your celebratory words! You need to go get yourself some chestnut flour asap (mostly because I can't wait to see what you create with it:)
Leanne -
This looks like my kind of Sunday :) Beautiful pictures
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Leanne!
todd wagner -
Chocolate, balsamic, berries...you nailed it on this one, Sarah!! Truly the perfect late night snack :)
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks friend! Late-night like say....1am?? :)
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
You are way more charitable than I am. And also a lot more sanitary. I would have stopped worrying about the dean after one good pants-wipe. And with that thought, WAFFLES!! YUM!!!
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - well you also walk around with kid boogies on you too. Like that mom from Billy Madison;)
Joy | The Joyful Foodie -
Congratulations! Your mama was right (mamas do that a lot, don't they? ;)) - the occasion warrants eating not just one lollipop but multiple!
I just made some balsamic berry sauce for my ice cream, but I normally make mine on the stove. Roasting it sounds awesome! Definitely trying that next time.
Hope you're feeling better!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks so much Joy! Ooo - I'm going to have to try putting the balsamic berries on the stove too! I'm finally feeling 99.9% better and am surfacing for air:)
Traci | Vanilla And Bean -
OMG - I was totally thinking about chocolate waffles the other day.. and here they are! Thank you, my dear! These look fabulous and sooo mothwatering. I think I'd like to try a scoop of your vanilla bean ice cream on top of these please!
Whoa - you've been through the ringer these past few weeks! Have you recovered from all the festivities, and mac and cheese?! How does it feel to not have to think about writing a dissertation anymore? Is the load off or do you hardly know what to do with yourself?
Sarah Menanix -
We're totally on the same wavelength! I can't wait to see the chocolate waffles you come up with:)
It feels SO GOOD to not have to think about my dissertation anymore - especially because life seemed to ramp up quickly right after graduation. It seems to be calming down a bit now and I've got enough on my plate for at least the next month to stay busy!