There's no doubt about it; waffles are delicious. But even the best-quality waffle dough can start to taste a little boring when you prepare it the same way day after day. If you've found a waffle batter you love, like Liege waffle dough, but need ways to give it more character, here are a few suggestions for sprucing it up.
1. Add berries.
You can't add large slices of fruit to waffle batter since they won't cook through in the short period of time it takes to prepare a waffle. However, you can add berries. They're small, so they cook quickly, and they are also juicy and delicious even if they don't end up cooked all of the way through. Blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries (sliced in half) are all great additions to your waffle batter. Add about 1/4 cup up berries per cup of waffle batter.
2. Prepare a caramel syrup.
If you love waffles and syrup but need a break from maple syrup, try making your own caramel syrup or sauce. Combine 10 unwrapped caramels, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon butter, and a pinch of salt in a heavy saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the caramels melt. Keep the mixture slightly warm until your waffles are ready. Drizzle it over your waffles, and add some whipped cream if you want a really luxurious experience.
3. Make an ice cream sandwich.
Waffles may be a traditional breakfast item, but you can easily transform them into a dessert instead. Scoop a little of your favorite ice cream onto one waffle, and top it with another waffle. Press down gently to distribute the ice cream. Then, slice the waffle sandwich into quarters, and share the slices with a few friends.
4. Add some cocoa powder.
Making chocolate waffles is another great choice! The easiest option is to add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder per cup of waffle batter to the mixture. If the mixture seems too thick after you add the cocoa, stir in an extra tablespoon of milk to thin it out again. Alternatively, if you do not have cocoa powder, you can stir a tablespoon of chocolate syrup and a tablespoon of flour into the dough.
Feel free to combine some of the ideas above, too! For example, you can make chocolate waffles with berries in them, or you can create an ice cream sandwich with chocolate waffles and top the sandwich with caramel sauce.