Another Iron in the Fire

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by Hannah (BitterSweet)
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Holiday shopping mania is predictably growing to a fever pitch yet again, making expeditions into any store a veritable mine field of aggressive sales pitches and tempting impulse buys. Shiny new toys beckon to both young and old, crowding out more rational thoughts of measured resistance. It’s easy to get sucked in, especially when deeper discounts promise “the best deals of the season!” no matter how many times the price is still sure to drop. Though I’m far from immune from this siren song, and probably the worst person to consult about saving vs. splurging, it’s simply become too much to stomach. Tired of watching every outing turn into yet another spending opportunity, I’m ready to swear off the stores and start shopping through my own dusty shelves instead.

There’s a whole trove of rarely used culinary treasures stashed away in kitchen cabinets and buried under the everyday staples. Move aside the gently warped sheet pans and cake tins flecked with faint patina, and once prized possessions suddenly come back into sharp focus. Humble, common, and yet so rarely employed, it’s the waffle maker that sits at the bottom of the stack, one of the oldest kitchen residents aside from the storage unit itself.

A victim of dish washing aversion, it’s not the usage, but the cleanup afterward that prevents me from plugging in and firing the iron up. Once silly excuses can be put aside, that small inconvenience is quickly forgotten by the ease of preparation. Putting it into perspective, such hassle is on par with managing mini muffin pans and their many crumb-filled crevasses that must be addressed. That’s a small price to pay for breakfast bliss, especially compared to the price tag of yet another superfluous gadget.

As for the waffles themselves, you truly can’t go wrong no matter what flavor adventure you embark upon. Basic batters tend to get a more appreciative reception around here, so I kept mix-ins to a minimum while infusing a pronounced pomegranate taste into every bite. If it were just me eating, I would toss in a generous handful of arils without a second thought, but that uniquely crunchy texture can be rather polarizing, as I’ve found with my typical panel of taste-testers. Regardless, the pomegranate molasses is not optional or replaceable, since nothing else will deliver the same deep, tangy, and slightly earthy punch.

Should that secret ingredient prove to be elusive, don’t let that become another excuse to let your waffle iron remain cold for another season! Consider the recipe below merely a template for crispy yet fluffy waffles of any flavor, given a few quick swaps. Use any fruit juice or even plain old water instead of pomegranate, lose the cinnamon or add more spices to the party, and consider maple syrup, agave nectar, or standard molasses instead of the pomegranate molasses. Once you start waffling again, you’ll wonder why you ever stopped in the first place.

Yield: 4 – 6 Large or 8 – 12 Small Waffles

Pomegranate Waffles

Pomegranate Waffles

Pomegranate molasses gives these crispy yet fluffy waffles a deep, tangy, and slightly earthy punch.

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Cup White Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Cups 100% Pomegranate Juice
  • 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Molasses

Instructions

  1. Begin by heating up your waffle iron so that it’s ready to go as soon as the batter is, too.
  2. Combine all the dry ingredients and then add in the wet. Stir to incorporate, but don’t over do it; a few remaining lumps are just fine!
  3. Once your iron is nice and hot, grease with cooking spray and ladle a healthy portion of batter on top. It really depends on the size of your waffle iron, so don’t be discouraged if your first couple are a little bit funny looking.
  4. Cook for about 4 – 6 minutes or until golden brown all over and serve immediately.

Notes

If you’d like to save them for later, allow the waffles to cool for completely on a wire rack. Wrap them tightly in a clean plastic bag and stash them in the freezer for up to 3 months.


Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 734Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 479mgCarbohydrates: 111gFiber: 5gSugar: 41gProtein: 11g
© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: American / Category: Breakfast and Brunch

18 thoughts on “Another Iron in the Fire”

  1. Waffles make me twitch. I don’t actually own a waffle iron and can’t really justify buying one for the once a year that I would probably make them. My daughters did a bit of voluntary work at a local thrift shop and picked up an old German made electric waffle iron. They haven’t tried to use it yet and won’t sell it to me so every time I see the word “waffles” I twitch ;)

  5. Those waffles are so cute! I’m guessing your waffle iron is heart shaped?

    I would absolutely love arils in my waffles, but I know what you mean about the texture, I think it scares a lot of people off!

  8. I have a feeling I’d love to “shop” through your shelf of culinary treasures. My waffle iron has garnered the same treatment, but perhaps you’ve inspired me to dust it off.

  9. I’ve always steered away from buying a waffle iron as I know it’d just be used once and I’d be too lazy to ever clean it again. Luckily enough, I get to watch you make beautiful waffles and muse on how my waffle-life could be so different!

  10. Pomegranate molasses is one of my favorite things to cook/bake with! Love that intense sweet tart dark flavor. Tragically, my waffle iron isn’t in the shape of hearts but hopefully these will turn out just as deliciously!

  12. I wish that sorting through the overstuffed pantries and closets led me to a waffle maker! But I’ve never owned one. It’s the only thing on my list this year :) And you can bet these will be the first I make…once I find pomegranate molasses!

  13. Would you believe i actually happen to have pomegranate molasses that I made. I also love it over waffles, pancakes, cake, ice-cream…very useful syrup

  15. Those are darling! I’ve got a bottle of pomegranate syrup and a bottle of molasses, so I just may get creative : )
    And seriously, I’m with you, holiday shopping is the worst. I’m doing 100% homemade gifts this year (and much borrowing from my own pantry) and it feels so much better. <3

  16. Speaking of pomegranate, I bought a pomegranate & berry juice at a shop in Paris and looking at your recipe right now…I wish I’d made pomegranate waffles! I love the heart waffles….these are perfect for Valentine’s Day…and I’m being a Francophile right now… I would love to look for an Eiffel tower waffel iron! I used vegan yogurt in my most of my waffle recipes to provide a bit of airy interior…<3<3

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