This holiday waffle bar menu is a festive, make-ahead breakfast option that your guests can customize as they make a waffle! Pumpkin waffle recipe adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod.
Prep Time45 minutesmins
Cook Time5 minutesmins
Total Time50 minutesmins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best waffle bar, best waffle party, chocolate waffles, christmas breakfast menu, holiday waffle party, how to host a waffle bar, how to host a waffle party, how to make a waffle bar, pumpkin waffles, waffle bar, waffle brunch
Servings: 16waffles
Author: Whitney Reist | Sweet Cayenne
Equipment
Waffle Iron
Ingredients
For the pumpkin waffles:
6tablespoonsunsalted butter
2 ½cupswhite whole wheat flour
⅓cuppacked light brown sugar
2 ¼teaspoonsbaking powder
1teaspoonbaking soda
½teaspoonsalt
2teaspoonsground cinnamon
½teaspoonground ginger
¼teaspoonground nutmeg
¼teaspoonground cloves
4largeeggs, beaten
2cupslow-fat buttermilk
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1cupcanned solid-pack pumpkin
For the chocolate waffles:
2cupswhite whole wheat flour
½cupunsweetened cocoa powder
⅓cuppacked brown sugar
2teaspoonsbaking powder
1teaspoonbaking soda
1teaspoonkosher salt
3largeeggs, separated
2cupslow-fat buttermilk
6tablespoonsunsalted butter, melted and cooled
1teaspoonvanilla extract
⅔cupwhite chocolate chips, finely chopped
⅔cupdried cranberries, finely chopped
For the toppings::
Cranberry sauce (place in a serving bowl the night before)
Nutella (place in a serving bowl the night before)
Pomegranate arils (place in a serving bowl the night before)
Maple syrup (place in a serving bowl the night before)
Bacon pieces (make fresh the day of breakfast)*See note
Cinnamon Pears (sliced thinly and sauteed in a little butter and cinnamon; make fresh the day of breakfast)*See note
Other suggestions: cookie butter, almond butter, toasted nuts, salted caramel, jams, apple butter
Instructions
For the pumpkin waffles:
Place butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When the stick has melted, whisk the butter over the heat until small brown bits form at the bottom and the melted butter has a nutty fragrance. Be sure to whisk constantly so that the milk solids in the butter do not burn as they are browning. Transfer the brown butter to a bowl to cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and soda, salt, and spices by stirring together with a whisk.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, pumpkin, and cooled brown butter.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk together just until combined. Use a rubber spatula to fold in any residual flour on the sides of bowl. Divide the batter into small plastic cups, placing about ¾ cup of batter in each. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
For the chocolate waffles:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add egg yolks, buttermilk, butter, and vanilla. Use a fork to blend together in the well, then gradually incorporate dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.
Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat egg whites in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Gently fold in the egg whites, then fold in the white chocolate and cranberries. Divide the batter into small plastic cups, placing about ¾ cup of batter in each. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Setting up the waffle bar:
Spray two waffles with cooking spray and place them on your buffet table. Preheat the waffle irons. Put a small plate with a rubber spatula and fork next to each waffle iron. Place trays of the two batters in cups next to each waffle iron. Place out bowls with the various toppings.
Use the rubber spatula to spread one cup of batter per waffle iron, and cook until desired doneness is reached. Use the fork to remove the waffle from the iron onto a plate. Tops as desired!
Notes
For the bacon pieces: I like to bake my bacon on a sheet pan covered with parchment at 375 degrees F. Bake for 10 minutes, flip the bacon over and drain the grease from pan, sprinkle the bacon with a little brown sugar, then bake an additional 8-12 minutes until desired doneness is reached. Cool and chop into pieces for the waffle bar.
For the cinnamon pears: slice 2 pears into thin pieces. Saute in 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes or until slightly softened. Add some sprinkles of cinnamon, toss to combine, and serve warm.