Nine: Roasted Pecan and Blueberry Waffles

1 C white whole wheat flour
1 C all purpose unbleached flour
1/2 cup coconut oil (melted) + 1 T
1/4 cup brown sugar + 1 T
1 tsp salt
2 eggs (beaten)
1 tsp vanilla
1 T baking powder
3/4 C pecans (chopped)
3/4 C blueberries (I used frozen, but you can also use fresh)

This is one of the most flavorful recipes I have made to date!  The pecans add rich buttery bites throughout the waffles in between sweet and tangy pops of flavorful blueberries!

Start out by roasting your pecans.  To do this, add your chopped pecans, 1 T brown sugar and 1 T coconut oil to a small saute pan.  Stir the ingredients together and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the nuts are brown and aromatic.  They can go from perfect to burnt within seconds, so keep stirring them and don't walk away!

Mix all ingredients together.  Add the roasted pecans, and then fold in the blueberries.  Pour about 1/2 C into a hot waffle iron and cook until golden brown!  The batter will be thick and the waffles will be crispy and delicious.

My pecans- cooking on the stove

I wish you could smell how wonderful these are. The flavor is unreal!  Buttery nutty goodness with that tart/sweet blueberry mixed in

Just a tip: Melt your coconut oil

I usually melt my coconut oil before adding it to the batter, but I read somewhere that you don't have to.  Whoever said that was oh so wrong.  If you don't melt the oil, and then add cold milk, it just sticks together in big clumps.  When it gets to the waffle iron, those said clumps melt all in one spot and come out of the waffle iron making one giant mess.

Lesson learned: Melt the coconut oil before adding it to waffle batter.

Eight: Apricot and Brown Sugar Waffles

1 1/4 C white whole wheat flour
1 1/4 C all purpose flour
1/2 C coconut oil
2 eggs (beaten)
1 T baking powder
1/4 C + 1 T brown sugar
2 T butter (for the caramelized apricots)
6 apricots (caramelized- recipe below)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt

While you are mixing up the ingredients for your waffle batter, make caramelized apricots.
First, cut apricots in half and take out the pits, dice.
Next, add 2T butter, 1 T brown sugar, and apricots to a small sautee pan, for about 5 minutes stirring occasionally

After the apricots are soft and have a darker color add them to the rest of the batter.

Beat until smooth and pour into a hot, greased waffle iron.

This recipe is inspired by a sale at a local market.  I bought about 30 pounds of apricots and wanted to try something delicious with them.   These are sweet with a touch of sour, rich, and buttery from the combination of butter and coconut oil.  The kids gobbled them up and I didn't even add syrup to them.  Although they would have been delicious with a dollop of whipped cream.

Caramelizing the apricots

My 2 year olds love to help "stir it up!"

The batter

Finished product!

Where the magic happens

Seven: Banana Chocolate Chip Waffles

1 C white whole wheat flour
1 C all purpose flour
1 T baking powder
3 T ground flax
1 tsp salt
2 C milk
2 eggs (beaten)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 C coconut sugar
1/2 unrefined coconut oil (melted)
2 ripe bananas (mashed)
2/3 C chocolate chips (I used mini but you can use any)

Mix all ingredients until smooth.

Pour in a hot, greased waffle iron.

This just might be my favorite recipe to date.  These waffles were full of flavor and very moist.  I ate all of mine without any toppings!

Six: Cinnamon Sugar Waffles

1 C white whole wheat flour
1 C all purpose flour
1 T baking powder
2 C milk
1/2 C butter (melted)
2 eggs (beaten)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 T cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 C coconut sugar
1/4 C packed brown sugar

Beat until smooth.

Pour 1/2 cup into a hot, greased waffle iron.  No toppings required!

This recipe is inspired by my friend, Jess Hedges.

Five: Banana, Fermented Honey Blueberries and Bran Waffles

1 C. white whole wheat flour
1 C. all purpose flour
1/2 C. unrefined coconut oil (melted)
2 eggs (beaten)
1 tsp  sea salt
2 1/4 C. milk
3 T flax meal
3 T bran flakes
1 C fermented blueberries in their juice.  Find the recipe for those here
1 medium banana (mashed)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 C coconut sugar
1 T baking powder

Mix all ingredients until smooth.

Pour 2/3 C batter into a hot, greased waffle iron.

Coat with butter and real maple syrup.

Four: Chocolate Chip Flax Waffles

1 C. white whole wheat flour
1 C. all purpose flour
1/2 C. unrefined coconut oil (melted)
2 eggs (beaten)
1 tsp  sea salt
2 C. milk
4 T flax meal
2/3 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 C coconut sugar
1 T baking powder

Mix all ingredients until smooth.

Pour 2/3 C batter into a hot, greased waffle iron.

Coat with butter and real maple syrup.