Pumpkin Spice Waffles with Butternut Bacon Syrup.
Oh mah gah.
I am dying to tell you about these waffles. They are pure insanity, in the best way ever. This is an autumn recipe if I’ve ever seen one and it just screams chilly weather and sweaters and cuddles by the fire. It’s all-encompassing for fall. Yeah. It’s fall. I just said autumn up there to try and be fancy.
Which I’m not.
So. I totally found this recipe at my mom’s house. She is the type of mom who still cuts out recipe newspaper clippings and hoards the entire food section of every piece of news that she reads. She still calls me and asks “did you see this in the paper today?” to which I have to remind her that no, I’m way too much of a millennial and don’t even get a newspaper. Which I hate. I want to get a newspaper but I’m afraid it will just got to waste and we will continue to read everything online.
Life decisions.
Anyhoo, this recipe was not in a newspaper, but was in the most recent version of the American Spoon catalog. If you’ve been here awhile you’ve heard me wax (un)poetic about how much we loooooove their products and how we’ve been buying them for years when we go to northern Michigan. My grandpa even sends me orders as gifts for Christmas and what not which is the best thing ever.
So this was one of those recipes that I saw and immediately needed to make. I mean, seriously – immediately. However, I couldn’t. I was leaving on a jet plane in less than twelve hours and unless I felt like gorging myself with a second dinner, it wasn’t happening. I was truly afraid I may forget about them.
I didn’t. Actually, I couldn’t wait to get home and make a batch. I thought about them alllll weekend. And they were the first thing I made come Monday morning. The first pumpkin recipe that’s graced my kitchen (aside from another boozy shake which you’ll hear about later) this season… and definitely not the last.
But. The thing is that it was not about the pumpkin for me. I actually forgot that the recipe even called for pumpkin waffles and had totally planned on making some plain old ones. It was all about the butternut and obviously, the bacon, and the fact that the butternut and the bacon were combined and the fact that the freaking butternut and bacon were in SYRUP.
What. How does this happen.
On second thought, I decided that I’d keep the pumpkin spice waffles. The photo just looked so dang good and the flavor combination sounded pretty fab. I didn’t want to screw it up, even though I did end up leaving off the pepitas because I simply didn’t have any in my pantry.
Which is insane. I have EVERYTHING in my pantry. It’s like hoarders for food bloggers. It’s embarrassing and disgusting and wonderful and awful all at the same time. Yet, no pepitas. Shocking. (You can imagine what’s first on my grocery list.)
The waffles? GAH. So good. I adapted this waffle recipe from my friend Kristen – you whip the egg whites first and fold them into the waffle batter. They are super fluffy and just fantastic. Let me tell you something else about these waffles too. I ate them this past weekend while I was in Utah and on top, had a big dollop of a whipped yogurt topping and lots of berries. The whipped yogurt topping seriously blew my mind. It was greek yogurt folded into freshly whipped cream with a tiny bit of sugar.
to
die
for.
I’m thinking about adding bourbon to it.
But this isn’t about that, so I’ll stop. These waffles are so darn good, even if I did completely overfill my waffle maker and create a gigantic disaster the first go round. They are fluffy but a bit crisp on the outside and full of autumn flavor. The whole syrup idea still completely throws me for a loop because the flavor combination is explosive. I am the weird person that doesn’t really care for maple syrup on my pancakes and waffles but this is one big fat exception. Dude, this is like a real meal.
This is ten times better than breakfast. It’s definitely more like breakfast for dinner, or brunch with cocktails, or an eat-your-emotions marathon. The best part is that the waffle recipe is pretty healthy and your (pure) syrup has flipping vegetables in it.
Really. Can’t even.
Pumpkin Spice Waffles with Butternut Bacon Syrup
Ingredients
Pumpkin Spice Waffles
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
Butternut & Bacon Syrup
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 cup chopped butternut squash cubes, about 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 1/4 cups maple syrup
Instructions
Butternut & Bacon Syrup
- Prep the syrup first. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Once the fat is rendered and the bacon starts to crisp, add in the butternut squash and stir. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the squash is fork tender and begins to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Stir once or twice in between – you do not want the squash to become mushy! Add in the syrup and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and cover the syrup until ready to use.
Pumpkin Spice Waffles
- To make the waffles, combine the flours, 2 tablespoons of sugar, baking powder, pumpkin spice and salt in a large bowl and whisk together. Set it aside. Separate the eggs, and add the egg whites to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Beat in the remaining sugar. Set the eggs whites aside for a minute.
- In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, milk, pumpkin and coconut oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just combined – do not overmix. Finally, fold in the whipped egg whites until the batter comes together. Preheat your waffle iron to the desired setting and cook the waffles according to your appliance’s directions. Serve them immediately with the warm bacon + butternut syrup.
Notes
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Vegetable waffles!
91 Comments on “Pumpkin Spice Waffles with Butternut Bacon Syrup.”
Yeah, I need to get a waffle maker.
And just like that she put vegetables and bacon IN THE SYRUP!?!? That’s genius girl! I want to marry these waffles.
That sauce is so creative! Nothing better than bacon in sweets. This needs to be mass produced;It be the most dangerous syrup on the selves today.
What gorgeous waffles! I need that giant stack for breakfast stat!
Holy cow! These are INCREDIBLE! That syrup, whoa! And the whipped egg whites!! Such awesome pictures, they make want to dive in. And trust me, I would give pretty much anything to have a stack of these in front of me right now. Insane!
LOL – that whole over-filling the waffle maker thing… I think it happens to the best of us! :) Whipping the egg whites is genius – i’ve never thought of that before! Can’t wait to try these! ;)
No need for a fork I just want to dive my face in it. That picture where you just got the syrup dribbling down the waffles, oh my.At first I thought the butternut was peaches, obviously I was too busy staring at the waffles to read the title
Yep, definitely need a waffle maker. Because you can never have took many appliances and let’s face it, I need these waffles.
Seriously… I’d give up manicures for a year to have a fresh plate of these.
Vegetables in the waffles *and* the syrup means they’re a perfect replacement for at least 5 servings of vegetables in one day. Simple math haha! That picture of dripping syrup made me want to lick my screen. And the whipped yogurt idea made me want to do it again!
Can I just come live with you and eat these every day FOREVER?! OMG doesn’t even express it…
1. Add bourbon. Always.
2. I pull recipes out of magazines and pile them up around my house. Brian tries to throw them away and it becomes a scene from hoarders. All of a sudden, I’m emotionally attached to every recipe in the pile. It’s ugly. So, no newspapers!
My mom clips recipes and MAILS them to me!!!!!! I’ve made pumpkin waffles for 2 weeks straight now. Oooof. :)
It’s like fall exploded on these waffles.
Oh mah gah is right! This is seriously, insanely calling my name. I may have to go buy a waffle maker.
Oh my – I LOVE your adaptation and this recipe so much. My waffle maker is going to get a workout when I get home, for sure!
Also, I told Nick I wanted a 12 month subscription to USA Today for my birthday. I don’t think he believed me because it hasn’t happened yet, but it will and I will be forcing myself to read the paper each morning (it’s part of my perfect day!
Jessica! What a plate of waffles. Gotta try these babies soon :) xoxo
Wow these look delicious. Can I sub anything for the coconut oil?
yes! i’d try canola oil first – that’s what was used in the original recipe.
I want this right now. A giant stack.
When I saw this post, I died. Pumpkin and Bacon and Maple. In a waffle. I believe this to be the savior of humanity.
You’re just killing me over here. I’m starting to fall in love with butternut squash and this recipe means I can eat if for breakfast now too.
Do you have a waffle iron you recommend?
i use the food network one (got it at kohl’s) and really like it – but i haven’t tried others!
I’ll take a look. Thanks!
I just got one that makes 2 waffles at Lowes Home store for $20. great dael it was a hamiliton beach.
Want these for breakfast – like today!!! YUM.
Oh man, just when I had convinced myself that I might be able to just get a slower cooker…now you’ve gone ahead and convinced me that I need a waffle maker too.
THESE ARE AMAZING. Caps are required.
PS. I just noticed your pins have all the info now! :)
i just learned how… haha.
Best last line of a blog post ever! These look insane!
This is probably the most fall thing I’ve seen in the foodblogisphere so far and i. Love. It.
These sound to die for. I so need a waffle maker!
THAT SECOND PICTURE…. is all I have to say :)
btw Jess when is the cookbook coming out?! It’s on my must have list and I need to know!! xx
OH MAH GAH x INFINITY!! I would like to have these right now please. That photo…oh that photo! The second one of the close up of the drippy syrup. Fabulous.
pumpkin waffles are the best! and i’ve never thought of butternut bacon syrup before- that sounds amazing!
Oh my goodness!!! That syrup!
My mum sends me recipes from magazines and the newspaper all the time. I was I was better about making my way through all of my magazines, but it just never happens! These waffles…whoa…decadence on a plate!
Your killing me. I want to live in your house for a week, lol
OMG. I’m losing my you know what over here looking at this post. Need immediately.
Wow, the syrup sounds ah-mazing! Bacon and syrup is awesome, adding squash, so good.
Oh fall, an excuse for pumpkin everything! I just made a batch of pumpkin cookies this morning, now I know what i SHOULD have been making!
I want a giant stack of these in front of my page instantaneously!
Wow — this has got to be the best use of butternut squash that I’ve ever seen! And now I’m dreaming of all the wonderful ways I could use that butternut-bacon syrup.
Omg, these look ridiculous and the bacon/butternut squash combo looks to die for!
Ok it is official, I need to buy a waffle maker!! These look insane, and what great flavor combos!
Why do I not have a waffle maker? Hello thrift store visit on the way home from work, followed by waffles for breakfast tomorrow! These looks ah-may-zing!
These are insane. My mom soo cuts our recipes from newspapers and puts them in her scrapbook like recipe book. Total old school… love it
TOO GOOD. Can’t even handle this!!!
I make all kinds of fruit syrups but have never thought of adding in butternut squash — love it!
Oh my freaking gosh!!!! Will you marry me? lol
I have recipes like that that I see, and just HAVE TO TRY like right then. I have some that I have been thinking about making for like 5 yrs…and then others that I’m like this is happening, NOW! I love how chunky and how much texture the syrup has!
Time to dust off the waffle maker!
This is a must make recipe for sure!
I just recently tried a new waffle recipe, it involves yeast and is awesome! I love a good waffle, may have to try this one. Thanks for all of your great recipes :)
3 words… Oh. Yes.Please!