Orange Poppy Seed Waffles
These orange poppy seed waffles are crisp and full of bright citrus flavor. Top them with a bit of syrup, and you’re ready for breakfast or brunch.
I have been wanting to make these orange poppy seed waffles for a while. So when kiddo woke me up at 4am this morning, and I couldn’t go back to sleep, it was time.
Baking formulas
To create these waffles, I just used a simple formula. It’s one that you can also use to create your own waffles.
I mentioned a few posts ago, when researching my kale and cheese quick bread recipe, that I discovered Michael Ruhlman’s book Ratio. Among all the baking ratios, Ruhlman includes a ratio for pancakes. That ratio is (by weight) 2 parts flour to 2 parts liquid to 1 part egg and a half part fat. In usable terms, that’s 8 ounces (about 1 and three-quarters cup) of flour, 1 cup of milk or buttermilk, 2 eggs, and 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) of butter.
But we want orange poppy seed waffles, not orange poppy seed pancakes!
Pancakes versus waffles
What’s the difference in the formula if you want to make waffles? Generally, the ratio stays the same, but waffles have slightly more fat, so increase the butter by a tablespoon or two. And add a bit of sugar.
Tips and tricks
If you want lighter waffles, you can separate your eggs and add the yolks when the recipe calls for eggs. Then whip the whites and fold them in at the end.
I promise you they are still delicious without this step. And they take less than 30 minutes to put together, even at 5am and before the coffee has finished brewing.
FAQs about these orange poppy seed waffles
Feel free to sub out store-bought orange juice for the orange zest and hand-squeezed juice. Strain the juice if it has pulp.
You could easily make a half batch of these instead of the full. Or make the full batch and freeze the extras, if you have any! They do freeze really well. Just reheat them in the toaster.
You can use orange extract or vanilla in place of the Grand Marnier. Just know that this isn’t a substitute if you are avoiding alcohol.
Related recipes
Do you love the combination of orange and poppy seed? Make these orange poppy seed muffins!
Or make another waffle recipe like fawaffle (a falafel waffle), peanut butter waffles, ham and cheese waffles, or these red velvet beet waffles.
Orange Poppy Seed Waffles
Equipment
- Waffle iron
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons (2.5 ounces or 71 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 1¾ cup (8 ounces or 225 grams) bleached all purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- zest and juice from two small or one medium orange, separated this should yield about ¼ cup of juice
- up to 1 cup milk, to total 1 cup of liquid
- 2 eggs, see note about separating if desired
- 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest).1¾ cup (8 ounces or 225 grams) bleached all purpose flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup poppy seeds, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- In a large measuring cup, add the orange juice and then add milk so that the liquid total is 1 cup. Add the eggs and Grand Marnier and beat lightly until uniform.zest and juice from two small or one medium orange, separated, up to 1 cup milk, to total 1 cup of liquid, 2 eggs, see note about separating if desired, 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
- Add the liquid from the measuring cup and the melted butter to the dry ingredients. Mix together only until the mixture has been incorporated fully. Do not overmix.5 tablespoons (2.5 ounces or 71 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- Preheat your waffle iron and waffle per the manufacturer's instructions.
Notes
Nutrition
What’s next?
If you make this recipe for orange poppy seed waffles, please leave a comment or rating here.
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