Liege Waffles
These sweet treats are a favorite in small stands all over Belgium. They are not like your usual waffle, they're chewy and very sweet with delicious caramelized sugar coating the outside! Baking these waffles is not a simple task, though. They require a specific type of sugar, and a good quality, heavy iron. The only caveat I must give is that the iron's temperature is very crucial in making a perfect liege waffle. It helps to have an infrared thermometer handy, as there's a fairly narrow range in which the sugar will caramelize perfectly and not burn. You can do it without one though, it just might take a few trials, but is well worth it. Usually topped with fresh fruit, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, jam, evaporated milk or any sort of combination! My favorite is strawberries, bananas and hot fudge sauce. Yum.
These sweet treats are a favorite in small stands all over Belgium. They are not like your usual waffle, they're chewy and very sweet with delicious caramelized sugar coating the outside! Baking these waffles is not a simple task, though. They require a specific type of sugar, and a good quality, heavy iron. The only caveat I must give is that the iron's temperature is very crucial in making a perfect liege waffle. It helps to have an infrared thermometer handy, as there's a fairly narrow range in which the sugar will caramelize perfectly and not burn. You can do it without one though, it just might take a few trials, but is well worth it. Usually topped with fresh fruit, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, jam, evaporated milk or any sort of combination! My favorite is strawberries, bananas and hot fudge sauce. Yum.
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbs honey
- 1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/4 c scalded whole milk 110 - 115 degrees
- 2 tbs + 2 tsp water 110 - 115 degrees
- 2 c king arthur bread flour
- 1 lrg room temp. egg lightly beaten
- 1 tbs + 1 tsp light brown sugar
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 8 1/2 tbs unsalted butter room temp
- 3/4 c belgian pearl sugar “lars own†brand is an excellent choice
- Carbohydrate 3.24374400074869 g
- Cholesterol 51.901 mg
- Fat 19.693102 g
- Fiber 0.620737500064961 g
- Protein 1.00050425000273 g
- Saturated Fat 12.4199332 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (31g)
- Sodium 4.18735000003634 mg
- Sugar 2.62300650068373 g
- Trans Fat 1.398328 g
- Calories 192 calories
Step-by-step
- Place yeast, milk, and water into the workbowl of a stand mixer. Stir for a few seconds to moisten the yeast.
- Add the egg and 1/3 of the total flour. Mix to blend. Scrape down sides of bowl.
- Sprinkle remaining flour over the mixture, but do not stir it in. Cover and let stand 75-90 minutes (at the end of that time, you’ll notice the batter bubbling up through the cover of flour).
- Add brown sugar and salt to the workbowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low speed – just to blend.
- With machine on low, add honey and vanilla. Then add 2 Tbsp. of butter at a time. Mix 4 minutes at medium-low speed; scrape down sides once or twice in that period. Let the dough rest for 1 minute and then continue to mix for 2 minutes. If you measured your ingredients perfectly, the dough will be sticking to the sides of the bowl in the last minute of mixing and then, in the last 30 seconds of so, will start to ball-up on the paddle. If this does not happen, let the dough rest for 1 more minute and mix for another 2 minutes. Whatever the outcome of the extra mixing, proceed to Step 6.
- Scrape the dough into a large bowl, sprinkle lightly with flour, cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 4 hours. This step is crucial for developing the flavor.
- REFRIGERATE FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE PROCEEDING TO STEP #8. This is essential. The yeast respiration must be slowed before continuing.
- Stir the dough down (meaning: gently deflate the gases from the dough, by pressing on it with a rubber spatula), scrape it onto a piece of plastic wrap, and then use the spatula to press the dough into a long rectangle. Fold that rectangle over on itself (by thirds – like a letter) so that you have a square of dough. Wrap it in plastic, weigh it down a bit (I put two heavy dinner plates on top of it) and refrigerate overnight.
- The next day, place the cold dough (it will be quite firm) in a large bowl and add all of the pearl sugar to a bowl. It will seem like a lot of sugar, but it’s supposed to be :) Mix it into the dough by hand until the chunks are well-distrubuted. Once mixed, divide the dough into 5 pieces of equal size.
- Shape each chunk into an oval ball (like a football without the pointy ends) and let it rise (covered loosely in plastic wrap) for exactly 90 minutes.
- If you have a professional waffle iron (meaning: it’s cast iron and weighs over 20 pounds) cook at exactly 365-370 degrees (the max temp before sugar begins to burn/decompose) for approximately 2 minutes.** Give each waffle a few minutes to cool slightly before eating.
Unlike standard breakfast batters poured from a pitcher into a grid, Liege waffles start from an enriched yeast dough that behaves much more like a brioche than a typical quick bread. Bread flour provides the necessary protein structure to support massive amounts of butter and sugar without collapsing into a greasy mess. Achieving the signature exterior crust relies entirely on genuine Belgian pearl sugar, which does not melt completely during baking but instead creates pockets of crisp crunch alongside caramelized pools. Managing the iron temperature is critical because the sugar decomposes rapidly past 370 degrees Fahrenheit on heavy commercial irons, resulting in an acrid taste if the heat is left unchecked. Although fresh dough yields phenomenal results immediately, leftover waffles stored in an airtight container can easily regain their original textural contrast when reheated gently in a toaster oven for a few minutes. Freezing baked portions allows for long-term storage, though letting them thaw completely before reviving with dry heat prevents the interior from remaining icy while the exterior scorches. Patience during the overnight refrigeration stage develops the complex yeasted flavors that separate these dense treats from ordinary diner fare.
