The Out of Box Experience Episode 3: Eggo Waffles

The Out of Box Experience Episode 3

A miniseries of the best homemade versions of boxed food I have found.

Eggo Waffles (or pancakes)

This recipe uses my homemade baking mix recipe. If you have bisquick, that works too. However, we don't like the way eggs make the waffles taste, so I use egg whites and have a specific way of mixing ingredients to get the *perfect* waffle. My homemade baking mix is a bulk recipe, but it makes pancakes, waffles and drop biscuits very well, without the addition of any of the nasty stuff in store versions of baking mix. In this case, aluminum phosphate and a hefty serving of trans fat. It still has butter, you say? Well, butter is not trans fat.

Waffles
Mix in this order:

2 egg whites, beaten with fork
2 c. milk or I usually use dry milk (the powder mixed with water)
3 t. butter (melted)

I whisk all these together and add 3 c. baking mix. I preheat my waffle iron before I start mixing the ingredients and pour about 2/3 c. onto the iron. Less than 5 minutes later we have a waffle! They are crispy on the outside and uniformly light and fluffy inside.
 
All-Purpose Baking Mix
When I make this I use a kitchen scale so weight measurements are first, it's so much easier to prepare this way!

1.184 kg (9 c) all purpose (or bread) flour 
100g (7 T) baking powder (Costco has a big tub of aluminum-free cheap)
38g salt (2 T)

Did you know your daily limit for trans fat is 2g?

51g sugar (1/4 c)

That's it! Mix it and store it airtight! I used to use a gallon bag, but recently switched to a canister. You could try this with whole wheat or some other type of flour if you want it to be healthier.

I like to do this in large batches for an hour or so while I clean the kitchen and watch the kids, and we eat some and I freeze the extras in a freezer bag. Then when someone wants a waffle, just toast it or microwave it just like Eggos!

Yummy Additions to the Batter:

Fresh or frozen blueberries (or any other fruit in small pieces)
Bacon bits (sounds weird but it's good!)
Food coloring to swirl it (toddler likes these)
Sprinkles (another toddler addition)
Vanilla or cinnamon 

And, since I posted my baking mix recipe, here are the additions to the mix that will give you pancakes or drop biscuits.

Pancakes

1.5 c baking mix
1.25 c milk 
1 egg

Mix together and cook on griddle at 350. Just add more milk to achieve the consistency you want. These freeze great too. Makes enough for 3-4 servings. I usually double this.If the batter is left thick, it makes very thick pancakes!

Drop Biscuits 

2.25 c baking mix
2/3 c milk
4 T. butter (cut in, optional)

Mix all just until moistened, if using butter cut it in the dry mix before adding the milk. Spoon onto baking sheet, bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes. Also freezable. Makes 12 (or however many you choose).