I make this waffle recipe more often than any other that I have tried. It is a great way for me to use some of my sourdough starter (without the commitment of all-day-bread-making). It is another overnight recipe, so it does need to be started the night before. I find this more convenient than mixing batter in the morning. I make the batter after the kids go to bed, and they are ready to cook with minimal effort in the morning. These waffles are slightly tangy, like the Yeast Raised Waffles, but the flavor is not as “yeasty”. Just how sour the waffles taste will depend on the strength of your starter.
My kids especially like these waffles. They are very light and airy, with great pockets inside and out for soaking up syrup or other toppings.
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For Waffle Tips & Strategies, click HERE.
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Don’t have any sourdough starter? These waffles are reason enough to make one! Here are a couple of resources for sourdough starter recipes:
Annie’s Eats (uses commercial yeast)
Sourdough Home (does not start with yeast; this is the method that I used to make my starter)
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RECIPE:
Sourdough Waffles
————-(adapted from King Arthur Flour via Annie’s Eats)
For the overnight sponge:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbs sugar
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup sourdough starter, straight from the refrigerator (not fed)**
For the waffles:
2 large eggs
¼ cup oil
All of the overnight sponge
2 Tbs sugar
¾ tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
To make the overnight sponge, combine the flour, sugar, buttermilk and sourdough starter in a large mixing bowl. Mix well to blend. Cover and let rest overnight at room temperature.
When you are ready to make the waffles, preheat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine the eggs and oil. Add to the overnight sponge.** Mix in the sugar, salt and baking soda, stirring well to combine. The batter will bubble.
Pour the batter into the preheated waffle iron and bake according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use slightly less batter than usual (I use a very scant 1/2 cup batter in each section of my waffle maker), as this will continue to rise and spread in the waffle maker.
Remove waffles from waffle maker and place on a wire rack (not a plate). Serve immediately or keep warm in a warm oven (very low heat).
**SOURDOUGH STARTER NOTE: Sourdough starters can have different thicknesses (hydration). After adding eggs in the morning, if the batter is too thick to scoop with a ladle or measuring cup, add a little bit more buttermilk. The batter will have a different consistency than normal waffle batters: it should be like a thin bread dough, be thin enough to scoop, but not thin enough to pour.
Makes about 4 1/2 large Belgian waffles (18 small squares)
To freeze: Cool waffles on a wire rack. Place in Ziploc bags and freeze. Reheat individual frozen waffles in a toaster (for crispier edges) or microwave (for a soft waffle).
