Pumpkin is the flavor, and pecans are the dry fruit toppings, preferably roasted. Both of these ingredients partner together to create a pumpkin pecan waffle. These waffles are easy to make, delicious, and are a traditional homemade breakfast enjoyed in the fall and winter.
Pumpkin and pecans are the main ingredients, but they cannot bring out those tingling taste bud feelings alone. The pumpkin taste consists of a few other spices that bring out that delicious flavor. The pumpkin itself is required, but these spices are the hidden gems, without which you cannot create the waffles. A pumpkin pie spice will simplify the preparation process. Otherwise, you would have to add the individual condiments and grind them if required.
What you need to make Pumpkin Pecan Waffles
Apart from the standard waffle ingredients, you need three more things, the pumpkin, the spices, and the pecans.
The pumpkin
Canned pumpkins are readily available in the market and can be bought from any departmental store. You can purchase any brand you like; it doesn’t matter. Canned pumpkins help to speed up the preparation process. Take a cup of canned pumpkins and mix it in your waffle batter.
If you are not a fan of canned pumpkins, you can make your very own homemade pumpkin puree. The texture and taste of the puree will depend on the pumpkin you are using. Wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt, slice them, and then you would have to roast, boil or steam them to make a puree. Please remember, this is a very time-consuming process and needs patience and cooking skills.
The spice
You can use a pumpkin pie spice that includes these ingredients or add each herb individually. Cinnamon and nutmeg are the mandatory spices. The optional spices include ginger and cloves.
It usually depends on your taste, but you should not skip the cinnamon and nutmeg. If you want that punchy flavor, do add the ginger and cloves. All of these should be in powder form, don’t add the spices as a whole.
The pecans
Pecans are the star toppings of the dish. There are plenty of ways to use pecans when preparing waffles. You chop the pecans, roast them for more flavor, and sprinkle them on your waffles. You can throw a cup of nicely chopped pecans into your waffle batter or generously spread them on top of the batter when it is in your waffle maker and close the lid.
Pumpkin Pecan Waffle Recipe
You are probably excited about how to make pumpkin pecan waffles and want to cook a batch of these for breakfast to serve your family, so let’s start with what you need.
Now, this is a complete step-by-step guide. So, if you are a newbie, don’t be intimidated by the recipe and follow along. I will start with the components required, and then I will coach you on the waffle batter preparation steps that include the exact measurements of every ingredient listed below.
Ingredients
- Nicely chopped, roasted pecans
- A can of pumpkin or your special homemade pumpkin puree
- Pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Eggs
- Butter
- Milk
- Sugar
- Salt
- Pecans (optional)
You probably have most of these ingredients in your fridge and kitchen cabinet. Remember, spices should be in powdered form. If you have whole spices, you have to grind or grate them.
Now that you have assembled all of the ingredients, it is time to prepare the waffle batter.
Equipment
First of all, you need the necessary kitchen appliances. You must have:
- Two mixing bowls, one for the dry ingredients and one for the wet ingredients
- A waffle maker
- Measuring cups
- An electric mixer (optional)
Pumpkin Pecan Waffle Making Guide
In the beginning, I listed the required ingredients, and as promised, I will tell the exact measurements of each, along with the step-by-step instruction on how to prepare the waffle batter.
Step 1 – Mix your dry ingredients.
In the mixing bowl, you need to have all of the dry ingredients and mix them. You will need to add:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup of sugar,
- a teaspoon of ginger
- a teaspoon of salt
- a teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon or a pinch of clove
- a teaspoon of baking powder
Mix all the elements and set the bowl aside.
Step 2 – Mix your wet ingredients.
Grab the second bowl for your wet ingredients. Here is what you need:
- 3 eggs, there is no need to separate the whites and the yolks
- 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree
- 1/2 of melted butter
- 1 3/4 cup of milk
Here is a helpful tip, add the eggs first and whisk them because it is difficult to tell if the eggs are properly mixed when everything is in the bowl. Once done, and the rest of the ingredients and mix again.
Step 3 – Combine dry and wet ingredients.
Once done with step 2, pour your wet ingredients into your dry ingredient bowl and whisk, whisk, and whisk till it’s combined. The waffle batter should be smooth, and a few lumps are okay.
Step 4 – Add pecans (optional).
So, this is an optional step. You can add the chopped pecans to the waffle batter. You will have waffles with stuffed pecans for breakfast.
Step 5 – Make waffles.
Welcome to the final step. Preheat your waffle maker and pour the batter. You will hear a sizzling sound, so don’t be alarmed. Pour the batter in the center, and it should spread and cover the entire plate. Close the lid and cook it for at least 5 minutes.
So, here is what you need and should do to prepare mouth-watering pumpkin pecan waffles. Waffles are very easy to make, and the preparation time takes about 10 minutes or so. You need to add the proper ingredients in the correct amount.
Tips for making perfect Pumpkin Pecan Waffle
Sometimes you may be faced with problems with preparing, or your waffles may not turn out as expected. It’s because you may have done something wrong or missed an important preparation step.
Here are some tips to assist you in making perfect waffles for breakfast.
- The waffle batter texture should be smooth. It should not be runny like a pancake batter.
- Preheat the waffle iron for 10 – 20 minutes before pouring the batter.
- Waffles take about 5 – 6 minutes to cook. Don’t constantly open the lid to check. It is best to set a timer.
- If you are making a lot of waffles, don’t stack them on top of each other. Place them on a wire rack and a preheated oven. A preheated oven is a good choice because it cooks the waffles even further, making them more crispy.
- Don’t keep your waffles in the oven for more than 15 minutes. They will overcook and become hard to chew.
