Basic Waffles

Photo: flickr user o palsson

Ingredients

cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

cup buttermilk

cup fat-free egg substitute

4 egg whites

Preparation

Coat a waffle iron with no-stick spray. Preheat the waffle iron according to the manufacturer's directions.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon; set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the oil, applesauce, buttermilk and egg substitute or egg whites. Pour the oil mixture into the flour mixture, stirring just until blended.

Spoon enough batter onto the bottom grids of the waffle iron to cover two-thirds of it. Close the waffle iron and bake according to the manufacturer's directions. Do not open during baking.

Using a fork, carefully remove the waffle from the iron. Transfer to a serving plate to keep warm.

Repeat with the remaining batter.

VARIATIONS

STRAWBERRY WAFFLES: Stir 1/4 cup strawberry all-fruit spread into the wet ingredients. Serve with Berry Sauce (see Pancake and Waffle Topping: Berry Sauce recipe).

WHOLE-WHEAT WAFFLES: Replace 3/4 cup of the all-purpose flour with 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour.

PECAN WAFFLES: Sprinkle 2 teaspoons finely chopped pecans over each waffle before closing the waffle iron to bake.

NOTES : To keep waffles from going to your waist, we replaced half of the oil with applesauce and used fat-free egg substitute in place of whole eggs.* Wrap extra waffles in plastic or place in freezer bags and freeze for later use.* For waffles and ice cream, sandwich your favorite low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt between 2 warm waffles.

Wafflers are fun. Make your own ice "cream" sandwiches in the summer.

I found a lowfat recipe for waffles. One of the toppings I really like - lately - is applesauce mixed with a mixed berry preserves. We like blueberry+raspberry. It's surprisingly crisp and good.