Pumpkin Turtle Waffles

Contrary to popular belief, there are no actual turtles in this recipe.

This particular recipe combines two of my favorite flavors, pumpkin and turtle (pecans, chocolate, and caramel). It's also a recipe that allows me to feed into (ha!) my addiction for breakfast and brunch.

Years ago, I went to a place that specialized in pancakes. It was in New Jersey, so thankfully I can't get there often-but there was a particular pancake that I always ordered, the turtle pancake. Gigantic cakes, bigger than your head, filled with chopped pecans and chocolate chips, with a healthy side of real maple syrup. I loved those pancakes-but I could never finish them. Orders came with three of those cakes, and they were so large I was lucky I could finish half. Still, the thought of them makes my mouth water. Man, they were so good.

I found a recipe for pumpkin waffles on my favorite site a few years back and made them into pancakes instead the first time I tried them. We had gone to New Hampshire for the weekend, and we spent the time relaxing, enjoying the view, reading a bunch of books, and, at the end of the weekend, on a mad hunt to find Spirit who decided it would be great fun to race us to the woods (all was fine, by the way). Whenever I make these now, I'm reminded of this view and these pancakes.

Pumpkin has been abundant in our house the last few weeks, and Spirit, in particular, loves it. I thought that having these waffles on Sunday morning would be a perfect compliment of the weekend. I decided to make a couple of variations: traditional pumpkin, pumpkin pecan, and pumpkin turtle.

After I added the pumpkin, I was nice enough to let Spirit lick the measuring cup. I see it as the equivalent of giving your child the beaters after you make chocolate mousse. He, of course, was not disappointed (and no, I wasn't planning on using that cup again in anything until it had been through the dishwasher, if you were worried).

It's a damn good thing I'm the only one in the house that likes chocolate. I was not about to give anyone a bite of these suckers.

This recipe, though easily made for both pancakes and waffles, are so much better in waffle form (plus, waffles have such nice pockets for filling with butter, syrup, or whatever). The whipped egg whites really made a difference in making the waffles light and fluffy, and the combined taste of the pecans and chocolate chips were incredible. I used mini chocolate chips, which are much better than traditional sized when using them in a waffle maker. It's like these waffles were made for Sunday (though I made extra so on Thursday I can think, "man, these waffles were made for Thursday!").

I also tried something different this time, and didn't use real maple syrup (what???). Instead, I found some maple creme from this place at the farmer's market a few weeks ago. It's awesome, and just melts into the pancake or waffle I decide to have with it. They sell at a few other places in Winchester, etc., so if you get the chance and want to try it, I highly recommend it!

Don't have dinner plans yet? Go out and buy some pumpkin and make these for dinner. Then call me so I can come and join you. :)

Pumpkin Turtle Waffles (recipe adapted slightly from Smitten Kitchen)

2 1/2 c. flour (I used white whole wheat)

1/3 c. brown sugar
2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
4 eggs, separated
2 c. buttermilk
1 c. canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling!)

3/4 stick (6 Tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
chopped pecans

miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cooking spray

Preheat waffle iron. Mix together all dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Whisk egg yolks in a large bowl with the other wet ingredients in another bowl until smooth. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until fully combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites with a handheld mixer until they hold soft peaks, roughly 2-3 minutes. Folk the whipped egg whites gently into the waffle batter, until just combined together.

Spray cooking spray lightly on waffle iron and ladle batter into waffle iron, starting in the middle and spreading toward the sides (do not fill every crevice, as it will spill out over the sides. Just do about 3/4 of the way around the iron). Sprinkle the top with chopped pecans and miniature chocolate chips. Cook according to instructions on waffle maker.This mixture makes approximately 9 Belgian waffles.

Put a bit of butter and real maple syrup or maple creme, and dig in.