Brunch is one of my very favorite things. Spending a leisurely weekend morning sleeping in, enjoying a cup of coffee (or chai tea, for me!), and making a delicious meal? Sign me up! These Cornmeal Waffles with Blackberry Bourbon Maple Syrup are an incredible way to start your weekend. They're crunchy with great texture from the cornmeal, and nice and light from the whipped egg whites. The Blackberry Bourbon Maple Syrup adds a bit of sweetness, and the berries are the star of the show!
As always, I do include a few affiliate links in this post for products I truly use and love. This just means that if you make a purchase after clicking one of those links, I'll earn a little money (at no cost to you) to keep the kitchen up and running, which I promise to use to create more fun content like this! One of those affiliates is with Amazon, which requires a very clear disclosure: as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have any questions about affiliates, please reach out!
Ingredients you'll need
For the syrup:
- Blackberries: you could use another berry of your choice as well. This would be great with raspberries or blueberries! It will also work with either fresh or frozen berries.
- Bourbon: just a bit! And if you don't want to use any spirits, then you can leave this out.
- Maple syrup: use a good syrup here for the best flavor
- Granulated sugar: optional, but you may want to use some if your berries are tart
- Lemon juice
For the waffles:
- Unsalted butter: the start of any good recipe, amiright?? You can also use butter or cooking spray to grease your waffle iron (I prefer to use cooking spray here)
- Ground cornmeal: this gives the waffles their wonderful texture
- Dairy-free sour cream or yogurt: this adds nice moisture and flavor to the waffles
- Almond milk: you could also use another milk of your choice
- Eggs: you'll use both the egg yolks and egg whites. Nothing wasted here! The whipped egg whites give these waffles their light and airy feel.
- Toasted almonds: optional, but you can toast some almonds to serve on top of your waffles
- Pantry staples including all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, kosher salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg
Equipment you'll need
- KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls from Amazon
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer from Amazon: to whisk the egg whites. You can also do this with a handheld mixer, like this Cuisinart Handheld Mixer
- Cuisinart Silicone Whisk from Amazon
- The Small Fry from Great Jones: this is the small skillet that I use to make the Blackberry Bourbon Maple Syrup (and I love it!)
- Cuisinart Double Belgian Waffle Maker from Amazon: there are tons of different waffle irons out there, but this is the one that I use!
- Nordicware Cooling Racks from Amazon
Making the Blackberry Bourbon Maple Syrup
To make the syrup, heat a small saucepan over medium heat. You'll then add the lemon juice, blackberries, bourbon and sugar (if using). Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, stirring until the berries soften and liquid begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. I like to smash some of the berries either before I put them in the pan, or once they're soft -- it adds more juice and texture to the syrup.
Once the syrup is thickened, remove from heat and stir in the maple syrup. Set aside to let cool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I store leftovers?
If you have leftover waffles, you can store them in the fridge or freezer. Let the waffles cool completely, then place them in a gallon-size ziplock bag. You can store in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Store the Blackberry Bourbon Maple Syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Can I make any of this in advance?
Yes, you can make the syrup in advance, and then pull it out when you're ready for your waffles!
Can I use frozen berries?
Yes! You can use either fresh or frozen berries for this recipe. Fresh berries may have more juice, so if you feel like your syrup is too thick, you can add a bit of water (or something like orange juice, if you have it on hand).
Can I use berries other than blackberries?
Yes, this will work well with other berries, too. Raspberries or blueberries would be great here.
Below is my recipe for Cornmeal Waffles with Blackberry Bourbon Maple Syrup. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Cornmeal Waffles with Blackberry Bourbon Maple Syrup
Ingredients
For the syrup
- 6 ounces blackberries fresh or frozen
- 2 Tablespoons bourbon
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar optional
- ½ cup maple syrup
For the waffles
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup ground cornmeal
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 cup dairy-free sour cream or yogurt
- 1 cup almond milk or milk of your choice
- 4 eggs separated
- toasted almonds optional, for topping
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the blackberries, lemon juice, bourbon and sugar (if using). Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer until berries soften and liquid begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. Stir ocassionally, smashing some of the berries. Set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk togetehr dairy-free sour cream or yogurt, almond milk, melted butter and egg yolks. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold into the batter until no white streaks remain.
- Heat waffle iron and grease with cooking spray. Cook waffles (about ½ cup batter per waffle) until golden and crisp.
- Serve waffles with blackberry bourbon maple syrup and toasted almonds (optional).
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