Recipe for cranberry, orange and walnut buttermilk ricotta waffles

How many cooks does it take to make a palooza? Three, when it's Wafflepalooza! My summer intern Chelsea, her friend Alex and I cooked and ate our way through five waffle variations one day in August, and we all voted these cranberry, orange and walnut buttermilk ricotta waffles as the best of show. Chelsea hit on the idea of adding the orange zest, which brightened the flavor, and the cranberries, so popular here in New England, made us think of Fall. If you're planning these waffles for dessert, try a bit of vanilla or pumpkin-spiced frozen yogurt on top in place of the whipped cream. You can make waffles ahead and freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet; then, store in ziploc bags, and reheat in the toaster. One or two of these substantial waffles makes an ample serving, perfect for brunch or dessert.

Cranberry, orange and walnut buttermilk ricotta waffles

From the pantry, you'll need: all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, kosher salt, eggs, butter, walnuts, cooking spray, powdered buttermilk (can be used instead of fresh).

Adapted from this recipe on In Jennie's Kitchen. Makes 6 large, fluffy waffles (serves 3-6).

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp sugar
1/3 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
4 Tbsp butter, melted (I use the microwave)
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Zest of 1 large navel orange
1/2 cup whipping cream + 1 Tbsp sugar
Cooking spray

Directions

Preheat your waffle maker to 400°F.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together.

In another bowl, beat together the buttermilk, eggs, ricotta and melted butter. Pour this mixture into the flour mixture, and stir until just combined. With a rubber spatula, fold in the cranberries, walnuts and orange zest. Set aside for 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the whipping cream and 1 tablespoon of sugar, until the cream forms firm peaks (the cream will be white, glistening and hold its shape). Set aside.

Spray the waffle maker (top and bottom plates) with cooking spray, and spread half of the batter on it. (The batter will be quite thick, and not easy to spread.) Close the top, and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the waffles are as crisp as you like them. Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve hot, topped with whipped cream.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More recipes in The Perfect Pantry:
Maple walnut waffles
Zucchini waffles
Lemon waffles
West Bay jonnycakes
Apple spice cake

Other recipes that use these pantry ingredients:
Orange pecan waffles, from Salad in a Jar
Honey cinnamon whole wheat waffles, from Andrea Meyers
Gingerbread waffles, from A Bloggable Life
Pumpkin waffles, from Smitten Kitchen
Banana walnut waffles, from Joy the Baker

Cranberry, orange and walnut buttermilk ricotta waffles

From the pantry, you'll need: all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, kosher salt, eggs, butter, walnuts, cooking spray, powdered buttermilk (can be used instead of fresh).

Adapted from this recipe on In Jennie's Kitchen. Makes 6 large, fluffy waffles (serves 3-6).

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp sugar
1/3 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
4 Tbsp butter, melted (I use the microwave)
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Zest of 1 large navel orange
1/2 cup whipping cream + 1 Tbsp sugar
Cooking spray

Directions

Preheat your waffle maker to 400°F.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together.

In another bowl, beat together the buttermilk, eggs, ricotta and melted butter. Pour this mixture into the flour mixture, and stir until just combined. With a rubber spatula, fold in the cranberries, walnuts and orange zest. Set aside for 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the whipping cream and 1 tablespoon of sugar, until the cream forms firm peaks (the cream will be white, glistening and hold its shape). Set aside.

Spray the waffle maker (top and bottom plates) with cooking spray, and spread half of the batter on it. (The batter will be quite thick, and not easy to spread.) Close the top, and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the waffles are as crisp as you like them. Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve hot, topped with whipped cream.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More recipes in The Perfect Pantry:
Maple walnut waffles
Zucchini waffles
Lemon waffles
West Bay jonnycakes
Apple spice cake

Other recipes that use these pantry ingredients:
Orange pecan waffles, from Salad in a Jar
Honey cinnamon whole wheat waffles, from Andrea Meyers
Gingerbread waffles, from A Bloggable Life
Pumpkin waffles, from Smitten Kitchen
Banana walnut waffles, from Joy the Baker

Comments

Wafflepalooza?! Now that's an event I want to attend! ;-) These look great, Lydia. Kudos to you and Chelsea! Love that close-up photo.

Shirley, we had a blast. I hope Chelsea makes these for her roommates at college this year.

I would have been hospitalized with some kind of "post-waffle syndrome" had I been there that day. Come to think of it..if I made these unbelievable delicious, looking things I would probably be be in a coma after just one! well at least a nap!

Carol, it would be a good kind of "syndrome" to have, though! These waffles were beyond delicious.

Wafflepalooza sounds like so much fun!I love waffles - yum!

The waffles look absolutely delicious. I've bookmarked them.

What a winning combination of flavors and texture - cranberry, orange and walnut buttermilk ricotta waffles. Wish I could just reach into my screen and grab a forkful!

Oh my gosh, what a wonderful recipe. I love cranberry and orange - one of my favorites combinations. I'll definitely be making these soon.

I love the idea of a wafflepalooza! Even more so when this combo came out of it. Lovely, lovely flavors -- especially the ricotta. Thinking these just might be Christmas morning breakfast at Chez Kelly this year. My menfolk would love them.

Kati, it was a proper palooza, that's for sure! We had a great time.

Nisrine, the cranberries just say "Fall" to me. I hope you like them.

Jeanette, these would be delicious with white whole wheat flour, too. And I'll bet your boys will love them.

Lana, the addition of orange really sent these waffles over the top!

Kelly, I'm going to make some ahead and freeze them, and then reheat on Thanksgiving morning.

I would definitely love to try these. Or, rather, I'll ask my husband to make them (waffles are in his kitchen jurisdiction :-)).