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Russian Imperial Bourbon Aged Stout Gingersnap Cookies

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Russian Imperial Bourbon Aged Stout Gingersnap Cookies is a recipe filled with a perfect balance of spicy and sweet for an adult version of a winter treat.

Sometime you just need cookies.  And beer.

Russian Imperial Bourbon Aged Stout Gingersnap Cookies is a recipe filled with a perfect balance of spicy and sweet for an adult version of a winter treat

First, I just want to say thanks to all of you who have left such kind word about our sad family troubles.  I appreciate each and every one of you.

Russian Imperial Bourbon Aged Stout Gingersnap Cookies is a recipe filled with a perfect balance of spicy and sweet for an adult version of a winter treat

We’re totally checking out this weekend and headed to Charleston for Brewvival.  It’s time for a beer festival and we need a break.  (This is not a sponsored post – we totally paid full price for our tickets.) Things are stabilized enough at the moment for us to get away, so we’re looking forward to all the southern charm Charleston has to offer. (Don’t worry – we have a dog/house sitter).  We’ll eat some great food, hang out with awesome friends, and sample some of the most amazing and rare beer from all over the country.

I’ll take it and be grateful.  Life is fragile, friends.  Enjoy it.

Russian Imperial Stout Gingersnap Cookies
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Russian Imperial Bourbon Aged Stout Gingersnap Cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 8 tablespoons butter room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 tablespoons bourbon barrel aged stout beer
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons smoked bourbon sugar or regular sugar if unavailable

Instructions

  1. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger
  2. Beat butter and sugar together by hand or in a stand mixer until smooth and fluffy
  3. Beat in vanilla, molasses, beer and egg
  4. Mix in flour mixture slowly until dough is smooth and ingredients are incorporated
  5. Divide dough in half, roll into logs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight
  6. Heat oven to 350
  7. Slice dough into 1/4 inch circles, press one side with bourbon smoked sugar, and arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart
  8. Bake 12 -14 minutes, rotating halfway through, until brown - but not burnt
  9. Cool a couple of minutes on baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely

NOTES:

  1. You can speed up the chilling process by sticking the dough in the fridge for about an hour
  2. These cookies do spread even if the dough is chilled, so leave enough room on the baking sheet
  3. I used Monstro from NoDa Brewing Company in this recipe
  4. I rolled my cookie dough logs about 1 inch tall and ended up with about 15 per roll – I didn’t measure the length, but I think they were about a foot long each
  5. I bought some bourbon smoked sugar at the Savor Spice Shop and you can order it from their website if you want some

Nothing on this post is sponsored.  I’m just excited about Brewvival and recommend beer and products I use and love. Cheers! XO

Russian Imperial Bourbon Aged Stout Gingersnap Cookies is a recipe filled with a perfect balance of spicy and sweet for an adult version of a winter treat.

Russian Imperial Bourbon Aged Stout Gingersnap Cookies is a recipe filled with a perfect balance of spicy and sweet for an adult version of a winter treat | Beer Girl Cooks

Russian Imperial Stout Gingersnap Cookies

Bourbon Stout French Onion Soup

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Bourbon Stout French Onion Soup is made Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout.  It’s rich and smooth with french baguette croutons and topped with melted gruyere cheese.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout French Onion Soup is rich and smooth with french baguette croutons and topped with melted gruyere cheese

It’s coming to the end of National Soup Month, so why wouldn’t you want to get a little out of control?

Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout French Onion Soup is rich and smooth with french baguette croutons and topped with melted gruyere cheese

I get it that everyone is trying to make a fresh start, eat healthy, and exercise, but let’s just take a break. It won’t kill you to indulge in some Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout caramelized onions, deglazed and simmered with more of the same stout beer and a bit of beef consomme for extra richness. It would be a shame not to drop in some baguettes then smother the top with gruyere cheese and broil in the oven until it’s golden, gooey, and bubbly.  Then grab a beer, curl up by the fireplace, and faceplant into some warm, cheesy soup.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout French Onion Soup is rich and smooth with french baguette croutons and topped with melted gruyere cheese

Go ahead.  You know you deserve it.  You can have a salad tomorrow.

Bourbon Stout French Onion Soup is made Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout.  It's rich and smooth with french baguette croutons and topped with melted gruyere cheese.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout French Onion Soup
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Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout French Onion Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 onions halved, peeled, and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup Russian Imperial Stout or other stout beer
  • 1 10.5 ounce can beef consomme
  • 4 cups beef stock
  • 4 slices baguette
  • 1/2 pound gruyere or swiss cheese shredded

Instructions

  1. Melt butter over medium high heat
  2. Add onions, toss to coat, cover and steam for 4 - 5 minutes
  3. Uncover onions and add beer, reduce heat to medium-low and cook about another 20 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally
  4. Add consomme and beef stock, stir to combine
  5. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer and cook another 20 minutes
  6. Transfer soup to 2 large oven-safe serving bowls, top each with 2 slices of bread then with as much cheese as desired
  7. Broil for 4 - 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly
  8. Serve immediately

NOTES:

  1. I used Monstro Russian Imperial Stout from NoDa Brewing Company here in Charlotte
  2. This recipe will make 2 large entree servings or 4 small side dish servings
  3. Use as much or as little cheese as you want
  4. Be careful when serving because these are finished in the oven and the bowls will be hot

Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout French Onion Soup

White Hot Chocolate with Bourbon Barrel Stout Marshmallows

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White Hot Chocolate with Bourbon Barrel Stout Marshmallows is an adult version of a classic winter warmer made with white chocolate and beer marshmallows.

 

Who wants to faceplant into some White Hot Chocolate and Bourbon Barrel Stout Marshmallows?

White Hot Chocolate with Bourbon Barrel Stout Marshmallows is an adult version of a classic winter warmer made with white chocolate and beer marshmallows.

As a former Assistant Public Defender, I’m always rooting for the underdog.  The forgotten and left behind.  I rooted for the Sweet Potato and the Sweet Potato Ale and now I advocate for the white chocolate in which to drown your bourbon barrel stout marshmallows.

The winter and holiday season has everyone making some hot chocolate or mocha coffee to warm up with while sitting by the fire in your cozy fuzzy slippers.  I’m here to tell you to put that down right now and turn your attention to some White Hot Chocolate.

White Hot Chocolate with Bourbon Barrel Stout Marshmallows is an adult version of a classic winter warmer made with white chocolate and beer marshmallows.

Starbucks has nothing on this.

White Hot Chocolate with Bourbon Barrel Stout Marshmallows is an adult version of a classic winter warmer made with white chocolate and beer marshmallows.

White Hot Chocolate with Bourbon Barrel Stout Marshmallows
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White Hot Chocolate with Bourbon Barrel Stout Marshmallows

Ingredients

For the Marshmallows

  • 1 cup cold beer divided
  • 3 packages unflavored gelatin
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar divided
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

For the White Hot Chocolate

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • whipped cream optional

Instructions

For the Marshmallows

  1. Combine 1/2 cup beer and gelatin in the bowl of a stand mixer and set aside
  2. Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup beer in a small sauce pan
  3. Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves
  4. Increase heat until liquid boils, either heat until temp reaches 240 or boil for two minutes, remove from heat
  5. Lock mixer bowl with gelatin and water into the stand mixer, attach whisk, and turn on low
  6. Slowly stream syrup mixture into gelatin with mixer continuing on low
  7. Increase mixer speed to high and continue whipping until fluffy, about 15 minutes
  8. Add vanilla, whisk another 30 seconds or so
  9. Dust a casserole dish with 1/4 cup powdered sugar to coat, transfer marshmallow mix to dish, leave uncovered overnight - either in refrigerator or on counter
  10. Combine remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar with the cornstarch and sprinkle it all over a large cutting board
  11. Turn marshmallow square onto the prepared cutting board and cut into desired shapes, turning each piece to coat in the powdered sugar once cut

For the White Hot Chocolate

  1. Combine milk, vanilla, and white chocolate chips in a small sauce pan and heat on low until chocolate is melted, stir to combine and make smooth
  2. Pour hot chocolate into cups, top with marshmallow and whipped cream, if using

 

NOTES:

  1. As always, the recipes using beer are intended for adults only.  Please do not give alcohol to minors.  This recipe in particular does not have all the alcohol cooked out of it, which is a nice showcase of the flavor of this beer, but not appropriate for everyone.
  2. The marshmallows are sticky, but once you coat all sides with powdered sugar they are easier to handle.
  3. This recipe makes two 1 cup servings of White Hot Chocolate and the amount of marshmallows will vary depending how they are cut

 

Bourbon, Maple, and Brown Sugar Roasted Baby Rainbow Carrots

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Bourbon, Maple, and Brown Sugar Roasted Baby Rainbow Carrots

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Happy Thanksgiving week, y’all!  I can’t believe we’re already here and just days away from the biggest food holiday of the year!  Woot!

 

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I’m not completely organized yet.  We we have most (but not all) of our supplies.

 

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I happened across some baby rainbow carrots at the grocery and nearly had a heart attack!  I can never find sexy versions of vegetables.  I’m not hating on the orange carrot or the purple beet, but it’s so much fun when you can find a variety of colors to jazz things up a bit!  I mean, purple carrots and yellow beets? That’s switching things up!

 

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I bought every last little colorful carrot I could find.

 

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And covered them in bourbon, brown sugar, and maple syrup then roasted them.

 

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I’m glad I saved some to bourbon-ize and roast for our Thanksgiving holiday!  I highly recommend that you do it too!

 

P. S. There’s still time to enter the giveaway! (CLOSED)

 

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Bourbon, Maple, and Brown Sugar Roasted Baby Rainbow Carrots

Ingredients

  • 32 ounces baby rainbow carrots
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 2 heaping tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 - 4 tablespoons maple syrup
  • Salt and Pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400
  2. Combine bourbon, brown sugar, and maple syrup.
  3. Toss with carrots in a large bowl until well coated
  4. Transfer carrots to a parchment paper lined baking sheet
  5. Season with a few sprinkles of salt and pepper
  6. Roast in oven for 10 minutes, remove and stir, making sure all carrots are still coated, if not, add another tablespoon of maple syrup if they look dry.
  7. Return to oven and roast another 5 minutes
  8. Transfer to serving platter and garnish with parsley if desired

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Pumpkin Cheesecake, Bourbon Whipped Cream + GIVEAWAY

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It’s November and the sun has been missing from the south for almost 2 weeks, so we’re just moving on and celebrating the Thanksgiving countdown with a vengence.  We’ve been talking about sides and vegetables and I love them all, but I’m in need of some sunshine and sugar because this time change early darkness business and the constant gloomy doomy rain is an absolute buzzkill.

To be fair, the sun did come out for a bit yesterday.  I felt like a vampire coming out of my cave when the bright light hit my face.  I cowered, cringed, and covered my eyes.  I couldn’t find my sunglasses because it had been so long they ended up in the dark scary place in the bottom of my bag with stale gum and used tissues. Don’t judge me.

 

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So I made you a cheesecake!  A pumpkin one with a bourbon boozy whipped cream and just for kicks and giggles I made a ginger snap crust!  Whaaat?  And this pumpkin cheesecake is not for the faint of heart – it’s like 6 inches tall.  Ok, that may be an exaggeration and it might be closer to 3.74 inches. Either way, it’s a hot mess over the top ginormous pumpkin cheesecake totally appropriate for a holiday party.  DO IT!

 

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And it would hardly be a holiday party without some swag, so a bunch of my blogger buddies and I got together to bring you this giveaway.  Dudes!  It’s a $650 AMAZON GIFT CARD!   Booyah!  Think of all the awesome stuff you can get at Amazon with $650!

 

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We like to have fun on this here website, but on a serious note I’d like to add a reminder that today is Veteran’s Day.  Thank and be thankful for your service members.  And since this is an Amazon giveaway, I’ll let you know in case you didn’t, that if you go in through Smile.Amazon.com, you can choose a charity and Amazon will contribute a portion of the proceeds from your sale to the charity you choose.  Mine is the Wounded Warrior Project.

 

Use the Rafflecopter below the recipe to enter and get a kick start on your holiday shopping!  The giveaway runs for two weeks and ends on November 25 to residents of the US, UK, and Canada. Good luck, y’all! (CLOSED)

 

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Pumpkin Cheesecake with Ginger Snap Crust and Bourbon Whipped Cream

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • about 1/2 box ginger snap cookies
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 stick butter melted

For the Cheesecake

  • 5 8 ounce packages cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour sifted
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 6 eggs at room temperature

Additional Items

  • Heavy duty aluminum foil
  • Spring form pan
  • Large roasting pan
  • Large teapot or measuring cup for boiled water

For the Whipped Cream

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon I used Maker's Mark

Instructions

  1. Wrap 2 sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil tightly around a spring form pan
  2. Using a food processor, pulse gingersnaps until they become fairly fine crumbs
  3. Transfer to a mixing bowl, add sugar and melted butter, and stir to combine and all crumbs are evenly coated
  4. Transfer to the spring form pan, using hands press across bottom and up the sides
  5. Set aside
  6. Add the cream cheese to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
  7. Beat cream cheese on low until fluffy, 2-3 minutes
  8. Combine brown sugar and confectioner's sugar in a bowl, sift in flour
  9. With the mixer still running on low, add the sugar - flour mix to cream cheese a little at a time
  10. Add vanilla bean paste and pumpkin, scrape down sides if necessary
  11. Add eggs, one at a time, making sure each is incorporated before adding the next
  12. Turn of mixer, remove bowl, and tap on counter several times to remove air pockets, set aside for 20 minutes or so
  13. Preheat oven to 350
  14. Put the prepared spring form in the large roasting pan
  15. Transfer batter to the prepared spring form pan
  16. Boil about 6-8 cups water in a teapot or in the microwave in a measuring cup that can pour safely
  17. Put the pan on the oven rack
  18. Pour boiling water in the roasting pan, halfway up the sides of the spring form pan, careful not to splash the water on the cheesecake (or yourself)
  19. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes
  20. Reduce heat to 325 and bake an additional 60 minutes
  21. Turn off oven, leave door open halfway with the cheesecake still inside for 30 minutes
  22. Remove from oven and cool completely
  23. Refrigerate overnight

For the Whipped Cream

  1. Chill metal bowl and whisk of stand mixer in freezer for 20-30 minutes
  2. Combine cream, sugar, and bourbon in the bowl and attach whisk to stand mixer
  3. Start on low so you don't splash, whip and increase to medium until soft peaks form

 

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Bourbon Peach Mousse

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What do you do when you act like a lunatic at the farmer’s market and buy too many peaches?

 

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Break out the bourbon.

 

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I know!  I know!  I just made blueberry mousse like a week ago!

 

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I couldn’t help it.  Lisa was at our house and we were brewing beer. I made the blueberry mousse (maybe the beer kicked in?)  and I had an epiphany.

 

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Bourbon Peach Mousse.  Yessssss!  Lisa agreed!

 

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Everything’s better with bourbon!  Happy weekend, y’all!

 

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Bourbon Peach Mousse

Ingredients

  • 4 peaches pitted, peeled, and chopped
  • 2-4 tablespoons bourbon
  • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup heavy cream chilled
  • Mint for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill bowl of a stand mixer and the whisk attachment in the freezer for 20-30 minutes prior to whipping the cream
  2. Reserve a couple of tablespoons of uncooked peaches for garnish, or reserve some after the next step
  3. Combine peaches, bourbon, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl and let it hang out for about an hour at room temperature
  4. Heat a skillet on medium high and add peach-bourbon mixture
  5. Cook on medium high until bubbly, reduce heat and continue cooking until peaches are soft, 10-15 minutes
  6. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature
  7. Add heavy cream to the mixing bowl that has been chilling in the freezer and attach whisk
  8. Whip cream on medium high until soft peaks form, 3-4 minutes
  9. Transfer peach-bourbon mixture to the bowl of a food processor, add sour cream and cream cheese and puree until smooth
  10. Add the peach mixture to the bowl with the whipped cream, fold gently to combine
  11. Transfer the mouse to a zip top bag and cut a small piece off the corner
  12. Pipe into dessert cups
  13. Garnish with reserved peaches and mint, if desired

Adapted from Food & Wine July 2015

Bourbon Peach Belgian Waffles

by 48 Comments

Happy Monday!  How was your weekend?

 

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Did you have a nice Father’s Day with any Dads in your life?

 

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I made Chris some boozy Belgian waffles.  Here’s the thing – I’ve never made waffles before and I’m not sure where the burning desire to do so came from.  Maybe it was a burning desire to make drunken peaches and a need for a vessel to carry them.

 

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The truth of the matter is that I didn’t even own a waffle iron.  So I took the 20% off coupon the good people at Bed Bath & Beyond sent me and picked one up on Saturday.

 

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I had another problem.  How in the world do you make a waffle?  I consulted my homies over at the Food Network and decided to go with Emeril.  The only thing I changed was that I used vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract.

 

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Since we’re all about full disclosure here, I’ll tell you that I did a practice run on Saturday while Chris was gone for the day.  That’s when I took these pictures.  And let me tell you that I can sure make some ugly waffles!  The second run on Sunday turned out a few that looked a bit better.  Plus I added bacon which makes everything better.

 

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I snapped these with my iPhone yesterday.  I had to be quick because it just wouldn’t be right to serve Chris cold ugly boozy waffles on Father’s Day.

 

Waffle recipe from Emeril Lagasse

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Bourbon Peach Belgian Waffles

Ingredients

For the Bourbon Peaches

  • 6 peaches peeled, pitted, and diced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon plus some to garnish
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablspoons bourbon

For the Waffles

  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs separated and at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 cups whole milk at room temperature
  • 1-2 tablespoons canola oil to brush the waffle iron

For the Whipped Cream (can be halved)

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste

Instructions

For the Bourbon Peaches

  1. In a cast iron or nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat and add peaches
  2. Sprinkle cinnamon over the peaches, add honey and bourbon
  3. Cook peaches until softened, but still retaining some firmness and texture, stir occasionally

For the Waffles

  1. Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions
  2. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl
  3. In a second bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until combined and sugar is dissolved and yolks are a light yellow
  4. Add vanilla, melted (but not hot) butter, and milk to egg yolk mixture and whisk until combined, careful not to over mix
  5. Add milk mixture to the flour and whisk until blended - again careful not to over mix
  6. In a third bowl or using a stand mixer beat the egg whites until soft peaks form 1-2 minutes
  7. Gently fold egg whites into batter using a rubber spatula
  8. Brush canola oil on waffle iron plates
  9. Using a soup ladle or measuring cup, pour batter into bottom waffle plate until grooves are covered and cook according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown
  10. Keep warm in a 200 degree oven on a wire rack fitted onto a baking sheet

For the Whipped Cream

  1. Chill mixer bowl and whisk for 20 - 30 minutes in the freezer
  2. Pour in cream, sugar, and vanilla bean paste
  3. Beat on medium high until thick and you have whipped cream - keep an eye on it and don't over mix

Note:  You want to use a third bowl to whip your egg whites and not the one you had the yolks in because if you get yolks in your whites the whites won’t whip.

Note:  My waffle iron specifically said DO NOT USE COOKING SPRAY, but if yours doesn’t mind – go for it

Note: My waffle iron made 4 1.5 inch thick waffles from this recipe

 

P.S. – Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for the Williams-Sonoma gift card!