Gingerbread Waffles

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups milk, warmed to room temperature
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• Melted butter or cooking spray for coating the waffle iron.
• Powdered sugar for serving, optional
• Waffle iron

Directions

1. Make the batter first. In a large bowl, whisk the milk, melted butter, molasses, brown sugar, and egg until the mixture is smooth and combined. In another bowl, stir together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder, and salt.
2. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture a little at a time. A good way to do it is to stir in half first, then add the remaining flour mixture once the first addition has disappeared. Stop mixing when you don’t see any dry flour; a few small lumps are completely fine.
3. Set the batter aside while you heat a Belgian waffle iron to medium-high. Let the iron warm for at least 5 minutes, or until water flicked onto the griddle sizzles right away.
4. Cook the waffles next. Brush the waffle iron with melted butter, or coat it with cooking spray. Add 2/3 to 3/4 cup batter to the iron, then use the bottom of the cup to nudge the batter out toward the edges. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or follow the timing for your waffle maker, until the outside is golden brown. Lift the waffle out with tongs or a fork and transfer it to a cooling rack.
5. Repeat with the rest of the batter and serve right away. Dust with powdered sugar if you like, or serve with whipped cream and maple syrup.