A waffle cake is the perfect breakfast/dessert for a special occasion.  With summer vacation on the horizon, students will have more time for kitchen activities, and this is a recipe you can handle on your own.  The result makes the perfect picnic dessert, Father’s Day breakfast, afternoon tea or birthday surprise.

A little history behind the waffle 

Waffles first came into America during the 17th century by Dutch immigrants. Waffles originated from medieval communion wafers that were made of water, flour, and grains. The Crusades brought new flavors and ingredients, evolving old waffle recipes into better, tastier dishes. But that doesn’t mean that all waffles were always sweet and delicious for everyone. Sweet honey filled waffles were a luxury to the rich, but the common man’s waffle was bland and tasteless.

The waffle has evolved a lot over the years. The waffle we know and love today looks very different from the waffles made during the Crusades. My waffle cake takes modern day waffles and turns them into a delicious cake! Here is my recipe. Enjoy! 

Waffle Batter Ingredients 

  -2 cups of all purpose waffle/pancake mix

  -1 cup of milk

  -2 tsp of sugar

  -1 tsp of vanilla

  -2 eggs  

Maple Buttercream Icing Ingredients

  -3 cups of powdered/confectioners sugar

  -1 cup of softened butter

  -2 tsp of vanilla

  -1 ½ tsp of milk

  -¾ cup of maple syrup

Additional Ingredients

  -5 strips of bacon

  -caramel sauce or maple syrup

How to make the waffles: 

1. Preheat waffle iron medium heat. 
2. Mix all waffle ingredients together with a whisk until the batter is smooth. 
3. Spray the waffle iron with a nonstick spray. 
4. Pour batter into waffle iron and cook until golden brown. Complete this step 4 more times until you will have five crispy waffles. 

*Waffle tip: To keep your waffles from getting soggy, place them in the oven set on warm.

How to make the icing: 

1. Start by mixing together the powdered sugar and softened butter with a mixer on low speed (you don’t have to use a mixer, but a mixer provides quick results).
2. Add in the milk, vanilla, and maple syrup. 
3. Switch the mixer (if using one) to a higher speed once all of the ingredients are added. Mix well. 

How to assemble the cake: 

1. Start by putting down the a waffle and generously frosting the top of it. 
2. Add a drizzle of caramel sauce and chopped bacon bits. 
3. Add another waffle on top of the previous waffle. 
4. Repeat steps one, two, and three until you reach the top layer of the cake (five layers).
5. Generously frost the top layer of the cake, then pour maple syrup on top.
6. Spread the maple syrup with a frosting spatula (or other flat baking tool) so that the maple syrup drips down the sides of the cake. You may need to add more maple syrup to get a full coverage of the cake. 
7. Top with bacon bits. 
8. Enjoy your maple buttercream waffle cake!