Buttermilk Bacon Waffles with Vanilla Rum Mousse

Buttermilk Bacon Waffles with Vanilla Rum Mousse

Ingredients:

Mousse:

1/2 Tbsp gelatin

1/8 cup water

1 vanilla bean

1 cup milk

3 egg yolks

1/4 cup + 3 Tbs sugar

1-1/2 tsp Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Waffles:

2 cups flour

2 Tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups buttermilk

6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 lb of crumbled, cooked bacon

Instructions:

For the Mousse: Prepare a large bowl with cold ice water and set aside. Beat the heavy cream in another large bowl until stiff peaks form. Place in the fridge.

In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let set. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and seeds from vanilla bean. To remove the seeds from the vanilla bean, split down the middle and scrape out the inside with the dull edge of a knife. Heat milk mixture on low over the stove.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar. Once the milk is heated, gradually add to the yolks and sugar, whisking after each addition.

Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat until it becomes thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 10 min. Remove from heat and pour into a large bowl. Add the gelatin and stir with a whisk until dissolved. Then stir in the rum.

Place the bowl in the ice bath, making sure no water seeps over the edge. Stir occasionally with a whisk until the cream thickens, about 15 minutes. Remove from the ice bath and gently fold in the whipped cream. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until set, 2 hours or overnight.

For the Waffles: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract and whisk together. Fold in the bacon. Spoon a heaping 1/2 cup of batter into a heated belgian waffle maker. Make sure to spay waffle maker with non-stick spray first. Cook until the waffle is golden brown, about 4-5 minutes.

Top waffles with a dollop of the mousse and don’t forget the real maple syrup! We also added chopped candied pecans, which are highly recommended.

Makes about 6 waffles.

For more recipes, visit www.sweetmelissaslife.com.

—Melissa Miller