Friday is National Donut Day! I am a huge fan of donuts. So much so that the other day, while at the supermarket, I was overcome by a donut craving. I could have gone to a bakery or a donut shop, but it was late and at the time a 12-pack of bad supermarket donuts seemed like a quick fix. Sadly, it wasn’t just the thing. I’m sad to say that the donuts were (unsurprisingly) bad. The next day, when I woke up, I saw the offenders on my counter top – 12 glistening donuts, one with a bite taken out of it. It was so bad that after the first bite I put the donut back in the package. Mike saw the damage and asked me just what the heck I was doing. Long story short, he suggested the waffle maker.
Total game changer, for real. I almost didn’t want to put this post up because, really, what kind of recipe is: buy glazed donuts and waffle in a waffle iron? But seriously, friends, waffled donuts need to be made! What started out life as a sad, stale, grocery store donut turned into a crispy, caramelized, creamy treat.
The outside, with it’s caramelized sugar glaze, reminded me in the best possible way of a Liège waffle. Liège waffles tend to be denser, sweeter, chewier and more delicious than your regular waffle and if you can’t be bothered to make yeasted waffle dough (which is what Liège waffles are made out of) a glazed yeast donut is the best possible stand in.
I loved the contrast between the crust, creamy insides and fluffy un-waffled spots. It’s pure genius! Of course, it’s not my genius – I’ll be the first to say that waffled donuts are not a new invention. People have waffled pizza, falafel and of course, donuts. However, I did discover, after a little research, that most people make waffled donuts in 1 of 2 ways: cake donut batter “baked” in a waffle machine or waffles cut out and deep-fried like a donut.
This is definitely the simpler route and may be a fraud of a recipe, but one bite and I think you’ll forgive me. How could you not!? WAFFLED DONUTS! Super-easy and super-delicious. It’s almost the weekend, time to get your donut on!
i am waffle, i am donut: i am wonut!
Waffled Donut Recipe
makes as many as needed
- glazed donuts, as many as needed
Heat up your waffle maker. Place donut in waffle maker and waffle until waffle is crisp, caramelized and delicious. Enjoy as is or topped with toppings of choice. I topped these ones with vanilla ice cream and raspberries, but during the testing period (read: basically an excuse to eat as many waffled donuts as possible) I ate them plain.
Notes:
I found the best kitchen utensil to place the donut on the waffle machine and take them off were chopsticks. Nice and small and easy to slide under the wonut.
Also, consume your wonut while it’s still warm. If you let it cool to the point at which the sugar cools down completely, you’ll have a tough nut – it’s the nature of hardened caramelized sugar. That being said, the caramelized sugar is HOT, so be careful not to burn the roof of your mouth in your excitement.
Clean-up is annoying, but worth it. It’s easier to clean a waffle iron while hot, using damp paper towels and chopsticks, so you can push the paper towel into all the crevices without burning your fingers.
It’s a DONUT PARTY! Please check out these other wonderful donuts by some of my favorite like-minded donut lovers:
The Faux Martha made the prettiest naturally sprinkled Mix and Match Donuts.
My Name Is Yeh also rocked the natural route, with Naturally Colored Glazes on Biscuit Donuts.
Hummingbird High has some deliciously deep-fried Sour Cream Donuts.
Wit + Vinegar whipped up some Baked Peanut Butter Oreo Donuts inspired by Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap.
Studio DIY with donut MARSHMALLOWS. I die. Kelly’s even MORE donut projects here.
Edible Perspective is a donut master and she has Gluten Free Samoa Baked Donuts, Savory Kale and Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Donuts AND Classic Buttermilk Donuts.
Coco Cake Land made Milk Tea Donuts. So. Good.
A Cozy Kitchen has some cozy Rhubarb Poppy Seed Baked Donuts and some notes on Let’s-Get-Our-Nails-Did-And-Then-Eat-Tacos-Day!
And if you’re still looking for more donuts, you can check my previous donuts out here, here, here and here.
Wow. Too weird by seventeen. I appreciate innovation a good deal, don’t get me wrong, but this is just sorta…stretching it. D better!
Gimme, gimme!! Gotta love doughnuts..especially waffleized!
dare i say: waffled anything is better!?
My husband and I lived in Belgium and could not get enough of the Liege waffles! SO DELICIOUS. I’ve tried making them myself and have come pretty close. I’ll have to try this!
ooh i’ve always wanted to make liege waffles, but the whole yeast/rising idea exhausts me. one day i will do it though, they’re so, so delicious!
i think there’s a typo in the notes section about getting the wonut with some chopsticks
This waffled donut concept just blew my mind. I’m tempted to fire up my waffle iron and start throwing in all kinds of ready-to-eat meals. Waffled coleslaw, anyone?
YES!! well, maybe not yes to the coleslaw ;)
Oh. My god. I can’t believe you did this. You are my hero forever-eva. This makes up for not getting that liege waffle I was eyeing in Paris. <3333333333333333
wow, you showed restraint while you were in PARIS!! i can’t wait to see everything you ate!!!