Ingredients
For Belgian Waffles:
- 3 cups milk, divided
- 1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 3 eggs, separated
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, cooled to room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons Florida orange zest
- 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
For Florida Orange Caramel Sauce:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) Florida orange juice
- 1/3 cup heavy cream, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, cooled to room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon Florida orange zest
For Assembly:
- 1/2 gallon caramel ice cream
- 1/2 cup peanuts, toasted, chopped
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Preparation
To prepare Belgian Waffles, heat 1/4 cup of milk to 110 degrees in the microwave. Check milk temperature with thermometer; cool milk to 110 degrees if necessary as higher temperature will kill the yeast. Add yeast to milk; stir and set aside for 5 minutes until foamy. Whisk together egg yolks, milk-yeast mixture and melted butter in large mixing bowl. Whisk in sugar, salt, vanilla and orange zest. Add 2 cups flour, then half of remaining milk. Stir just until combined. Add remaining flour, then remaining milk; stir just until combined. Mixture should be slightly lumpy.
Beat egg whites to a soft peak; fold egg whites into waffle batter. Cover waffle batter with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, prepare Florida Orange Caramel Sauce. Combine sugar and light corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer; cook until mixture turns into golden caramel, watching carefully so mixture does not burn. Remove from heat; stir in Florida orange juice. Return to heat; cook just until mixture is smooth. Add heavy cream, melted butter and orange zest. Cook until smooth; reserve and keep warm.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees, and preheat waffle iron. Stir waffle batter to deflate air bubbles. Pour about 1/2 cup batter onto waffle iron; spread batter over surface of waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer’s instructions until golden brown. Place cooked waffles in single layer on baking sheet in oven while cooking remaining batter.
To assemble sandwiches, cut waffles in half. Drizzle both halves of waffle with Florida Orange Caramel Sauce. Place a large scoop of caramel ice cream on top of waffle half. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and a pinch of sea salt. Place remaining waffle half on top of sandwich; serve immediately.
Florida Orange Caramel Sauce can be prepared ahead. Refrigerate sauce and reheat before assembling Belgian Waffle Sandwiches.
