The Liège waffle, also known as the “sugar waffle” or “wåfe” in Walloon, is a veritable Belgian institution. Legend has it that it was created in the 18th century by the cook of the Prince-Bishop of Liège. However, the first written records of this waffle date back to the end of the 19th century, thanks to Léon Roty, a renowned Brussels pastry chef.
The original Liège waffle recipe is distinguished by the use of pearl sugar, a key ingredient that doesn't melt completely during baking, creating pockets of crunchy caramel inside the waffle. This pearl sugar, produced from sugar beet from the Hesbaye region, is what gives the Liège waffle its unique texture and inimitable taste.
The Authentic Liege Waffle Recipe
For those who want to recreate this wonder at home, here's an authentic Liege waffle recipe:
Ingredients:
- 375 g flour
- 375 g flour
- 220 ml warm milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 sachet Vanilla sugar
- 250 g butter
- 200 g of pearl sugar
Préparation :
- Preparing the dough In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the crumbled yeast. Pour in the warm milk and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Incorporating the eggs and butter Add the eggs and vanilla sugar, then mix well. Incorporate the softened butter in small pieces and knead until you get a homogeneous dough.
- Letting the dough rise Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and let the dough rise for about 1 hour, until it doubles in volume.
- Adding the pearl sugar: Gently fold the pearl sugar into the risen dough.
- Cooking the waffles: Preheat your waffle iron and place balls of dough (about 100 g each) on the plates. Cook until the waffles are golden and caramelized.
Conclusion
The Liège waffle is much more than just a pastry; it's a true sensory
experience that warms the heart in winter. For an authentic experience,
don't forget to stock up on quality pearl sugar from BELices.be, the
magic ingredient that makes all the difference.
Bon appétit and enjoy these sweet delights!