I’m writing this post as I sit in one of the darkest sports bars I’ve ever frequented. I managed to pick the seat under the AC vent, and I’m freezing my toes off. The bar is lit only by neon signs, lights above pool tables, and the bursts of color coming from the seven television screens. The faint smell of cigarette smoke cuts through the air and assails my nostrils.
There is a woman standing by the jukebox, selecting 90s rock songs as she sways her hips to her own rhythm. Power to her for finding a way to dance to those tunes. She takes a short break from her arhythmic dancing to clap her hands and scream “COME ON, JUNIOR!” NASCAR is on television.
Then, there’s me, dressed like I’m about to go to the gym. The strange drinker sitting at the bar with a pen and paper in hand, attracting furtive stares from every corner of the room. This feels like just the perfect place for me to write a Cinco de Mayo recipe post.
Cinco de Mayo, like St. Patrick’s Day, is a holiday I used to celebrate for the sake of drinking. Now, I mark it on my calendar for the sake of creating holiday-themed recipes. Another sign that I’m getting one year wiser.
The very first Cinco de Mayo themed meal I ever cooked involved chicken tacos and homemade churro chips—lightly fried slices of tortillas with a generous coating of cinnamon and sugar. When it comes to frying chips, there’s a fine line between a nice golden brown and a “spent too much time on a tanning bed” kind of brown. I wasn’t on top of my game, and I couldn’t keep those dang chips from over-browning. This year, I’m tossing that whole frying business out of the equation. We’re making waffles.
KITCHEN TIP: HOW TO MAKE WHIPPED CREAM IN A JAR
I learned a neat new trick that I’ve been aching to share with you: making whipped cream out of a mason jar. No equipment required!
I wish I came up with this on my own, but I first saw this trick on Food and Wine‘s website and found the recipe on Parade’s Community Table. Instead of using your handy dandy mixer, you’re going to incorporate air bubbles into heavy whipping cream by shaking a jar vigorously. It will be a workout. Primary muscles worked: biceps. Secondary muscles worked: triceps. No joke.
Some recipes say that you can make the whipped cream in 45 seconds, but it takes me around 5 minutes to get the right consistency. Maybe I need Popeye arms. But when you’re making this whipped cream (and I know you will), focus more on how the heavy whipping cream feels and sounds in a jar instead of focusing on time. The whipped cream will be done when you no longer hear liquids jostling around in the jar, and you can feel like you’re shaking a very thick cream.
And in true Cinco de Mayo fashion, I spiced this baby up with cayenne and cinnamon. The cayenne won’t burn your lips off, I promise. You just feel the tiniest quick right at the end. I prefer using 3/4 to 1 full teaspoon of cayenne in here, but 1/2 teaspoon works just fine, too.
So, what are we waiting for? Let’s eat!
Churro Waffles with Homemade Cayenne Whipped Cream
Ingredients
Cayenne Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon cayenne, use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon for less spice
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Churro Waffles
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut sugar, any other sugar works also
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup low-fat milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar, for sprinkling
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
- sliced strawberries for topping, optional
Instructions
- In a glass pint jar, stir all the whipped cream ingredients together until they’re just incorporated. Twist the top on and shake for 4 to 5 minutes. Stop shaking only when you can’t hear the liquids jostling around in the jar anymore, and it feels like you’re shaking a thick cream inside the jar. Chill the whipped cream in the refrigerator while you cook the waffles.
- Preheat a waffle iron.
- Whisk together the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt.
- Add the milk, egg, oil, and vanilla to the dry ingredients, and mix. The batter should be a bit thick but easy to pour and spread on the waffle iron.
- Spread half the batter on the waffle iron and cook for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. While the waffles are cooking, mix the sugar and cinnamon for sprinkling. Pour this mixture into a shallow bowl.
- When a waffle is done, use tongs to remove it from the waffle iron. Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar on the waffles immediately. Don’t wait for the waffles to cool off because the cinnamon and sugar will not stick as well. Set waffle aside and cook the remaining batter. You probably will not use up all the sugar, so save the leftovers in a sandwich bag.
- Top waffles with a dollop of chilled whipped cream and sliced strawberries. Refrigerate remaining whipped cream for up to a week.
Notes
- Cayenne whipped cream adapted from this recipe from Parade’s Community Table.
- You can use any other jar if you don’t have a pint-sized one.
- The longer you chill the whipped cream in the refrigerator before serving, the thicker it will be.
Looking for more Cinco de May inspiration?
Four-Ingredient Cinnamon Sugar Crisps
Chilaquiles with Homemade Tomato Sauce
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
Can I come for breakfast? Holy smoke – churro waffles are genius! And I still haven’t tried the whipped cream in a mason jar trick. It’s on my list. But I always just reach for my mixer anyway. Glad to know it works so well.
Lisa says
Heck yea, you can come over! Just bring the booze so that we can have some morning cocktails 😉
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
You are so creative with your post writing locations AND recipes!
I just write them in my Pjs under a blanket. I’m boring.
But these waffles though? Sweet AND Spicy?! I NEED THEM ALL! Pinning!
Lisa says
Hehe, you’re not boring, just waaaay more disciplined than I am! Thanks, girl!!!
Beth says
I am loving a few things!! Your sprinkle shot with the cinnamon sugar is so fun and I have got to try this whipped cream method. Now where are the lids to my mason jars… 🙂
Lisa says
Hahaha, it took me a good 20 minutes before I found my mason jar lids, too! I feel you. Thanks, Beth!!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
These look so good to me right now! It’s been too long since I’ve had waffles!
Lisa says
Thanks, Kelly! If you come up with a good gluten-free flour combo, I would love to try and make them!
Justine | Cooking and Beer says
Lisa, these waffles seriously made my day! Yum!
Lisa says
Thanks, Justine!!
Melissa @ Treats With a Twist says
Oh DROOL! I love the cinnamon sugar on there!! And the whipped cream. All perfect! Yum!
Lisa says
Thanks, Melissa!
Linda @ Veganosity says
Wow, you went to a bar to write a blog post. I’m impressed. Very creative. 🙂
These look awesome, and I love the idea of putting cayenne pepper in the whip cream. Yum!
Lisa says
Haha, truth be told, I was there to catch a basketball game before going to the airport my flight! Hah! I bet putting some cayenne in coconut whipped cream would be lovely, too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
How fun! I love such a unique recipe Lisa! Load in the cinnamon!!
Lisa says
Thank you so much, Rebecca! Hope you have a wonderful day!
Danae @ Recipe Runner says
Writing your blog post at a bar, now that I’ve got to try! These churro waffles look amazing, can I come to your house for Cinco de Mayo breakfast tomorrow?! 🙂
Lisa says
I’m getting out my waffle iron, so come on over, Danae!
genevieve @ gratitude & greens says
Wow, whipping cream in a jar!! That sounds crazy fun (but also very tiring). I am a sucker for waffles and these sound super yummy! I finally invested in a waffle maker so I’ll have to make these someday 🙂
Lisa says
Ohhh, you’ll have so much fun with your waffle iron! Can’t wait to see your creations!
Catherine says
Dear Lisa, these waffles look so good! I love your recipe for churro waffles…its a great idea and I bet they are irresistible. I also love how you made your whipped cream…that counts as a workout doesn’t it?? xoxo, Catherine
Lisa says
Oh, totally. I would definitely put that in my exercise tracker!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
Holy smokes! Lucas is going to die for these waffles (why do I still not own a waffle iron?!). I love that you write posts from inside a dive-y sports bar! That sugar shot shaking over the waffles is epic. Love everything about this post!
Lisa says
Oh my gosh, girl, get on that waffle iron! Writing my posts in an unconventional space is definitely an experience. Someone asked if I was writing a novel about them, and I go, nope! I’m just a food blogger. Everyone was intrigued after that.
Joanne says
I’m definitely at the point in my life where I would rather overindulge on waffles and tacos than on beer! So…bring on the waffles is, I think, my point.
Lisa says
Hehe, I hear ya, girl!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
whipped cream in a mason jar?!!! how do I not know about this?!!!!! and I loved your intro. . the darkest sports bar I’ve ever frequented. Awesome!!! and love these churro waffles. . gorgeous!!!!
Lisa says
Alice, you totally need to try this whipped cream in a mason jar thing. I bet your kitchen helpers would love to try it too!
Alex Caspero MA,RD (@delishknowledge) says
PLEASE let me know when I can come for breakfast 🙂
These waffles look so, so good! Waffles are one of my food fails- I want to get them right but they are always slightly off. I cannot wait to try these and I love the mason jar whipped cream trick! Wonder if it will work for coconut cream as well? I’m going to try it!
Lisa says
You can come over any day! I was JUST thinking about trying this with coconut cream. I feel like it will work!
Angela {Mind Over Batter} says
Let’s eat, indeed! I need to get my churro flavor fix where I can get it – And these waffles have my face waiting for a plant. I appreciate the mason jar whipped cream workout. Gotta work out those waffles somehow. I also take my exercise where I can get it. 🙂
Lisa says
Haha, you and me both, Angela! Thanks!!
Ohmydish says
Hi Lisa! Okay, I never thought of making WAFFLES out of churro batter. Totally blew my mind, I’ve got to try this!
Lisa says
Thank you so much!
Heather Mason @Nutty Nutrition says
yummy, these waffles look delicious! Too late for me to make for cinco, but maybe Mother’s Day Breakfast!
Lisa says
Yes! Thanks, Heather!
Sarah Grace says
Oh my! And hah I love finding fun new ways to make recipes like you did with the whipped cream. I made healthy powdered sugar with simply blending protein powder and starch! 🙂
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Lisa says
Oh! I never would have thought of that to make powdered sugar!