Turn a Box of Jiffy Mix Into a Batch of Waffles
I will always be fascinated by the little blue box of Jiffy Corn Muffin. Actually, I would never serve cupcakes like cornbread – they are too sweet for that – but they make an incredible corn casserole and, as it turns out, pretty good waffles (with a few changes). The mix is also incredibly cheap —less than a dollar a box —and makes it possible to make four waffles in a batch or a truly economical brunch for two.
Is this part of Will it Waffle? , a Skillet series in which Claire uses her waffle iron to cook everything from eggplant to mozzarella sticks.
When I first started experimenting with these waffles, I kneaded the dough according to the directions on the box, beating 1/3 cup milk and one whole egg into a dry yellow powder. I poured the batter into a waffle iron and cooked until the waffles were golden brown. I took them out of the kettle and gave them a try. They were fine.
The taste was a bit dull and the texture was dry to the touch and too crumbly, but nothing that the oil and syrup couldn’t solve. However, I wanted them to be better, so I made another batch with a little more milk and a dollop of bacon fat. (I don’t know if everyone’s grandmother baked cornbread with bacon fat, but mine did, and in my mind the two ingredients are inextricably linked.)
Top rated waffle makers for all your waffle needs:
- It looks fantastic for the price: Oster Belgian temperature-controlled waffle maker
- It has built-in drip protection (but only one temperature setting): the Dash Deluxe No-Drip Waffle Iron Maker.
- Claire’s first waffle iron: the Cuisinart Classic waffle iron.
- Just a Little Guy: The DASH Mini Waffle Maker
The second batch of waffles turned out much better – a little more moist, with a hint of salt and smoke from lard. They were also sweet and trite in a classic Jiffy Corn Muffin style. In short, they were delicious, especially with a dollop of butter and a generous dash of maple syrup. They’re still too crumbly to make a real sandwich, but they make a great backing system for a bacon and egg mash-up or even something a little more elegant like this beauty cooked in maple sauce .
Light corn waffles
Ingredients:
- 1 box of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon melted bacon fat
Turn on the waffle iron. If it has a temperature control option, set it to medium-high.
Add the mixture to a large bowl and break up any clumps with a whisk or fork. Lightly beat the egg with the milk, then add all the remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix. Pour into hot waffle iron.
Cook for 4-6 minutes until they are slightly golden brown and the waffles come out of the waffle iron easily. Serve immediately, preferably with maple egg and crispy bacon.