This indulgent peach crisp waffle with browned butter batter, spiced peaches, and a crunchy crisp topping is the ultimate lazy weekend summer brunch! If you love decadent weekend brunch recipes, you may also enjoy our Rhubarb Custard French Toast or our Pumpkin Praline Pancakes for more indulgent morning treats.
At a Glance: Peach Crisp Waffles
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Bake Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Flavour: Fruity, sweet and buttery with a hint of spice
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Why this Works: This decadent summer breakfast captures the flavours of a seasonal peach crisp in a brown butter waffle topped with sweet peaches and a spiced crumble topping.
Summer orchard delights
With the long, hot days of summer comes a plethora of orchard fruits, and each year we eagerly await the arrival of sun-ripened fresh peaches. Perfect for a lazy weekend brunch, this decadent waffle recipe captures the flavours of a traditional peach crisp. Browned butter folded into the buttermilk waffle batter adds a nutty aroma while juicy, ripe peaches are gently cooked with brown sugar and spices. Topped with a cloud of whipped cream and a crunchy crisp topping, this delicious summer breakfast is the perfect morning indulgence to enjoy the fleeting orchard fruit season.
If you love peach crisp as much as we do, then check out our peach crisp filled doughnuts, or if you prefer a more savoury approach, then try our basil lime grilled chicken with peach salsa.
Ingredients for Peach Crisp Waffle
Peaches: While this recipe is designed to make use of all those juicy, ripe peaches available in summer, you can certainly use frozen or even canned peaches in a pinch.
Butter: This recipe uses salted butter in a couple of different ways. The topping is blended with melted butter, while browned butter adds a nutty aroma and flavour to the waffle batter. The amount of butter listed in the waffle batter takes into account a loss in volume from the browning process. If you decide not to brown the butter, then simply omit the extra 2 tablespoons of butter so that the total amount of melted butter added to the batter is roughly ½ cup.
Oats: I recommend using quick oats to create the crisp topping. The slightly smaller flakes blend perfectly into the other ingredients to create a uniform crunchy crumb. You certainly could use large flake oats, just keep in mind that the texture will be more noticeable in the crisp topping.
Buttermilk: Using buttermilk in the batter imparts a slight tangy flavour, helps with leavening, and keeps the texture of the waffles soft and moist on the inside. It is the acid in buttermilk that does all these things so, if you don’t have buttermilk, you can use a substitute. Add 2 teaspoon lemon juice to an equal amount of milk and let sit for a couple of minutes. Then proceed with the recipe.
Tips for the perfect waffle
Here are a few tips to ensure your peach crisp waffles come out perfect every time!
- Browning the butter - Browning the butter first adds a delicious nutty flavour and aroma to the waffle batter. The additional 2 tablespoons of butter are included to account for the loss in liquid as the water in the butter evaporates during the browning process. If you prefer not to brown the butter then omit the 2 tablespoons of butter so that the total amount of melted butter is equal to ½ cup.
- Adding the butter - Adding the butter after the batter has been combined helps to limit the gluten development. As soon as the flour comes into contact with the buttermilk it begins to hydrate and form gluten. Adding the butter later ensures the flour hydrates evenly before halting the gluten production. This will help ensure a tender waffle.
- Whipping the egg whites - Folding in beaten egg whites at the end will help to lighten the batter and results in waffles with a light, crisp texture. While you could certainly add the whole egg along with the buttermilk, this would lead to a slightly denser, cakier texture in the waffles.
How to make Peach Crisp Waffles
1. Make the crumble
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet non-stick spray, or line with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl combine the flour, quick oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt. Add the melted butter and mix together until well combined.
Use your hands to crumble the oat mixture onto the baking sheet. Spread the crumbs out evenly on the baking sheet. Break up any large clumps. Bake for 7 minutes. Use a spatula to flip the crumbs so they brown evenly. Bake for another 5 to 7 minutes until browned. Let cool before using. The crisp topping will harden as it cools.
2. Cook the peach topping
Peel, pit, and dice the peaches. Add the butter to a large skillet and place over medium high heat. Add the diced peaches along with the brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir to evenly coat the peaches.
Cover over medium high heat, stirring regularly, until the peaches begin to soften, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. The peaches can be cooked ahead of time and reheated just before serving.
3. Make the batter
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Let the butter simmer gently until it begins to brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. The butter will foam and then become clear, with the milk solids dropping to the bottom of the pan. Swirl the pan and stir occasionally while the butter is cooking to make sure it browns evenly. When the milk solids turn brown, remove from the heat and pour into a heat safe bowl. Set aside to cool while preparing the rest of the batter.
In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites with beater until they form stiff peaks. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk together. In a separate smaller mixing bowl combine the buttermilk, egg yolks, and vanilla, whisking to combine.
Pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk together just until combined. Do not over mix. Add the browned butter to the batter and stir just until combined. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter in 3 or 4 additions.
4. Make the waffles
Preheat the waffle maker and cook the waffles according to the instructions. Repeat until all the batter is used. The cooked waffles can be kept warm in a low oven.
5. Serve the Peach Crisp Waffles
Before serving, whip the cream. Combine the whipping cream and sugar in a mixer and whip until it forms soft peaks. To serve, top each waffle with the peach topping followed by a generous dollop of whipped cream. Sprinkle the crisp topping over the top and enjoy!
