Double Chocolate Waffles with Strawberries and White Chocolate Ice Cream
Serves 10 to 12
This dessert is something of a cross between strawberry shortcake
and an ice cream sandwich. Modeled after waffles a la mode, an old
Brooklyn dinner favorite, it's a great dessert to make if you have
access to local strawberries. While more perishable than commercial
varieties, native berries tend to be juicier, sweeter, and more
fragrant.
Ingredients for the Waffles
1 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 eggs
1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons creme de cacao (or other liqueur)
Ingredients for Presentation
2 1/2 pints strawberries
sugar to taste
1 recipe white chocolate ice cream
1 recipe bittersweet chocolate sauce
powdered sugar
Preparation for the Waffles
1. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and
sugar into a large bowl.
2. Combine the butter and semisweet
chocolate in a double boiler. Place over low heat until melted. Whisk in
the eggs; whisk in the milk, vanilla, and creme de cacao.
3. Make a
well in the center of the dry ingredients and gradually whisk in the
milk mixture.
4. Using a waffle iron and following the manufacturer's instructions,
make waffles with the chocolate batter. The waffles will be somewhat
soft when first removed from the waffle iron--they will crisp as they
cool. The waffles can be made ahead. Store, wrapped and refrigerated,
for up to 2 days. Bring back to room temperature before using.
Presentation
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Hull the strawberries, cut them into thick slices, and sugar them to taste. Reserve.
3. Cut the waffles into triangles, place on a baking sheet, and toast lightly (about 5 minutes).
4. Sprinkle dessert plates with powdered sugar and drizzle with
chocolate sauce. For each serving, place 1 waffle triangle on a plate
and top with a spoonful of strawberries and a scoop of ice cream; top
this with another waffle triangle, more berries, and a second scoop of
ice cream. Drizzle the top scoop of ice cream with some additional
chocolate sauce and place a few sliced berries on each plate.