Elvis Waffle Recipe From Gonzalo Rivera

Photo by Riki Altman

Now we know why he got so darn big...

​It's not Elvis Presley's birthday, nor is it even the anniversary of his death, but we decided there's no need for any Elvis-related reason to enjoy this amazing creation. Chef Gonzalo Rivera boasted about it on his Facebook page, claiming it's a favorite around his kitchen table at home, so we investigated. And -- OMG -- this is seriously one of the best, sweetest, saltiest creations we've ever eaten.
Elvis Waffles

Waffle batter

1 1/2 cup pastry flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 Tbs agave nectar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp fresh yeast
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 extra large egg
2 egg whites
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla bourbon

Vanilla Chantilly

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 vanilla bean, split in half and scraped
2 Tbs powdered sugar

Garnishes

Neuski bacon, thick cut (Christina Staalstrom recommends baking the strips for 15 to 18 minutes at 375 degrees)
Jiff creamy peanut butter (melt over low heat, if desired)
3 caramelized bananas (here's an easy recipe)
Bliss maple syrup (Rivera calls it "the bomb." We call it "too expensive!")


Directions: Prepare the vanilla chantilly first by putting the cream, bean, and powdered sugar in a bowl and whipping until it reaches the desired consistency. Set aside and get started on the waffles by mixing all dry ingredients, except the yeast, in a bowl.

Put 1/2 cup of milk in a pot on low heat. Bring the milk's temperature up to about 100 degrees, then add the yeast until it dissolves, making sure there are no clumps.  If it gets too hot, the yeast will die.

In a separate bowl mix the rest of the milk, agave nectar, whole egg, melted butter, and vanilla and set aside. Now add the yeast liquid to that and then add the dry ingredients, making sure there are no clumps.  Set aside for 30 minutes, covered so it may rise.

In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites with sugar until soft peaks form. Slowly add the egg whites to the mixture with a spatula, making sure you fold, not mix, so that the mixture is fluffy and airy.

Spray your waffle iron with plain butter spray and add your mixture.

Garnish as you like. (We crisscrossed two pieces of bacon atop the waffle, then set a few slices of banana down, drizzled the creation with the warmed peanut butter and syrup, then added a dollop of chantilly and a dusting of powdered sugar.)

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