I Tried John F. Kennedy’s Favourite Breakfast—Now It’s Mine, Too

What do you want most about waffles? The nooks and crannies that present the last word spot for butter and maple syrup? The crispy exterior that pairs so completely with the tender, just-sweet-enough inside? If you’re a waffle lover like me, then you definately respect this stuff and so much more.

And simply after I thought I’d already landed on my favorite waffle recipe, I stumbled upon President John F. Kennedy’s version, and my waffle sport has by no means been higher.

President John F. Kennedy’s Waffles

Kudos to whoever determined (and continues) to maintain observe of issues like a former president’s favorite recipes. They not solely present a peek into the past and personalities of the people who loved them, however lots of them are additionally quite delicious. J.F.Okay.’s favourite waffles are not any exception. His recipe, which is now saved in the National Archives, solely requires seven components and ends in probably the most scrumptious waffles.

The recipe begins with beating butter with a bit of sugar within the backside of a bowl. Next, add two egg yolks and beat till mixed. Then alternately add cake flour and buttermilk into the batter. Just earlier than baking, beat two egg whites to stiff peaks and fold them in together with 4 teaspoons of baking powder.

The ensuing waffles are ethereal, crispy, and soften in your mouth as quickly as you are taking a chew. They style buttery, however aren’t heavy. And when loved instantly with some warm maple syrup? Perfection. Here’s what makes these waffles so good:

• The butter. I don’t should persuade you that butter is delicious, so I gained’t. What I’ll say is that butter is a key part to the flavour of those waffles. Without it, I’m unsure I’d like them as a lot.

• The cake flour. Cake flour is lighter than all-purpose flour, which is commonly utilized in waffle and pancake recipes. And on this recipe, it provides the waffles construction, however doesn’t weigh it down, which is the key to that crispy, ethereal consequence.

• The egg whites. Another purpose these waffles are so crisp and ethereal is the egg whites. Once they’re overwhelmed to stiff peaks, they’re able to contributing construction, but in addition carry—and that is key to protecting the waffles gentle, not dense.

• The baking powder. Those 4 teaspoons of baking powder add one other layer of safety in the case of the sunshine, crispy nature of those waffles. I’m into that sort of safety.

Tips for Making John F. Kennedy’s Waffles

These waffles are fairly simple, however in the event you don’t cook dinner a lot—or make waffles usually—there are some things you need to know that may take the guesswork out of this recipe:

• Separate your eggs after they’re chilly. It’s a lot simpler to separate the yolk from the egg white whereas your eggs are chilly. Do this step first earlier than you get began on the remainder of the recipe.

• Use room temperature butter. Room temperature butter will likely be simpler to beat, so pull it out of the fridge no less than 20 to half-hour earlier than making the recipe. To speed things up, cube the butter as an alternative of leaving it complete. More floor space publicity will assist take the chilliness off sooner.

• Use buttermilk. Milk is okay, however buttermilk is healthier. Use one full cup.

• Watch the salt. The recipe doesn’t specify, however I like to recommend utilizing unsalted butter. The baking powder and extra pinch of salt (which you too can skip) present loads of sodium to carry out the flavour of the waffles.

Read the unique article on Allrecipes