Cinnamon Ricotta Waffles

The most common use of ricotta in my kitchen is as part of a filling for lasagna or another pasta dish. But savory dishes aren’t the only way to showcase the mild, creamy cheese and I often use it in desserts, including my Cannoli Pie and Ricotta Cheesecake Brownies. These Cinnamon Ricotta Waffles are a brunch dish that makes great use of this versatile cheese. The ricotta, which is incorporated into the batter, gives the waffles a light, moist interior and sets them apart from other waffle recipes.

The batter is easy to make and you can pull it together in the time it takes to heat up your waffle iron. Ricotta cheese is stirred right in with the rest of the ingredients, along with plenty of ground cinnamon and vanilla. The combination of cinnamon and ricotta reminds me of Italian desserts – which frequently feature that flavor combination – giving the finished waffles a familiar flavor, even if you haven’t had ricotta waffles before!

The waffle batter is fairly thick, so I recommend using a large ladle to spoon it onto your preheated waffle iron. I used a Belgian-style waffle iron that creates deep pockets on each waffle, perfect for catching a generous amount of maple syrup. You can use a regular waffle iron, as well. The cooking time will vary a bit from model to model, so check the instructions on your waffle iron and aim to cook the waffles until they are golden brown. The number of waffles you get will vary depending on your iron, but you will get enough waffles to serve at least 3-4 people with this recipe.

Once they’re baked, the waffles should be crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with a surprisingly light texture that is enhanced by the ricotta cheese. You’ll be able to smell the cinnamon and vanilla as the waffles cook, but you also be able to taste them both in every bite. They’re tasty on their own, although they are not meant to be very sweet so that the can be served with a generous amount of maple syrup. I like to add a small scoop of ricotta to the waffles before serving, as well, just to highlight that ingredient further.

Cinnamon Ricotta Waffles
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup milk (pref. whole)
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
3 tbsp butter, melted and cooled
2 tsp vanilla extract

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add in eggs, milk, ricotta cheese and vanilla extract. Whisk until batter comes together, then pour in melted butter and whisk until batter is uniform.
Preheat waffle iron as directed by the manufacturer. Grease waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray or melted butter, then spoon batter (approx 3/4
– 1 cup, depending on the size of your iron) onto the waffle iron and cook as directed, approximately 3-4 minutes. Serve immediately.

Makes 3-4 waffles