• Crisp, golden waffles meet the soft sweetness of roasted plums in this warm and dreamy breakfast moment. Each waffle soaks up the juices from the caramelised fruit, while a generous spoonful of silky mascarpone adds cool richness.

    A drizzle of vibrant cactus pear syrup brings a burst of colour and a subtle floral tang that lifts every bite. It’s simple indulgence with a touch of flair – perfect for slow mornings, relaxed brunches, or whenever you feel like treating yourself to something beautiful. You could buy ready-made syrup at delis and farm stalls but it usually contains a fair amount of colouring. Here, you still get that rosy hue, but with all the goodness.

    Wafles with roasted plums, mascarpone and cactus pear syrup

    Serves: 6
    Cooking Time: 1 hour

    Ingredients

    • CACTUS PEAR SYRUP

    • 1kg cactus pears, peeled and diced
    • 750g white sugar
    • 150ml lemon juice
    • WAFFLES

    • 125g butter, softened
    • 60ml sugar
    • 15ml vanilla extract
    • 3 eggs
    • a pinch of lemon zest
    • 250g cake flour
    • 5ml baking powder
    • 200ml milk
    • 9 plums, quartered
    • 250ml mascarpone
    • pomegranate seeds, to garnish

    Instructions

    1

    Preheat the oven to 200°C.

    2

    For the syrup, combine all the ingredients in a large, heavy-based pot and boil gently for 45 minutes. Strain to remove the pips and discard. Cool and store in sterilised glass jars or bottles in the fridge.

    3

    To make the waffles, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla essence together until light and foamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating continuously. Add the lemon zest.

    4

    Sift the flour and baking powder together. Add it little by little to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. If the mixture is still too thick, add a bit more milk until the consistency of thick cream is reached. Use 50ml of batter per waffle and cook in a waffle maker for 2 minutes.

    5

    Place the plums on a baking tray and roast in the oven until sticky but firm, about 10 minutes.

    6

    Place a waffle on a plate and top with a heaped tablespoon of mascarpone and 3 plum wedges. Make a stack by repeating with another waffle, some mascarpone and 3 plum wedges. Top each stack with a waffle, sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds and drizzle the cactus pear syrup over. Serve immediately.

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