Waffles originally started out as a dessert that was then adapted to be a part of the most important meal of the day. They originated as wafers in the medieval times, which were very light, thin, crisp cakes that were baked between two waffle irons. This produced a variety of different, flat, unleavened cakes that came from a mixture of barley and oats. The waffle has since evolved into something very different made with white flour usually. Check out this recipe from Aaron McCargo Jr. for dulce de leche cake waffles.

Ingredients

• 1 box your favorite vanilla cake mix (or any other flavors)
• Nonstick spray
• 1/2 gallon good-quality dulce de leche ice cream
• 4 bananas, sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup caramel sauce
• 1 cup toasted chopped walnuts
• Whipped cream, for garnish

Special equipment: waffle iron

Directions

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F and prepare a cookie sheet with a cooling rack on top.

In a large bowl, add the cake mix and prepare the batter according to the pancake instructions.

Spray the waffle iron with nonstick spray. Pour about 1 cup batter into the preheated waffle iron and cook the waffle according to the waffle maker's instructions. As each waffle is cooked, place it onto the prepared rack in the oven to keep warm.

When you're ready to serve the waffles, remove from the oven and place 1 onto a warmed plate. Top with 2 scoops ice cream, some bananas, drizzle with the caramel sauce and top with the walnuts and whipped cream. Repeat with remaining ingredients.