Pearl Sugar Waffles With Bacon And Plums

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Mix brown sugar, yeast, and 1/3 cup warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook until yeast dissolves. Let sit until foamy, 5–10 minutes. Whisk flour and salt in a medium bowl.

   Step 2

   Mix eggs into yeast mixture. With mixer on low speed, add dry ingredients and mix until dough comes together into a ball. Gradually add 1 cup butter, pausing often to allow dough to fully incorporate butter before adding more. Increase speed to high and mix until dough is smooth, elastic, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl (dough will still be very soft and somewhat sticky), 5–10 minutes longer. Transfer to a buttered medium bowl and cover with plastic wrap; let sit in a warm spot until doubled in size, 1 1/2–2 1/2 hours.

   Step 3

   Just before dough is ready, bring syrup and cacao nibs to a simmer over low heat in a small saucepan and cook 5 minutes. Let cool.

   Step 4

   Sprinkle pearl sugar over dough and mix in with a wooden spoon. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Heat a Belgian waffle iron until very hot; coat with nonstick spray. Place a piece of dough over each well (keep remaining pieces covered). Cook until waffles are golden brown and sugar is caramelized in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; repeat with remaining pieces of dough. Let waffles cool slightly. Serve topped with bacon, plums, ricotta, and almonds and drizzled with cacao-nib syrup.