These delicious little waffles are wonderful with a bit of spiced cinnamon syrup drizzled over.

How do I make waffles and cinnamon syrup?

First make your syrup

Boil the water, add the sugar and cinnamon or mixed spice and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice, it adds acidity and cuts through the sweetness.

Allow to cool and store in a clean jam jar. Use up to a third of the syrup each time you make the waffles if you are following the Christmas Week meal plan.

This is an occasional treat as it has so much sugar in it, not an everyday item!

Now make your waffles

Mix the dry ingredients together. Separately mix the wet ingredients together and stir both together.

Grease a waffle iron or thick based frying pan and using a small amount of mixture at a time fry gently, flipping over once the top has set.

Keep warm in the oven until all the mixture is used and serve immediately with the syrup in a small jug to drizzle over and a wedge of lemon.

What changes can I make?

What other spices do you have in the house? Several can be used here. The most obvious substitution is swap the cinnamon for mixed spice, still very seasonal. I would love to try 5 spice in this, or garam masala, or even simmer some star anise in the water before adding sugar.

• The cinnamon syrup can be used on crepes
• a teaspoon drizzled over fresh fruit salad
• over ice cream with chopped nuts
• add a little to the top of your porridge
• drizzle a little over cinnamon rolls to replace the icing
• use as the sweetening agent in granola, or in baking
• sweeten whipped cream
• on top of thick Greek yogurt

Spicy syrup would be lovely on these breakfast pancakes too

Or used instead of maple syrup in this delicious granola