Macadamia Nut Waffles with Coconut Syrup

When I visited Hawaii a number of years ago, I had Macadamia Nut waffles with Coconut Syrup every morning for breakfast while we were staying at the Wailea Beach Marriot Hotel in Maui. Once a year, I feel a little need for a taste of Hawaii again, and so I make these waffles.

I use this Kona Coast mix to make the waffles. I used to find it at Cost Plus before they closed in the Detroit area, but I recently found it in Grand Rapids. You also could use any other mix and toss in some chopped macadamia nuts.

The coconut syrup is easy to make and uses coconut milk. Warning - it is VERY sweet! Here is the recipe:

Coconut Syrup

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 13 ounce can coconut milk - I used the regular, not the lite
2 teaspoons coconut extract

Stir the sugar and granulated syrup together in a heavy saucepan over medium high heat until dissolved and bubbly. Add the coconut milk and extract and cook for another minute or so. Remove from heat and cool. Pour into a jar for serving. Keeps for several weeks in the refrigerator.

If you are really going tropical you should serve it with fresh pineapple, but strawberries work fine, too.