Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar Butter, plus more for garnish, recipe follows
• 4 ripe bananas, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 2 cups Candied Nuts, recipe follows
• 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
• 1/2 cup melted bittersweet chocolate (3 ounces), preferably Valrhona
• Vegetable-oil cooking spray
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon heavy cream
• 2/3 cup walnuts
• 2/3 cup hazelnuts, blanched
• 2/3 cup macadamia nuts
• 2 1/2 cups pure maple syrup
• 3 cups canola oil

Instructions

1. Heat a Belgian-style waffle iron. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in buttermilk, melted butter, and eggs until smooth. The batter will be thick.
2. Spray waffle iron with cooking spray. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into each section of the waffle grid; spread batter almost to the edges. Close lid; bake 3 minutes, until no steam emerges from waffle iron.
3. Transfer cooked waffles to a baking sheet; place in a pre-heated oven set to low heat, about 200 degrees F, while using the remaining batter.
4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons brown-sugar butter. Add bananas, and saute until softened and golden brown, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Add nuts. Remove skillet from heat, carefully add Grand Marnier, and ignite. Allow alcohol to burn off. Continue to saute until the bananas and nuts are well coated.
5. Split waffles in half. Place 1 half on plate. Spoon 1/4 of the banana mixture over waffle. Top with remaining waffle. Spoon another 1/4 of the banana mixture over waffle. Dust with confectioners' sugar and spoon half of the chocolate over the waffles. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
6. In a small bowl, combine butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add cream, and whisk until creamy and well combined.
7. Yield: 3/4 cup
8. Combine nuts and maple syrup in small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and continue to cook until syrup begins to coat nuts, about 30 minutes.
9. In a medium saucepan, heat canola oil to 350 degrees F. Strain nuts to remove any excess syrup. Transfer to a baking sheet to cool. Fry nuts until crispy and any excess caramel is removed. Remove to a baking sheet lined with a silpat (a French nonstick baking mat; see Sources) or oiled parchment paper. Let cool.
10. Yield: 2 cups