24 Karat Hennessy Wings & Waffles with Mac and Cheese
24 Karat Hennessy Wings & Waffles with Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
For the Chicken Wings
- 2 pounds chicken wings, cleaned and patted dry
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying, or as needed
- 1 1/2 cups Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce
- 1/4 cup Hennessy cognac
- 4 edible gold leaf sheets, small sheets
For the Mac and Cheese
- 1 pound macaroni pasta
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups milk, warm
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
For the Waffles
- 4 frozen waffles, or homemade, prepared according to package directions
For the Grape Drink
- 1 packet grape-flavored drink powder, or enough for 2 quarts
- 2 quarts cold water
- 1 lemon, sliced, for garnish
- as needed crushed ice
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Mac and Cheese: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to create a roux. Gradually whisk in warm milk until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Remove from heat. Stir in 3 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and all of the Monterey Jack cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Pour the mac and cheese into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown on top.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
- 5
While the mac and cheese bakes, prepare the Chicken Wings: Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C). Carefully add chicken wings in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the fryer. Fry for 8-10 minutes per batch, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove with tongs and place on a wire rack set over paper towels to drain excess oil.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 350
- 6
In a large pan, combine Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce and Hennessy cognac. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through and slightly simmering. Do not boil.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Add the freshly fried chicken wings to the sauce in the pan. Using tongs, toss the wings until they are thoroughly coated in the Hennessy barbecue sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Prepare the Grape Drink: In a clear rectangular container or pitcher, combine the grape-flavored drink powder with cold water. Stir with a stirring stick until the powder is fully dissolved. Seal the container and set aside.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Prepare the Waffles: Cook frozen waffles according to package instructions (e.g., in a toaster or oven) until golden and crispy.
⏱️ 5 min
- 10
Plating: Scoop a generous serving of the baked mac and cheese onto each white plate. Garnish the mac and cheese with chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of smoked paprika.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
Arrange two waffle halves (or one whole waffle) next to the mac and cheese on each plate. Place a few of the sauced Hennessy wings on top of the waffles.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Carefully apply small sheets of edible gold leaf to the sauced chicken wings using tongs, creating a '24 karat' appearance.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
For the drink, fill a stemmed glass with crushed ice. Pour the prepared grape-flavored drink from the container into the glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
⏱️ 2 min
- 14
Serve immediately and enjoy your 24 Karat Hennessy Wings & Waffles with Mac and Cheese!
Kitchen Tools
24 Karat Hennessy Wings & Waffles with Mac and Cheese
For the Chicken Wings
- 2 pounds chicken wings, cleaned and patted dry
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying, or as needed
- 1 1/2 cups Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce
- 1/4 cup Hennessy cognac
- 4 edible gold leaf sheets, small sheets
For the Mac and Cheese
- 1 pound macaroni pasta
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups milk, warm
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
For the Waffles
- 4 frozen waffles, or homemade, prepared according to package directions
For the Grape Drink
- 1 packet grape-flavored drink powder, or enough for 2 quarts
- 2 quarts cold water
- 1 lemon, sliced, for garnish
- as needed crushed ice
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Mac and Cheese: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to create a roux. Gradually whisk in warm milk until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Remove from heat. Stir in 3 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and all of the Monterey Jack cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Pour the mac and cheese into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown on top.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375 - 5
While the mac and cheese bakes, prepare the Chicken Wings: Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C). Carefully add chicken wings in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the fryer. Fry for 8-10 minutes per batch, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove with tongs and place on a wire rack set over paper towels to drain excess oil.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 350 - 6
In a large pan, combine Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce and Hennessy cognac. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through and slightly simmering. Do not boil.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Add the freshly fried chicken wings to the sauce in the pan. Using tongs, toss the wings until they are thoroughly coated in the Hennessy barbecue sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Prepare the Grape Drink: In a clear rectangular container or pitcher, combine the grape-flavored drink powder with cold water. Stir with a stirring stick until the powder is fully dissolved. Seal the container and set aside.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Prepare the Waffles: Cook frozen waffles according to package instructions (e.g., in a toaster or oven) until golden and crispy.
⏱️ 5 min - 10
Plating: Scoop a generous serving of the baked mac and cheese onto each white plate. Garnish the mac and cheese with chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of smoked paprika.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
Arrange two waffle halves (or one whole waffle) next to the mac and cheese on each plate. Place a few of the sauced Hennessy wings on top of the waffles.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Carefully apply small sheets of edible gold leaf to the sauced chicken wings using tongs, creating a '24 karat' appearance.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
For the drink, fill a stemmed glass with crushed ice. Pour the prepared grape-flavored drink from the container into the glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
⏱️ 2 min - 14
Serve immediately and enjoy your 24 Karat Hennessy Wings & Waffles with Mac and Cheese!