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1
Place the butter in a medium bowl and mash it with a rubber spatula until its very spreadable.
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2
Add the vanilla seeds or extract, zest, and salt and mix until thoroughly combined; set aside.
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3
Heat the oven to 250 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle.
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4
Set a wire rack on a baking sheet and place it in the oven.
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5
Whisk together the flour, sugar, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, allspice, and cloves in a large bowl to aerate and break up any lumps; set aside.
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6
Place the eggs in a large bowl and whisk until theyre just broken up.
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7
Add the buttermilk, melted butter, molasses, and vanilla and whisk until evenly combined.
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8
Add the buttermilk mixture to the reserved flour mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until the flour is just incorporated and no streaks remain.
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9
(The batter may have a few lumps.)
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10
Heat a Belgian waffle iron to medium low according to the manufacturers instructions.
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11
Once heated, fill it with batter, close the lid, and cook until the steam starts to diminish (open the top and peek for doneness after a few minutes).
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12
Transfer the waffle to the wire rack on the baking sheet in the oven.
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13
Repeat with the remaining batter.
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14
Serve immediately with the vanilla-orange butter and maple syrup, if using.
