Devotti’s Food Lab← Birthday Party
Event Collection / Birthday Party / Recipe 001

Birthday Confetti Chicken & Waffle Bites

Crispy chicken. Soft vanilla confetti waffles. Warm hot-honey birthday glaze and a tiny swirl of whipped maple butter.

Get the ingredients ↓See the method ↓
Crispy chicken and confetti waffle birthday bites on a tiered standFree birthday sneak peek · 001
Yield24 party bites
Prep & cookAbout 1 hour, including the 30-minute marinade
MarinateAt least 30 minutes
01 / The formula

What goes in.

Five parts, one birthday bite. Gather each component before the chicken hits the oil.

01

Chicken

  • 1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 24 bite-size pieces
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 1½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • Neutral oil for frying, about 3–4 cups or enough for a 1½-inch depth in your pot
02

Confetti waffles

  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp rainbow jimmies sprinkles
  • 1 tsp neutral oil or nonstick spray for the waffle maker
03

Hot-honey glaze

  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1–2 tsp hot sauce
04

Whipped maple butter

  • 4 tbsp softened butter
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • Pinch of salt
05

To serve

  • 24 food-safe decorative party picks
02 / The process

Make the moment.

Keep the chicken crisp and the waffles warm, then build each bite just before serving.

  1. 01
    Marinate the chicken. Mix the chicken, buttermilk, and hot sauce. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. 02
    Make the waffle batter. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Combine the wet and dry mixtures just until blended. Fold in the sprinkles last so the colors do not bleed.
  3. 03
    Cook 24 bite-size waffles, about 2–3 inches wide, in a lightly greased mini waffle maker until golden and cooked through. If using a standard waffle maker, cook several waffles and cut out 24 small squares. Keep them warm in a 200°F oven.
  4. 04
    Fry the chicken. Mix flour, cornstarch, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. Lift chicken from the buttermilk and coat well. Heat 1½ inches of oil to 350°F. Fry in batches for about 5–7 minutes, until golden and the center reaches 165°F. Drain on a wire rack.
  5. 05
    Finish the toppings. Warm honey, butter, and hot sauce together until smooth. Whip the softened butter with maple syrup and a pinch of salt until fluffy.
  6. 06
    Build the birthday bites. Put one piece of chicken on each confetti waffle. Drizzle with hot honey, add a small swirl of whipped maple butter, and secure with a party pick. Serve while the chicken is hot and the waffles are warm.
03 / The reveal

The birthday moment.

Arrange all 24 bites on a tiered stand like a savory birthday tower. Bring out the warm glaze and pour it over the top tier on camera just before guests grab one.

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