Preheat your waffle iron. Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. to keep waffles warm. Place wire rack insert on a large sheet pan. Set aside.
Combine dry ingredients: In a medium sized mixing bowl combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and pecans. Stir together and make a small well in the center of ingredients.
Combine wet ingredients: In a separate mixing bowl combine the egg yolks, buttermilk, oil and vanilla extract. Beat/whisk to thoroughly incorporate.
Add wet to dry: Add all of the wet ingredients to the ‘well’ of the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. The mixture should still be lumpy.
Beat egg whites: In a separate small bowl, beat egg whites with sugar until stiff peaks form (the tips of the whites should stand straight up in the air).
Fold egg whites into batter: Gently fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the flour/egg yolk mixture. Fold. Repeat two more times until all of the egg whites are barely combined, do NOT over mix.
Cook waffles: Spoon about 1/3 cup waffle batter into preheated waffle iron, making sure not to overfill. Cook for 4-6 minutes or until waffles are cooked through. Remove and store cooked waffles in the warm oven while you repeat with remaining batter.
Meanwhile, Make the Caramelized Rum Bananas: In a large saucepan melt butter with corn syrup over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the rum and allow mixture to come to a gentle boil. Immediately reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the bananas, pecans and a pinch of salt. Stir to coat. Cook an additional 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve: Spoon the caramelized banana and pecan mixture over the warm waffles and serve immediately.
Notes
To reheat: heat waffles in a toaster oven or an oven preheated to 325 degrees F until warm throughout, about 5 minutes.
Recipe Yields: approximately 14 Waffles
Nutritional information is an approximation based upon 14 servings (waffle + banana topping). Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.