Norwegian Krumkaker ~ Christmas Waffle / Wafer Cookies

My childhood pal, Martha (I introduced you to her in this post), has relocated with her family, to Norway.  She is busily learning the language and customs of her new home.  Today, her Norwegian husband informed her of the Christmas tradition of the wives making at least seven different types of "cakes" to be enjoyed during this festive time of year.  Some of the basic ones are...

• Smultringer
• Sandkaker
• Sirupssnipper
• Berlinerkranser
• Goro
• Krumkaker
• Fattigmann 

As Martha was sharing this holiday "cake making tradition" information on Facebook, I chimed in with my thoughts on how to turn 'one' cake into 'seven mini cakes', using a little creative butchering of a single layer rectangle cake.  Sounded good to me.  Her friend, Denise, let me know it is really cookies when Norwegians speak of "cakes".  Oops, I got that one totally wrong ~ that was definitely lost in translation.  There goes my two cents' worth of cake baking shortcut ideas.

But...this whole discussion made me remember that I had purchased a Krumkake Waffle Cookie Iron at a yard sale this fall.  Cool!  I'd totally forgotten about it.  Now, I could make some traditional Norwegian Christmas cookies, I mean cakes...I mean cookies here in my own kitchen. 

Martha, we may be separated by a huge ocean, but we can still play together in the kitchen ~ just me here in America and you over there, in Norway.  I'd share with you if I could, that way you'd only have to make six kinds of cookies (I mean cakes... I'll never get that straight) instead of seven.  Does that count?  :)  Merry Christmas to you and yours! x/o

Norwegian Krumkaker ~ (Waffle / Wafer Cookies)
makes 8-10 cookies

I found a recipe for Krumkaker over on the Sons of Norway site.  I measured it all as instructed, wrote down how much it actually was, and got started.  Unfortunately, I didn't read all the directions through first, (see that is why I'm a challenged baker!) and melted my butter straight away.  ~ Oops!  I was supposed to cream that with the sugar...  I also added some water because it just seemed too thick to me.  See, I can't help but tinker with recipes!   Nevertheless, the cookies cooked up perfectly (I think so anyway) and tasted great.  So I think this might just remain my way of making them in the future.  Why mess with a good thing that worked?  My son adored them filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit ~ me, too!  Daddy better get home soon, otherwise there may not be any left for him. :)

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 5 Tbsp melted butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Whisk together the melted butter, egg, water and vanilla extract.  

In a separate bowl combine the flour, sugar and cardamom.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until combined.

Add a heaping tablespoon of the batter to the preheated Krumkaker Cookie Waffle Iron and cook until golden and done.  Mine only took about one minute and 15 seconds per batch.  When done, roll the cookie around anything resembling a cone shape (I made homemade 'krumkaker rolling cones' from toilet paper rolls & foil.  When you have a kid, you've always got t.p. tubes hanging around for crafts.  I'm creative in a cooking pinch, if nothing else :) and allow the cookie to cool around the cone while making the next one.  You can also place the hot cookie in a custard cup to make a little dessert waffle cookie cup or just leave them flat.

Serve these little golden beauties as is or filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit. ~ Enjoy!