Norwegian waffles, or “vaflers” are different from the waffles you’d find at a typical breakfast restaurant in the United States. For starters, they are much softer and sweeter and less crisp and thick than American or Belgian waffles. They also contain a couple of magic ingredients that set them apart from traditional waffles, like sour cream and cardamom. The cardamom lends a warm, spicy kick to the batter. In combination with the sweet tanginess from the sour cream, these waffles have a delicious and distinct flavor. This Norwegian waffle recipe in particular is a favorite of mine. My mom learned it while living in Norway when she was around my age. I grew up with her making them for the family on holiday and special weekend mornings . I’ve got to say, regular waffles just don’t even compare.
I’ve traveled to Norway a couple of times over the past few years and you better believe one of the first things I did when I got there was order a waffle. I was so contented after my first bite and thought, "they taste just like mom's!" I was even more pleased to discover that you can find waffles everywhere in Norway! They were on the dessert menu at restaurants, in all the cafes, and there was even a waffle truck at the trailhead parking lot of a popular hike we did. Turns out, waffles make a great pre AND post hike snack. We also noticed that instead of maple syrup, it was common to top waffles with a mix of sour cream and jam. If you want to get truly authentic with it, you'll need a traditional heart shaped waffle maker. So hygge, right!?
Norwegian Waffle Recipe
(Makes ~8 waffles)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 4 Tbsp sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup + 1/8 cup melted butter (cooled to room temperature)
- 1 cup sour cream
Directions
1. Combine all of the above ingredients in a large mixing bowl. (Make sure that the melted butter has cooled down to about room temperature to prevent scrambled eggs)
2. Whisk ingredients together until well combined and you have a smooth batter.
3. Let sit to allow batter to rest for a few minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your waffle iron.
4. Once your iron is up to temperature, pour the batter into the iron (careful not to overfill) and cook until light brown.
5. Remove waffle and let cool.
6. Serve with your favorite toppings!
