Authentic Swedish Waffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Swedish and Norwegian waffles? ›

The Swedes prefer light, crispy waffles served with berries and cream while Norwegian waffles are soft and often folded around slices of caramelised Norwegian brown goat's cheese.

Cornstarch is the secret to crispy waffles. It guarantees that your waffles will be perfectly crisp and tender. Separating the egg is optional but is recommended (especially for deeper waffle irons). This recipe makes 4 standard waffles (1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick).

In Sweden, March 25 was known as Our Lady's Day, a day celebrating the Virgin Mary's Annunciation. When people from Northern Sweden pronounced 'Vårfrudagen', it came across as 'Vår Fru' -the old Swedish word for waffle. So, the Swedes decided to celebrate Vårfrudagen by cooking waffles.

Belgium is known for its sweet treats. Belgian chocolate and Biscoff probably come to mind. But waffles are also typically Belgian and loved all over the world.

On the flip side, waffles aren't as flaky-delicate as baked goods, making pastry flour too fine for the job. Good old AP, or all-purpose, flour is where it's at. If you want to sprinkle in a tablespoon or two of buckwheat or rye flour for added nutty heft, go for it.

Diner pancakes and waffles often taste better than homemade versions due to a commitment to classic, whole ingredients and well-thought-out techniques.

Make Sure Your Waffle Iron Is Hot

You should actually hear the batter sizzle on contact. The outer crust will immediately begin to set and crisp. Moisture in the batter quickly turns to steam and evaporates out the sides of the pan. If the iron isn't hot, none of this happens and the waffles will be soggy and squishy.

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Are waffles popular in Sweden? ›

In Sweden, waffles are so popular that they even got their own day of celebration. Each year, on the 25th of March, most Swedes celebrate this happening by eating even more waffles.

Waffeln / German Waffles

German waffles are typically heart-shaped and much thinner than Belgian waffles. The batter has more sugar than other waffle types which makes them incredibly delicious on their own.

Many eat porridge ( mostly oatmeal), typically with milk and jam, applemash, fruit or berries. Many eat yoghurt ( either natural or flavored) or fil ( Cultured buttermilk), with cereal, fruit, berries or jam. Many eat sandwiches, with a variety of toppings; cheese, eggs and various cold cuts are all common.

In Sweden, Valentine's Day is called Alla Hjärtans Dag, which translates to "All Hearts' Day". It is a fairly new tradition for the Swedes, being introduced in the 1960s and growing in popularity in the 1990s.

Swedes love strawberries and so nationaldagen provides a good excuse for indulging in a wonderful strawberry cream cake. More… But whatever they serve, most Swedes will pop a yellow and blue flag into it somewhere!

Either way, Norwegian waffles are thinner and softer than the American or Belgian versions and the best thing is that they can be enjoyed throughout the day, as any time is waffle-time in Norway. They are even served at the Nordic cuisine phenomenon Maaemo, a restaurant that scooped three Michelin stars in 2019.

For the waffles

The vafler in Norway are served for dessert or as a treat in heart-shaped sections. They are much sweeter and softer than American waffles and are almost always homemade.

We never eat Norwegian waffles like regular waffles. Sometimes we eat them in the morning, but usually they are made as a dessert or for when people come over for coffee, for a snack, etc. Also, we never eat them with syrup. They are always eaten with some combination of butter, sugar and jam (raspberry, lingonberry).