Norwegian waffles, known as “vafler” in Norwegian, is a beloved traditional food in Norway. They are typically thinner and crisper than Belgian or American-style waffles, and are mostly served as a sweet snack when having friends or family over (not for breakfast).

Norwegian waffles are made using a vaffelrøre (batter) that includes flour, sugar, eggs, and milk, and may also include other ingredients such as cardamom or vanilla.

Below you can find a recipe for how to make waffles Norwegian style. Also check out the YouTube-episode I made about Homemade Norwegian Waffles.

Waffle Equipment

There is one essential piece of equipment which is needed to make vafler (Norwegian waffles), and that is a vaffeljern (waffle iron).

To make the waffles look authentic you’ll need an iron that makes a fairly thin waffle, and they also need to be heart shaped. It’s not really the batter that makes it a Norwegian waffle, it’s the iron.

The heart shape of Norwegian waffles is not only visually appealing, but it also adds a touch of love and warmth. In fact, many Norwegians believe that making these waffles for someone is a sign of affection and care.

–> Find some irons online here (amazon)

Norwegian Waffle Recipe

The batter for Norwegian waffles typically includes simple ingredients that are commonly found in most kitchens. The main ingredients are flour, sugar, eggs, and milk.

In addition to these basic ingredients, some Norwegian waffle recipes include spices such as cardamom, which adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the waffles.

The batter is typically quite thin, which helps to create a thin and crispy waffle. The consistency should be smooth and free of lumps, which can be achieved by mixing the ingredients together thoroughly.

A Favorite waffle recipe:

Melt the butter and let it cool off.

While the butter is cooling off, whip egg and sugar together.

Add whole milk, flour, vanilla sugar, baking powder, baking soda and cardamom, and whip it until there are no lumps.

Gradually add some water (or more milk), until you get a smooth batter. Not too thin, not too thick.

Add the melted butter at the end and stir it in.

Let the batter rest for about 15 minutes or more. You want it to be quite thick, but If it’s too doughy, you can add more water or milk

Cooking Norwegian Waffles

In a Norwegian home you might hear the phrase “finn frem vaffelpressa” get out the “waffle press”. Vaffelpresse is slang for vaffeljern (waffel iron). In other words, we sometimes alternate between saying “steke vafler” (fry waffles) and “presse vafler” (press waffles).

1. Start by preheating the waffle iron. On some irons you can regulate the temperature. I usually put it quite high so that the waffle will become nice and crispy.
2. Grease each side of the iron with some butter. I do this only occasionally and not between every waffle. Remember, there is also butter in the batter (that rhymed).
3. Spoon the batter onto the center of the waffle iron, spreading it evenly with a spatula if necessary. Be careful not to overfill the iron, as the batter will expand as it cooks.
4. Close the lid of the waffle iron and cook for 2-4 minutes, or until the waffles are golden brown and crispy. The cooking time may vary depending on the heat of your waffle iron.
5. Use a fork or tongs to carefully remove the waffles from the iron, and place them on a wire rack to cool.
6. Repeat the process with the remaining batter, greasing the waffle iron as needed.

How to eat a Norwegian waffle?

Most importantly, ALWAYS eat a Norwegian waffle with your hands. It’s not normal to use a knife and a fork for this. In other words you should avoid putting to much of topping onto the waffle, to avoid a mess. (a friendly advice).

So that brings me to the toppings:

Toppings for Norwegian Waffles

Anything goes, but in Norway there are three very traditional toppings:

1. Strawberry jam and sourcream
2. Sugar and butter
3. Butter and brown cheese

Personally I have a Canadian wife, and we often put maple syrup on the waffle, and it works (not surprisingly) very well!

Overall, cooking Norwegian waffles with a waffle iron is a simple and easy process that can result in a delicious and traditional Norwegian treat.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Also check out the YouTube-episode I made which illustrates everything in this blog post.

Enjoy!