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They may look like waffle cones but they’re a Norwegian delicacy through-and-through. Krumkake are thin, lightly sweetened cookies made on a krumkake iron and shaped into cones. Continue reading to find out how to make this traditional Norwegian recipe at home.

Norwegian krumkake recipe: My mom's recipe that's been in the family for decades!

Today I’m sharing a recipe that is near and dear to my heart: Norwegian krumkake.

My family has been making krumkake for generations. It’s a cookie we only make around Christmas.

What Is Krumkake?

Krumkake is a delicate, lightly sweetened Norwegian cookie made on a krumkake iron. The iron has a pretty design which imprints onto the cookie.

The cookies are similar in taste and texture to homemade waffle cones.

The ingredient list is simple – as it is with most traditional Norwegian recipes: Heavy whipping cream, sugar, butter, flour, etc. Vanilla extract adds subtle flavor to the cookie.

You will need a krumkake iron to make these. Buy a quality one and it will last you forever. Here’s what I recommend: Nordic Ware Norwegian Krumkake Iron

Krumkake recipe: A thin Norwegian cookie. Click through for recipe!

Making Homemade Krumkake: The Process

  1. Prepare the batter (recipe below)
  2. Preheat krumkake iron on the stovetop (medium-high heat)
  3. Place a full tablespoon of batter on the grill
  4. Close lid and cook for about a minute total: I cooked it for 35 seconds on one side, then flipped and cooked for 25 seconds on the other side. Please note: Cooking times may vary. This will take a bit of experimentation. You want the krumkake to be golden brown on both sides.
  5. Remove flat cookie from iron and use the wooden krumkake roller to make a cone shaped cookie
  6. After a few seconds, remove the cookie from the roller and allow to cool completely

How to make Norwegian krumkake using a krumkake iron.

Traditional Norwegian Customs: Julebukking

My family has always enjoyed traditional Norwegian foods – and practiced traditional Norwegian customs.

One of the more peculiar is julebukk.

Julebukking is something I grew up doing with my family after Christmas.

In the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, a group of friends put on masks and costumes, disguising themselves. Then, they venture out into the night.

The julebukkers go from house to house, still in disguise, and have the homeowners guess who they are. Once all of the julebukkers have been identified, the homeowner typically gives each person a treat (like krumkake!) or a drink. Then the julebukkers move on to the next home.

Julebukk means Christmas goat in Norwegian. I can’t speak for the practice in Norway, but it’s something that happens in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin – an upper Midwest thing. I’ve never heard of anyone doing this in the city – just small towns. (Maybe safer that way!)

I was shocked to find out that julebukk is considered a word that is going extinct. Yes, it’s true. Julebukk is an endangered word according to this article citing research by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

How do we save it? Maybe by doing more julebukking! Let me know if you have done this yourself.

Instructions for making homemade Norwegian krumkake. Click through for recipe!

Get More Traditional Norwegian Recipes:

Norwegian recipes, from Cheap Recipe Blog. Click through for many traditional Norwegian recipes!

Norwegian krumkake recipe: My mom's recipe that's been in the family for decades!

Norwegian Krumkake

Yield: Approximately 40 krumkake
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

  1. Whip cream until stiff. In a separate bowl, beat egg and sugar until well mixed. Fold together. Mix in melted butter and vanilla.
  2. Sift dry ingredients together. Gently fold cream mixture and flour mixture together.
  3. Preheat krumkake iron over medium-high heat. Once hot, place 1 heaping tablespoon of batter onto the iron. Close lid and cook for approximately 35 seconds, then flip and cook for an additional 25 seconds. *Cooking time may vary depending on your iron and stove temperature. Experiment until you find the perfect time and temperature to yield a golden brown cookie.
  4. Carefully remove flat cookie from krumkake iron. Wrap the cookie around the cylinder roller to make a cone-shaped cookie. Hold for a few seconds until the cookie cools slightly. Remove from roller and set aside to cool completely.
  5. Repeat with remaining batter.

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© Haley
Cuisine: Norwegian / Category: Desserts and sweets
Norwegian krumkake recipe: Click through for recipe!