Krumkake Recipe (a Delicious Cardamom Cookie) (2024)

Krumkake are must on our Christmas cookie trays. This krumkake recipe makes light, crispy, delicate, golden wafer cookies rolled into a traditional cone shape. These Norwegian cookies are traditionally flavored with cardamom and vanilla, but can be made in many different flavors if you want to experiment.

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If you've ever had an Italian pizzelle cookie, they're similar, but Krumkake are a morelight and delicate Norwegian cookie.

When my mother was young, she had an elderly neighbor who made traditional Norwegian cookies. That's where my mother fell in love with this delicious recipe, and I grew up loving them, too. Our Christmas wouldn't feel complete without krumkake on our our holiday cookie trays.

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Can I Fill Krumkake?

  • Sure! Why not! I did it once, and some people certainly do fill krumkake with a variety of fillings, like whipped cream and fresh berries, but I love them just on their own. Plus, you'll have to be careful about what you put inside and how quickly you can serve the cookies so they won't get soggy. But it's certainly possible and has been done.

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Krumkake Recipe:

  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup of butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 2 Tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cups flour

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You don't have to grind your own cardamom from fresh, whole spices, but it does make a big difference in the flavor. I don't bother to use whole spices very often, but I almost always do when I have a recipe that calls for cardamom. I just use a mortar and pestle to grind my whole spices when I need them.

Should You Toast Cardamom Seeds for Making Krumkake?

  • For krumkake, no. I tested the cardamom both toasted and untoasted, and the unanimous opinion was (surprisingly) that we preferred the untoasted and ground cardamom flavor and scent.

Should You Remove the Outer Shell of Cardamom Seeds Before Grinding?

  • I say yes! I did some research, and discovered that you don't actually have to remove the outer husk of the cardamom before grinding it. But the flavor is (not surprisingly) much more intense and pure when I go to the bother of removing that outer shell and just grinding the tiny interior seeds. I think the added flavor boost is worth the small bit of extra effort.

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Melt butter and combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine. No need for a mixer for this simple recipe.

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You will need a special krumkake iron to make this crisp cookie.

Heatkrumkake iron before making your first cookies. If you're using anelectric krumkake iron, it will automatically heat to the right temperature--there's only one setting. If you're using an old-fashioned aluminum krumkake iron on the stovetop, use medium-high heat and heat krumkake iron until adrop of water sizzles immediately when dropped on the hot iron plate.

My electric iron has a nonstick coating, but I generally coat with cooking spray or brush with vegetable oil once or twice while cooking the whole batch for extra insurance. There's no need to do it every time, but if you notice the krumkake starting to stick, give it another light wipe of oil.

Scoop a small quantity of the krumkake batter (about aTablespoon of the batter) in the center of the iron.

What Krumkake Iron is the Best?

  • I have a VillaWare Krumkake iron, but it looks like that brand isn't being made any more. This brand looks absolutely identical, down to the pattern. An electric krumkake iron is a great choice, especially if you have an electric stove.
  • The very best krumkake I've ever had were all made on an old-fashioned cast aluminumkrumkakeiron that sits on the stovetop. While this device creates the most perfect and delicate krumkake, it only works well if you have a gas stove. It makes horrible, burntkrumkakeon an electric stove. There is a lot to be said for the convenience of electric models.

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Cook the krumkake until a light golden brown color. You'll know it's a good time to check the krumkake after about 30 seconds, and when the steam has stopped emerging from the sides of the iron.

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Remove the hot cookie from the electric krumkake baker using a narrow spatula.

While still piping hot, roll the krumkake around the wooden shaping cone.

Krumkake irons will come with a wooden cone, but if you've lost yours, a very traditional method is to wrap the hot cookie aroundhandle of a wooden spoon. You won't get that traditional cone shape (not quite like an ice cream cone, since it has an open hole at each end), but you'll still get an absolutely delicious, crisp rolled cookie.

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Let the cookiecool on the cone while you cook the next one. As the cookie cools, it hardens. It takes less than a minute for the krumkake to cool down enough so that it will hold its shape when you remove the finished cookie from the wooden mold, and transfer it to a cooling rack to finish cooling to room temperature.

Krumkakeare such a beautiful dessert, and so delicious. I hope you'll enjoy thisdelicate norwegian cookie as much as we do!

Printable, One Page Krumkake Recipe:

Want a one page, printable, PDF version of this norwegian krumkake recipe? Click on the image below to print directly or download to your device.

Other Christmas Cookie Recipes You Might Like:

Krumkake Recipe (a Delicious Cardamom Cookie) (2024)

FAQs

What does krumkake mean in Norwegian? ›

Krumkake, which means "curved cake," is a Norwegian waffle cookie that's shaped like a cone. The cookies are traditionally made using a decorative griddle with flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and milk or cream.

What is the difference between Pizzelle and krumkake? ›

A pizzelle is a traditional Italian sugar cookie served plain or rolled into a cone for filling with fruit or ice cream. Krumkake, or “crumble cookie,” is a thin, delicate, embossed Scandinavian cookie that can be rolled into a cone and filled with whipped cream.

Why is my krumkake soggy? ›

Your krumkake may turn out soft if it's not cooked long enough or if you use a recipe that includes too much milk (traditional Norwegian krumkake recipes, like this one, typically don't call for it at all).

Why is my krumkake sticking to the iron? ›

Expert Tips for Making My Norwegian Krumkake Recipe

Additionally, lightly grease both sides of the iron before your first batter is placed. This will prevent the batter from sticking and ensure easy removal of the cookies.

How do you eat krumkake? ›

While hot, the 13–20 cm (5.1–7.9 in) krumkaker are rolled into small cones around a wooden or plastic cone form. Krumkaker can be eaten plain or filled with whipped cream (often multekrem) or other fillings.

What is the Norwegian version of pizzelle? ›

Krumkake is a Norwegian waffle cookie, like an Italian Pizzelle, made with a flat press that is rolled into a cone shape.

What does pizzelle mean in English? ›

Pizzelles, the oldest known waffle cookies, originated in Italy. The name pizzelle is based on the Italian word 'pizze' meaning round and flat, with the ending 'elle' referring to its small size.

Why are my cookies crunchy instead of chewy? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

Why do my cookies feel rubbery? ›

Ideally, use the correct kind of sugar called for by the recipe. Or, search for a recipe which specifically calls for powdered / confectioner's sugar instead of granulated sugar. Sugar and fat act as tenderizers in baking. The reason you're getting rubbery cookies is that you have let too much gluten develop.

What is a krumkake iron? ›

Krumkake irons are decorative two-sided iron griddles, with intricate patterns that vary based on what region of Norway it's from. Older irons were designed to be held and turned over an open fire, and had wooden handles to be able to turn them without getting burned.

Are pizzelles thicker than krumkake? ›

Krumkake batter is thinner than pizzelle batter, which is what allows it to roll so easily, and while krumkake is more versatile when it comes to flavors and fillings, pizelles are more likely to be flavored by directly adding ingredients to the batter.

How to stop pizzelle iron from sticking? ›

A: To maximize your non-stickyness of a non-stick surface, you should always preheat. Preheating causes the teflon to expand a bit, closing up pores and micro-scratches in the surface.

Do you need to grease a pizzelle iron? ›

It works beautifully without it. The first time I used it I did brush it with oil but found it did not need it. It is the most awesome pizzelle maker ever.

What does Kransekake mean in Norwegian? ›

Kransekage (Danish) or kransekake (Norwegian) is a traditional Danish and Norwegian confection, often eaten on special occasions in Scandinavia. In English, the name means 'wreath cake'.

What does Tusen Takk mean in Norwegian? ›

Thank you very much” in Norwegian is tusen takk.

What is Kaka in Norwegian? ›

Cake” is actually taken from the Norse word “kaka,” and is one of the most commonly used terms in the dessert world today.

What does Thule mean in Norwegian? ›

Definition of 'Thule'

1. the ancient Greek and Latin name for an island or region variously identified as one of the Shetland Islands, Iceland, or Norway: supposed to be the most northerly region of the world.

References

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