In my grandmother’s Norwegian family, Hard Waffles were a beloved treat, typically served during afternoon coffee gatherings. Unlike soft waffles, these dense and rich waffles were served cold, generously buttered, and often paired with a selection of cookies, shortbread, fruitcake, and homemade chocolates.
These waffles stand out due to their firm, crisp texture, which makes them perfect for enjoying with a hot cup of coffee. Not overly sweet, they’re a satisfying snack and have a richness that sets them apart from their softer counterparts.
Despite my efforts, I've yet to find a recipe quite like the one my grandmother used, and I'm curious if anyone else has a tradition involving Hard Waffles. Have you encountered this recipe under a different name? If so, please share!
This cherished recipe is written in my maternal grandmother’s own handwriting.
Recipe: Hard Waffles
Makes: 4 dozen 2-inch by 2-inch rounds
Ingredients:
2 cups sour milk (cream is better) {I used 2 cups cream + 2 tablespoons lemon juice)½ cup butter
3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Flour to roll {I added 6½ cups}
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the sour milk (or cream), butter, eggs, and sugar.
- Add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt, mixing well.
- Gradually add flour until the dough reaches a workable consistency. The dough should be firm enough to roll out.
- Preheat your waffle iron. Roll out the dough and bake in the heated waffle iron until golden brown and crisp.
- Allow the waffles to cool.
Serving Suggestion: These Hard Waffles are best served cold, with a generous spread of butter. Pair them with coffee for a traditional Norwegian afternoon treat. They also make a great base for a variety of toppings, including jams, whipped cream, or fruit.
Not overly sweet, these waffles have a rich, hearty flavor that pairs perfectly with a strong cup of coffee. For added depth, try incorporating cardamom or another warm spice into the dough for a more aromatic treat.
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40 comments:
I bet the Brass Sisters, who collect heirloom recipes, would love to see your hand-me-down recipes!! These look great!
This looks delicious! I haven't quite come across a recipe like this but I've tried such hard waffles at the one of the stores here.
Super tempted to try this! Which means I'll really need to get a hot waffle iron >.<
I love the look of both of these types of waffle but the shape of the hard ones is the prettiest. It's marvellous you have inherited these handwritten recipes, how lovely.
Ciao Shari ! In Italy we have ferratelle they are thinner and eaten plain I'll look for the recipe !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffles google "Scandinavian waffles", you'll probably find something. I have never heard these being called "hard waffels" - makes me wonder what you do with them! I'm a Norwegian, lived here all my life. They are supposed to be thin and soft, maybe you get a difference using what is technically know as a "belgian iron". Try to get hold of a Scandinavian one!
I've seen these before and I've always thought that they looked delicious. Thanks for sharing!
they look and sound beautiful... they need to hire a press agent, so that they get a better name
seriously I must try this. love these, never tried them but I can tell I will love them.
Wow! These could sell as mini beaver tails to skaters on the Rideau Canal! Delightful!
Wow, so it's made with an almost dense cookie-like dough? I've never tasted such a waffle. They look awesome!
Hi!
My grandmother used to make these, but since she became sick I haven't seen them around at family gatherings. Not anywhere else either for that matter. I think it's a dying treat in Norway, sadly. I will try to get a hold of my grandmothers recipe at some point.
They serve these at one of my favorite places, D Bar Desserts. When they come off the waffle iron, they sandwich homemade vanilla bean ice cream, and a cherry chutney. The hard waffle texture is much like a waffle cone, but the warm temperature makes for the perfect texture with the cold ice cream. Theirs also has a hint of cinnamon. Mmmmmm!!
So excited to make these! I am loving cardamom these days. Yum!
What a great post. I love your pictures and the copy of the recipe in your Grandmother's handwriting. I am going to make some tomorrow!
I love the old recipe cards. I have a few copies of some recipes from my great grandmothers and they are such a link to my heritage.
I haven't heard of these, but they sound interesting. Good luck on finding out more about them.
I've never heard of hard waffle but they sound delicious.
Wow, love the recipe card! It looks exactly like my grandmother's recipes - the writing is almost identical! I miss hand-written recipes! Thanks for sharing.
These sound intriguing. Hope that with all the comments, you've been able to figure out what they are called! I'm loving the waffle thing going on in all the blogs, since I recently acquired a waffle iron :) That's what they call TIMING!
I've never heard of hard waffles before (learning new things for 2010!) I love old hand written recipes -I recently found a bunch in my mother in law's collection from the 1940s! I can't wait to try these!
Haven't encountered these specifically, but they look like Belgian Waffles (though they are probably not). Going to give it a good think-- good on you for keeping tradition alive!
I didn't hear the term, hard waffles, in Norway. I do know that they usually serve their waffles cold and spread with jam or brown cheese. Heart shaped waffles are the norm. My daughter-in-law even made them at a volleyball tournament and they were a popular snack. I looked in my "Norwegian Cooking" book which noted that you should place the finished waffles on a rack to keep them crisp. Do you think they mean "crisp" waffles? They serve pancakes the same way, cold and folded in half with jam or cheese. Even on the ferries, "svelle" were a popular snack - basically a cold pancake, thinner than ours and folded in half with a filling in between. Coffee shops also featured them.
Super cute... I love these! What a cute idea- I might have to try this!
These look beautiful and delicious. I love handwritten recipe cards! I think we need to start writing them down so we aren't handing down a zipdrive full of computer files! :) - mary the food librarian
I made these the other night. Took your advice and added cardamom. Also baked them on a waffle iron with smaller indentations which worked well. We loved them! Thanks!
I love your blog Shari. I'm so glad I bumped into it tonight. Fantastic waffles, haven't had any in a long time, but will have to try some soon!
Very interesting. I've never heard of hard waffles, but they look like something I would like!
Thank you for sharing your food history. These recipes are a part of so many memories and stories. We need to share them so that we don't lose them.
I just got back from Thailand and they sell these on the streets. If you google "Thai Waffles" you'll find waffles a lot like these. In Thailand they make them sweet, or almond or with things inside sometimes too. Yummy! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
I made this with my mom on Sunday. We were watching the Golden Globes and we had the waffle iron on the coffee table in the living room and we were cooking them as we watched. I put them out at breakfast today and my son tried one and he said, "This is a God's breakfast!" He loved them and so do I.
Actually, in Norway, they're called "tørre vafler" (dry waffles). My grandmother makes them at times. But I haven't seen anyone else make it.
I adore using recipes from my grandmother and mother as well...it means so much. My first time on your blog and I love it--looks great!
will definitely try this...i love old family recipes , the picture of the original recipe index card is awesome.
What a treasure that handwritten recipe card is! I'd love to have some cards like that from my grandmothers but I'm afraid they were the type that cooked from their heads.
I love these little treats. Added cardamom is a terrific idea! Or maybe give them a roll in cinnamon-sugar before popping into the waffle iron.
Shari, wishing you a happy new year. i love that you are sharing your grandmum's recipe with us. that's so beautiful. and this would be lovely with some tea. x shayma
Looks very delicious. Waffle's are always very taste. This sounds a different recipe. i would this
If she's Norwegian why is the recipe written in English?
Scandinavian waffles are traditionally made in a thin waffle iron that makes heart shaped waffles. Those thick waffle irons are definitely Belgian or American.
Have been making Torre Vafler or Dry Waffles for years. My Mom's recipe calls for vanilla, not cardamom. These are a completely different thing than the ordinary Norwegian waffles we all know and love. I roll them out to fit the waffle iron.Dough needs to be chilled to enable this, and extra flour on the board helps. Never saw them small before. Most Norwegians know English!
Tørre vafler is so awesome, have to find my recipe and share with you, mine calls for cardamom and vanilla sugar
Absolutely yumm!
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