These are a tradition for my family on Christmas morning for as long as I can remember. I usually only make them once a year for a special treat, and this year I was able to snap a few photos so I can finally share this family recipe with you – just in time for Valentine’s day (perfect, since they’re heart-shaped!). Norwegian Waffles are rich, dense, fragrant, and absolutely delicious. If you’ve never had them, they’re not similar in any way to Belgian waffles. While Belgian waffles are light and fluffy, these waffles are quite dense and rich. They’re flavored with vanilla and cardamom, a floral and aromatic spice common in Scandinavian baking. This recipe makes a large batch of waffles, and since they freeze beautifully, you’ll likely be able to enjoy them for at least a couple weeks after making them. But they won’t last long, since they are so delicious it’s hard to stop eating them! In this post I’ll explain how to make Norwegian waffles, where to buy a heart-shaped waffle maker, what to do if you don’t have a waffle maker, and more about the delicious Norwegian brown cheese (Gjetost or Brunost) that goes so well with them!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Butter – I use salted, but unsalted will work too with a pinch of salt in the batter.SugarEggsSour Cream – Greek yogurt would also work here, preferably full-fat.Milk – preferably whole.Canola oil – or another neutral oil like vegetable oil.Baking PowderGround Cardamom – try to use as fresh a batch as possible. Cardamom goes stale quickly.Vanilla ExtractAll Purpose Flour
How to make Norwegian Heart Waffles
The best heart shaped waffle maker
There are a few different kinds of heart waffle makers, including non-electric ones you use on your stovetop. If you go with another brand of electric waffle maker and you’re in the US, make sure to check that the plug works in US outlets (European brands may only work with European outlets).
Can I use a square or regular waffle maker for these?
Sure! But I wouldn’t use a Belgian waffle maker, as that is meant for fluffier batter and it may not form correctly.
Can I make pancakes using the batter?
Yes! I’ve done this before and it comes out pretty good. I definitely prefer the waffles but pancakes work well if you don’t have a waffle maker.
Serve with Brown Cheese and Jam
Here’s my FAVORITE part about Norwegian Waffles – it’s an excuse to eat one of the most delicious cheeses on earth! Norwegian brown cheese, aka gjetost, aka brunost, is goat’s milk cheese with a caramel and peanut butter flavor. Sounds weird, I know, but it’s so delicious and unique! Just slice off a piece and top a waffle with it. No need for syrup or anything else! Jam is also really good on these waffles – lingonberry is good for a traditional Scandinavian treat, but I prefer raspberry jam with Norwegian heart waffles.
How to freeze homemade waffles
The great thing about making a big batch of Norwegian heart waffles is that you can freeze any leftovers. I recommend flash freezing the waffles first. This will help prevent them from sticking together after freezing. This method works well for any kind of homemade waffle that you want to freeze. To flash freeze the waffles, lay them out on a baking sheet so they aren’t touching and freeze for about 30 minutes. Then, transfer to an airtight container or zip top bag. To serve, microwave for about 20 seconds to defrost (toasting doesn’t work very well for these waffles because they are kind of floppy).
Other heart-shaped recipes
Heart Shaped Strawberry Ginger Hand PiesMini Heart Shaped Chocolate Cakes with Raspberry Whipped Cream (from A Cookie Named Desire)Heart Shaped Pepperoni Pizza (from Lil’ Luna)
Other Scandinavian Recipes
Cold Poached Salmon with Chive ButterNorwegian Butter Cookies (Serinakakaer)Dutch Butter Cake (Boterkoek)
Other recipes with cardamom
Cardamom Spiced Orange Olive Oil CakeHomemade Granola with Coconut and Cardamom
Did you know commenting and rating recipes is one of the best ways you can support your favorite food bloggers? If you made this recipe or have a question, please click the stars below to comment and Rate this Recipe and/or share photos on social media using the hashtag #bowlofdelicious or tagging @bowlofdelicious!
