Good morning! It’s been a cold but sunny weekend, and how I loved the light after so many dark days. Did you have a good break?
I had a jolly weekend celebrating an early Christmas with beloved rellies from Canada, Washington and Amsterdam. We piled on couches for much laughter and story-telling and clustered around the table for Mum’s divine Christmas feast. It was so great having everyone there, watching a movie with heaps of buttery popcorn, making plans for family adventures.
We got to see my brother’s pictures from his vacation to Israel and Lebanon a couple weeks ago and downed cup after cup of strong coffee accompanied by Butter Tarts, Nanaimo Bars and my Danish grandmother’s fabulous Krumkake. They are the prettiest little cookies, baked in a molded press on the stove top. While we Danes eat ours plain, the Norwegians are known to shape theirs into cones and fill them with whipped cream and fruit.
Do you have any traditional cookies that you can’t imagine your holiday without?
This is my contribution to Chaya’s Meatless Mondays.
Grandma Bjorn’s Danish Krumkake
(Makes 24)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. freshly ground cardamom
6 Tbsp water
Directions:
- Cream butter and sugar, beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. Stir in cardamom and flour, mixing well.
- Add water until batter is the consistency of pancake batter.
- Lightly grease both sides of krumkake iron with cooking spray or melted butter.
- Heat iron over medium to medium-high burner. (Any hotter and iron will scorch)
- Ladle generous tablespoon of batter onto center of the iron. Close iron, squeezing handles together gently to spread batter, but not so tightly that batter leaks out.
- Cook for 30 seconds, flip iron over, and cook an additional 30 seconds.
- Flip iron back to initial position, open, and remove and transfer cookie to cooling rack.
- You can also immediately roll cookie around a krumkake cone or the handle of a wood spoon. Cool slightly then slip off and allow to cool on rack.
- Store in tightly sealed container in order to retain crispness.
- Serve alone or filled with whipped cream and fruit.
My dad used to make brandy snaps that he would fill with whipped cream. We were talking about it the other day and I am sure that when we got off of Skype he made a batch.
What gorgeous holiday decor! The Danish Krumkake look delicious, I may try that recipe as I’m always looking for new things to try. My family does not have a specific holiday cookie recipe, but on Christmas eve I make my dad’s dessert crepes rolled up with lemon juice and sugar. 🙂
I won’t be home for Christmas this year and one of the things I’ll miss the most are my grandmothers coconut balls with cherries inside.
I’m gonna show my fiancee your Krumkake recipe, she’s the expert with sweets and I can’t wait to taste that cardamom. LOVE IT! mmmmmmmm but we don’t have a Krumkake Iron??!!
is there any way to do it in a frying pan, pancake style?
Ohhh, brandy snaps sound amazing, Val!! Will you be sharing the recipe on your blog? I’d love to try them!
Thank you, Valerie! My Mums is an amazing decorator. 🙂 Mmm, I do love crepes!
Ooo, those sound decadent and wonderful, Ayngelina! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas wherever you are. 🙂
That’s great, Lawrence!! I hope you guys like them. 🙂 You can get an iron here if you want to buy one: http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Norwegian-Krumkake-Iron/dp/B00004RFPK
I’ve never tried it without the iron, but it would be worth trying! 🙂
I am going to make these in my waffle iron… or attempt to lol.
Um sounds like the most perfect weekend ever! You had me at the buttery popcorn and travel pics!
Glad to hear you had such a great time with your family, Krista! Nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas more than once. 😉 Your grandma’s Krumkake look so pretty and delicious. Yummmm.
Mmmm, I haven’t had Krumkake in years. We had friends who would bring them every year to the cookie exchange and we’ve since moved away.
I’m looking forward to my Mom’s shortbread this year. Buttery and delicate.
Your weekend sounds superb, love family time!
Nice one Krista. We’re into Brandy Snaps at Christmas time, love ’em.
What a beautiful iron! Is it an antique… it goes on the stove top? Where could I buy one. I have seen these before and always wanted to make my own. I would love it if you could hook me up with some on line place where I could buy this lovely iron.
🙂
Valerie
Your Krumkake are beautiful! What is the brand of your iron. I’d love to find one like it.