Norwegian Waffles (Hjertevafler)

Choose from a variety of traditional Norwegian toppings (sour cream, whipped cream, fresh berries, jam, fruit compote or brown cheese (Cheese? Yes, really. More on that later). Or go ahead and top them butter and maple syrup....it's not the Norwegian way but still SO delicious. Need more inspiration? I have a whole post dedicated to waffle topping ideas, both sweet and savory.

Jump to:

• The Ingredients
• Variations
• The Equipment
• How To Make Norwegian Waffles (Hjertevafler)
• Expert Tips
• Recipe FAQS
• What to Serve with Norwegian Waffles (Hjertevafler)
• Related Recipes
• Recipe

The Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Sour cream - gives these waffles a tender texture.
• Milk
• Vanilla extract and ground cardamom - bring that quintessential Scandinavian flavor. Feel free to use pre-ground cardamom or grind your own at home.
• Unsalted butter - adds richness and creates a perfectly crisp exterior.
• Granulated sugar - brings sweetness and helps achieve a golden brown color.
• Baking powder - acts as the leavener in this recipe.
• Large eggs - add structure abd richness to the waffles.
• Salt - offsets the sweetness and heightens the flavor of the waffles.

Variations

• Buttermilk:  Substitute 1 ¾ cups buttermilk for the sour cream and milk and add 1 teaspoon of baking soda with the dry ingredients.
• Savory Cheese: Reduce the sugar to 2 tablespoons and omit the vanilla and cardamom. Fold 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives into the prepared batter. Cook as directed.
• Savory Cheese and Bacon: Reduce the sugar to 2 tablespoons and omit the vanilla and cardamom. Fold 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives and 4 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped into the prepared batter. Cook as directed.

The Equipment

This recipe requires a waffle maker. Norwegian waffles are traditionally heart shaped, so a heart shaped waffle maker is an authentic choice here. But any waffle maker will work just fine with this simple batter.

How To Make Norwegian Waffles (Hjertevafler)

Expert Tips

• Don't over mix the batter. You want to gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula until they JUST come together. A few streaks of visible flour here and there is even okay.
• Don't skimp on the batter and position it properly. One of the most frustrating things about making heart shaped waffles is when the batter doesn't get all the way to the edges of the waffle iron and they aren't as heart shaped as you want them to be. Be sure to center the batter in the middle of the iron and to use enough to ensure that it will travel all the way to the edges when pressed.
• Get to know your waffle iron. Mine works best with a generous ½ cup of batter per waffle, and I cook it on the highest setting because I like my waffles to be nicely browned. Your waffle maker might be different! Take time to read the instructions and play around with the settings until you are happy with the results.
• For best results, enjoy immediately! Hot waffles are best enjoyed right from the iron, in my opinion. If you want to keep them all warm so you can eat at the same time, Keep them in a 200 degree oven, preferably on a wire rack set inside of a baking sheet, until you are ready to eat.

Recipe FAQS

What to Serve with Norwegian Waffles (Hjertevafler)

There are many different toppings that go with Norwegian waffles. Here is a list of ideas to get you started:

• Whipped cream (my Vanilla Skyr Whipped Cream is a really good choice for these waffles)!
• Sour cream
• Creme Fraiche
• Cloudberry Cream
• Fresh berries or other fruit. Juicy ripe peaches in the summer are a wonderful option.
• A homemade seasonal compote or cooked fruit topping such as Roasted Strawberries (pictured below), Blueberry Cardamom Compote, Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb Compote, Simple Pear Compote, Peach Compote or Apple Compote.
• Store bought or homemade jam (lingonberry jam is especially Scandinavian and really delicious here).
• Norwegian brown cheese (Brunost). Brown cheese is made by boiling down a mixture of milk, cream and whey (a byproduct of the cheese making process) until it is caramel-y, sweet and brown in color. In America, the most commonly available form of brown cheese is Gjetost which is made from goat's and cow's milk, cream and whey. It is a very popular topping for waffles in Norway. Simply top your waffle with thin slices of Brunost and dig in!
• Or choose the American route and go with butter and pure maple syrup. Not traditional but delicious in its own right.

For even more ideas, check out this post for waffle topping ideas, both sweet and savory!

Recipe