I will never forget our first traditional Norwegian breakfast as we sailed the high seas during our two-week ocean cruise to the Scandanavian Homelands: Heart-shaped waffles, topped with whipped cream, berries, homemade jam, and Norwegian brown goat cheese — a delicious little taste of Norway.
Back in Texas, I long to taste the wonderfully unique waffles again. Where could I find them?
My search led me to the Wooden Spoon in Plano. This charming find has become my new resource for Scandinavian food and gifts.
Housed in the Forman Home, which was built in 1867 and is the oldest house in Plano, The Wooden Spoon is part of the Nordic Cultural Center.
The owner, Gwen Workman, teaches Scandinavian folk arts and Nordic culture classes, stocking her shelves with candy, coffee, foods, clothing, housewares, jewelry, linens, trolls, and more.
Here I can buy everything I need to recreate the wonderful Norwegian waffles I crave from my time in Norway, including the Electric Five-o’-Hearts waffle iron.
I quickly learned this waffle iron differs from a Belgian waffle maker. It makes a thin waffle since the batter is denser, with flour, eggs, butter, sour cream, vanilla, and ground cardamom spice. A Belgian waffle iron wouldn’t make an appropriate Norwegian waffle. With a box of Lund’s Swedish Pancake/Waffle Mix or Toro Norwegian Waffle Mix, I was on my way.
Another must-have is the whipped vanilla Skyr cream. It is a luxurious alternative to traditional whipped cream. Make it with one cup of Skyr Icelandic Yogurt (found at Tom Thumb or Kroger) or Greek yogurt, half a cup of heavy whipping cream, two tablespoons of sugar, and half a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Top the waffles with a dollop of the whipped Skyr cream, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, with a spoonfull of lingonberry or raspberry preserves. We added waves of maple syrup for extra sweetness.
For the finishing touch, add several thin slices of Gudbrandsdalsost Cheese, a Norwegian brown cheese made from goat and cow milk. The cheese has a sweet, caramel-like flavor. I found this cheese at Central Market, Sprouts, and Kroger. Ahhh, but how do you thinly slice this unique cheese? Use a Bjorklund Cheese Plane, of course!
The waffle makes a lovely presentation for family and friends or simply as a special breakfast for two. When you make them, you will feel as if you are in the beautiful Norwegian homeland.
