Swedish Buttermilk Waffles
Swedish Buttermilk Waffles are a treasured family recipe, served traditionally with freshly whipped cream and lingonberries.
Waffles are particularly popular in Sweden on Våffeldagen, or “Waffle Day” on March 25th every year. Apparently, this tradition started because in Swedish the name Vårfrudagen, a Christian feast day, sounds a bit like Våffeldagen, so Swedes decided to celebrate Vårfrudagen by making waffles. I have fond memories of eating waffles with my Swedish relatives at all times of the year, especially in late summer when they would be topped with freshly made Michigan raspberry jam. My grandfather’s cousin, Linnea, made the best waffles. These Swedish Buttermilk Waffles come from her recipe which was handed down from my great, great-grandmother. They are the classic äggvåfflor or egg waffles, which are full of substance and flavor.
The Ingredients for Swedish Buttermilk Waffles:
These waffles have very basic ingredients–flour, eggs, buttermilk, butter…all things that were easy to come by on the farm.
The Process:
This recipe calls for stiffly beaten egg whites folded into the batter. This lightens the texture a bit by adding volume and structure. Whisk the whites by hand for a good arm workout or using a mixer.
Fold the whites gently into the batter to keep as much volume as possible.
The finished batter will look slightly grainy with the texture of the beaten whites.
Gone are the days of the hand-held waffle irons in the fire. I am quite content to use my electric Cucina Pro heart-shaped iron!
My iron works best with a light coating of oil and heating to max temperature.
Add batter according to the directions for your iron, taking care not to over-fill.
The finished Swedish Buttermilk Waffles will be a beautiful golden brown with a slightly crispy exterior.
Swedish Buttermilk Waffles are traditionally eaten with freshly whipped cream and preserves, such as the lingonberries below. They are delicious with any number of toppings. Give them a try this Waffle Day, or any day your heart desires!
Swedish Buttermilk Waffles
Equipment
- Waffle Iron
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, separated
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Sift together the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Add the buttermilk, yolks and melted butter to the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth.
- Carefully fold in the beaten whites.
- Lightly oil and preheat waffle iron.
- Add batter according to manufacturer's instructions and bake until golden brown and slightly crisped on the outside.
- Serve waffles immediately with freshly whipped cream and jam.
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