What is the secret to crispy and crunchy Swedish waffles? The answer is sparkling water. Get ready for a taste of Swedish cuisine with this authentic Frasvåfflor recipe. In just 20 minutes, whip up these egg-free waffles using six pantry staples. They are perfect for a Swedish coffee or tea break (aka fika), as a dessert, or easy snack.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Authentic Swedish recipe
- Budget-friendly
- Quick and easy recipe
Let’s waffle on
Find out more about the top 15 types of waffles from around their world and discover their unique flavors and textures.
For more tasty waffle recipes, check out my German waffles, whey waffles, American waffles, and an extensive list of 50 waffle topping ideas.
The secret to extra crispy waffles
What sets crispy Frasvåfflor apart from soft and fluffy waffles? The lack of leavening agents including eggs, baking powder or soda, as well as buttermilk. Instead, they are simply made with sparkling water, butter, flour, milk, vanilla, and sugar.
Norwegian waffles also known as “vafler” are also thin and heart-shaped, with a delicate and slightly crispy texture.
Ingredients
- Soda water – Sparkling water, soda water, or seltzer create a light, airy batter, leading to crispier waffles. Substitute it with plain water if you don’t have bubbly water on hand.
- Butter – Adding butter to the batter adds a rich taste and contributes to the crispiness when cooked. Add a pinch of salt to the batter if you’re using unsalted butter to balance out the flavors.
- Flour – All-purpose flour is used in this recipe. The flour provides the structure and base for the waffle batter.
- Sugar – Sugar adds sweetness to the waffles and contributes to their golden brown color when cooked. You can use natural sweeteners such as honey, stevia, maple, or agave syrup as well.
- Milk – Full-fat milk adds liquid to the batter. You can substitute it with skim milk or plant-based milk as well.
- Vanilla – Vanilla extract, essence, or fresh vanilla beans add a rich flavor to the waffles.
How to make crispy Swedish waffles
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter and milk on a stove until the butter is fully melted. Do not boil the mixture.
- In a large bowl, add the melted butter and milk alongside vanilla, sugar, and flour. Mix until a lump-free batter has formed. Be careful to not overmix the batter.
- Heat the waffle iron as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Add the sparkling water to the batter by gently stirring it into the waffle batter. Immediately bake the waffles and let them cool on a cooling rack rather than in a stack for them to crisp up nicely.
Tips
- Don’t overmix: Avoid stirring the batter excessively to maintain its light texture.
- Add sparkling water last: Once you have prepared the batter, add the sparkling water just before cooking the waffles. The carbonation in the sparkling water helps create a lighter and airier texture, resulting in crispier waffles.
- Preheat the waffle iron: Ensure that your waffle iron is properly preheated before pouring the batter. A hot waffle iron helps cook the waffles quickly and evenly, resulting in a crispy exterior.
- Use a cooling rack: After cooking, place the waffles on a cooling rack to maintain their crisp texture.
Serving
Swedish waffles are typically topped with whipped cream and fresh Lingonberries. Lingonberry jam is also a popular choice in Sweden as its sweet-tart flavor complements the sweetness of the waffles and adds a burst of color and flavor.
You can use cranberry jam or jelly as a substitute for Ligonberries. I also created an extensive list of sweet and savory waffle toppings for more ideas.
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International Waffle Day
International Waffle Day originated in Sweden, where it is known as Våffeldagen. It falls on March 25th, which is the Feast of the Annunciation on the Christian calendar.
FAQ
The cooking time for waffles in a waffle maker can vary depending on the specific waffle maker model, the recipe used, and the desired level of crispiness. These crispy Swedish waffles take about 4 to 5 minutes to cook waffles in a standard waffle maker.
Choose a crispy waffle recipe to start with. Preheat the waffle maker adequately and monitor the cooking time to avoid undercooking. After cooking, place the waffles on a cooling rack to maintain their crisp texture.
Recipe
Crispy Swedish Waffles (Frasvåfflor)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk lukewarm
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sparkling water soda water or seltzer
Instructions
- Add 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup butter to a small saucepan. The butter will start melting as the milk warms up.1/2 cup butter, 1 cup milk
- In a large bowl, add the melted butter and milk alongside 1 tsp vanilla extract and 3 tbsp granulated sugar. Whisk to combine.3 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Gradually add 2 cups all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients. Slowly pour in the 1 cup sparkling water while stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup sparkling water
- Preheat the waffle iron and lightly grease it with butter.
- Following the manufacturer's instructions, pour a portion of the batter onto the preheated waffle iron, close it, and cook on medium heat for approximately 2 minutes or until the waffle turns golden brown.
- Carefully remove the waffle from the iron and repeat the process with the remaining batter. Let the waffles cool on a cooling rack rather than in a stack for them to crisp up nicely.
- Serve the warm whey waffles with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!