Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (2024)

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Barbara Rolek

Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.

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Updated on 08/24/21

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Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (1)

Mazurka wafers, which have the same name as a traditional Polish folk dance, are flat and crispy cookies (wafle) that are usually part of other richer desserts and act as layers between creamy and sugary fillings. There are other pastries and cakes by the same name, but of different appearance, that are commonly found in Catholic households during Easter to mark the end of the forty days of lent. One can understand the overly rich and sugary preparations that accompany these wafers being served after that time of reflection and repent.

Although their origin is uncertain, mazurkas of many types are found in all countries of Eastern Europe. It's thought the cookies came to Poland via the Turkish during the 17th century. Delicious on their own, these wafers are even better if sandwiched around a thin layer of honey, jam, or chocolate spread and sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

These crispy wafer cookies need very few ingredients, which you might have in your pantry and are easily mixed. The batter of eggs, sugar, vanilla, clarified butter, and flour is cooked in a Polish wafer iron—if you don't have access to one a Scandinavian goro or krumkake iron will work perfectly. The cookies are then cooled off before assembling them in a cake, although nothing beats a fresh wafer with a cup of coffee or tea. These cookies are very fragile and can become soggy if not stored in an airtight container.

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs, at room temperature,separated

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar

  • 6 ounces clarified butter, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 3 tablespoons half-and-half, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a standing mixer or big mixing bowl, cream the egg yolks with the confectioner's sugar until light in color.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (3)

  3. Stir 4 ounces of clarified butter and the vanilla extract into the egg yolk mixture. Mix well.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (4)

  4. Add the flour and beat vigorously until you get a batter that is thick in texture but pourable, like a pancake batter. If too thick, dilute with half and half, a spoonful at a time.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (5)

  5. In a medium bowl, whip egg whites to soft peaks.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (6)

  6. Carefully fold egg whites into the prepared batter.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (7)

  7. Place the wafer iron over a gas or electric burner on medium heat. Brush with the remaining clarified butter and spoon in just enough batter to cover the surface.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (8)

  8. Close the iron lid and cook for approximately 90 seconds. Flip and cook for an additional 90 seconds.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (9)

  9. Carefully remove the cookie to a platter to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve right away, or store tightly covered to avoid becoming soggy.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (10)

What is Clarified Butter?

Similar to ghee, but of a slightly different flavor, clarified butter is made by simmering unsalted butter and skimming the milk solids and water. The leftover golden-colored fat is clarified butter, great for cooking and sautéing as its smoke point is higher than regular butter. Ghee is further cooked, so although similar in principle, it has a nuttier flavor because it's been simmered for longer than plain clarified butter.

How to Assemble a Wafer Mazurka Torte or Filled Cookie

For an easy and delectable filled cookie made out of these sweet wafers you need just a few additional ingredients:

To make a sandwich cookie, spread one plain side of a wafer with the filling once the wafers are completely cool. Top with another wafer, plain side down. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

To use these cookies to build a torte of 6 to 8 layers, you need:

  • 1 cup of filling of your choice
  • 8 ounces of melted chocolate

Build the torte alternating cookies and filling, and then pour the melted chocolate over the top. When set, cut into small squares to serve.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
122Calories
8g Fat
10g Carbs
2g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories122
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g11%
Saturated Fat 5g24%
Cholesterol 65mg22%
Sodium 18mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 10g4%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 8mg1%
Iron 1mg3%
Potassium 25mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are Polish waffles called? ›

On previous visits to Poland I have always been surprised to see how popular waffles (gofry in Polish – from the French – gaufres) are. These waffles, which are often sold on street stalls or at fairs are usually sweet with the addition of sugar and jams etc.

What is a wafer cookie? ›

A wafer is a crisp, often sweet, very thin, flat, light biscuit, often used to decorate ice cream, and also used as a garnish on some sweet dishes.

What is the difference between wafers and waffles? ›

The term wafer is often confused with waffle, but between the two products there are major differences: waffles have a soft texture with a moisture of 10% or more, while wafers have a crispy texture, are thin, and with a moisture content of 1-2% [7] .

Why do runners eat stroopwafels? ›

Athletes worldwide are embracing these caramel-filled waffle delights for their unique combination of carbohydrates, sugars, and fats. The compact and portable nature of stroopwafels makes them a convenient energy source during workouts or competitions.

Why are wafers so expensive? ›

Most wafers are made using the Czochralski process. In this process, a seed crystal is pulled from molten silicon to form a cylindrical boule. This method is expensive and requires a lot of capital investment. However, there are other more inexpensive ways to make a silicon wafer.

Who made the first wafer cookie? ›

Neapolitan wafers (also called gaufrettes in some countries, though this term can refer to other foods) are wafer and chocolate-cream sandwich biscuits, first made by the Austrian company Manner in 1898.

Why did Nabisco discontinue chocolate wafer cookies? ›

Nabisco Old Fashioned Chocolate Wafers have been a staple in our homes for generations. They are a key ingredient in scores of desserts. Unfortunately, Nabisco has "removed them from the product line to make room for new innovations." How is there not "room" for this beloved and much used cookie in their product line?

What is a Polish pastry called? ›

This day is celebrated by indulging in the traditional Polish jelly-filled pastry known as a pączek (PON-check). The more commonly used name for these is pączki (POONCH-kee), which is the plural pronunciation for this sweet treat. Pączki are made from richer yeast dough that won't collapse when you bite into it.

What is a Polish dessert? ›

Polish desserts
NameDescription
Andruty kaliskieLight sweet, flat waffles
Babka (baba)A sweet yeast cake that's also consumed in other areas of Eastern Europe
Budyń (kisiel mleczny)A milk-based dish with the consistency of a thick gel, popular as a dessert.
ChałkaSweet white wheat bread from Jewish cuisine
33 more rows

What is a stroopwafel in English? ›

A stroopwafel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈstroːpʋaːfəl] ( listen)) (English translation: syrup waffle or treacle waffle) is a waffle made from two thin, round layers of baked batter with a sweet caramel-like syrup filling in between.

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