Armed with good intentions, the right tools, and empty bellies, we went straight to the ultimate authority on all things Scandi: Sweet Paul himself. And for Sweet Paul, who grew up in Norway, nothing tastes like Christmas at home more than crispy krumkake. The result? A day of baking with my four favorite Norwegians and a sweet tradition that will be part of family Christmases for years to come.

“My great aunt Gunnvor was a krumkake champion. She had one of those cast iron forms that you had to hand flip on the stove. It was really amazing to watch her in action, almost like a dance. Her krumkake was always paper thin; I have her recipe but can never make them as thin as she did. You could see through them! She would roll them up in a cone shape and store them in some old tin boxes. I think it’s my all-time favorite holiday cookie from my childhood.” – Paul ‘Sweet Paul’ Lowe

Sweet Paul’s Norwegian Krumkake Recipe
Makes about 24 cookies

You will need:

• 1/2 cup butter, soft
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 tablespoons water

To make:

1. Beat butter and sugar until creamy.
2. Add the eggs and mix well.
3. Add flour, vanilla, and water and mix until blended.
4. Let the mixture stand for 30 minutes before using.
5. Heat your Krumkake iron.
6. Bake the cookies according to iron instructions.
7. Roll the warm cookies around the stick that comes with the iron.
8. Let cool.

TIP: You will need a krumkake iron, but they’re easy to find online or in specialty stores.

Above photo credit: Sweet Paul Magazine
All other photos: Myrna Suarez