Krumkaker

These mean Christmas to me!  From my Norwegian kin, we had these every Christmas for dessert with ice cream squares with cute little icing bows or wreaths or candy canes on top.  I found a Nordic Ware Krumkake iron at a flea market 30 years ago for $12.  I was reflecting today, as I made my annual batch for Christmas Day, that I've gotten my money's worth!

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick butter, melted (1 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup flour (It can be either wheat or gluten-free flour blend)
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Method:
Beat eggs and sugar until thick.
Stir in the melted butter and flour-mixed-with-cardamom.
Blend well.
Heat the Krumkake Iron on both sides over medium heat.
Brush with butter and put about a tablespoon of batter in the center of the iron.
Close it and cook for about half a minute on each side, turning the iron.
Roll quickly into a "cigar" shape and cool on a wire rack.

Brandy Balls

My mom made these every year for Christmas and gave them away in tins to those fortunate enough to be on her list!  I've done some changing through the years.......most notably, I use shortbread crumbs instead of vanilla wafer crumbs.  They're just better, in my opinion.

Ingredients:

Make this shortbread.
Use 6 wedges, or 3/4 of the recipe and make crumbs of them.
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon brandy
2 cups ground walnuts
Sugar for rolling

Combine the shortbread crumbs, walnuts, honey and brandy until well mixed.

Form into balls using about 1 Tablespoon each.

Roll each ball in sugar.

Store in an airtight container or tin with waxed paper or parchment between the layers.

Let them age for a week or so for best flavor.

**For a gluten-free version, make the shortbread with this gluten-free flour blend.**