Waffles - one of the most popular desserts in the world. Sweet and fresh, crunchy or soft wafers form the basis of cakes and pastries, ice cream and toppings. Delicious, they in and of themselves: fragrant and rosy homemade waffles - a wonderful treat that like adults and children.

Origins and traditions

Information on when and where were invented cellular cookies, baked in special forms, history is not retained. The word "waffles" is of German origin (in German «waffle» means "cell, the cell"), and it suggests that this dessert began triumphal procession around the world with Germany. It is possible, however, that the first wafers were known by some other name. So, there is a legend which states that the first such form of cookies were invented in Antiquity.

Anyway, each people makes formulated wafers your changes, and as a result the same delicacy in different parts of the world has a unique original taste. In the Netherlands, for example, baked spicy fragrant stroopwafel of crumbly dough with the addition of brown sugar. They are glued in pairs caramel Caramel: sweet treat   and served as an accompaniment to a cup of hot coffee. Round wafers are placed on top of a cup of that hot steam heated and softened their stuffing. This dessert is very popular in the Czech Republic.

Quite different looks Belgian waffles: tall, curvy, crispy on the outside, these waffles are soft and tender inside. Belgian waffles made in the shape of hearts or rectangles, and is often served for breakfast, sandwiching different creams and marmalade. Famous Viennese wafers and is made from a soft pastry.

In Norway, the wafers are prepared from sugar cone filled with sweet filling - Krumkake. Brussels waffle batter to make the air-based beer in the Baltic prefer fresh waffles without sugar, which combine perfectly with different kinds of stuffing, and in Russia prefer homemade sweet wafer rolls stuffed with boiled condensed milk.

American waffles resemble miniature pancakes with typical cellular surface. In the US, like waffles so much that every year twenty-fourth of August celebrating birthday favorite dessert - Waffles Day. This day has been patented invention Svarthauta American Cornelius - a special pan for baking waffles.

Checked cookies

Waffles called Bake biscuits in special molds with a characteristic pattern on the surface. Cells-cells appeared on the wafers is no coincidence: these cells serve to hold the filling on the surface of the wafer. As a result, the filling does not flow to the wafer plate, which allows you to create beautiful neat sweets.

Waffles are unfilled or with various fillings: fat, nut, fruit, fondant, chocolate, caramel. In some European countries are popular salty and savory toppings waffle - cookie sandwiches with bacon, tuna, cheese, vegetables. Fillings are usually laid between layers of wafers.

Since the form of heat thin wafers are very plastic, of which you can easily turn off the horns or tubes, which are then stuffed with ice cream, jam, fruit or nuts. If the filling is too moist, the wafer is coated with chocolate, so they do not soak. In the industrial environment of the wafers prepared cups and various figures.

Interestingly, the rough surface of the wafer at the time of the American athlete inspired Bill Bowerman for the invention of shoes with ribbed soles. It is possible to reduce the weight of the shoe, for which Bauermann been and will be grateful to millions of athletes.

Secrets of cooking

For the preparation of wafers requires a special device - a waffle iron. It is enough to warm up the unit, spread over the working surface of the batter and close future waffles briefly cover - warm and fresh waffles for breakfast ready. Waffle irons are of two types: for baking soft Belgian waffles and baking more conventional wafer thin plates, which, if desired, can be hot rolled in a tube or horn. The principle of operation of these devices is slightly different, so bake a thin plate in a waffle iron for making Belgian waffles fail.

There are many recipes for test wafers. The easiest recipe is made with flour and water, the most complex may include a plurality of components with a spicy taste and rich aroma. By the batter add sugar, butter, cream, soda, milk, sour cream Smetana: untold riches of Russian cuisine , A variety of spices, nuts, cocoa, and raisins. The list of additives is endless. And when you consider that the filling can also be very different, it is not surprising that there are so many different waffle desserts.

Preparation of test wafers for the home has its secrets:

• To waffle turned out air, the dough should add egg whites, whipped into a solid foam. Protein gently mixed with the dough using a spatula, after which the dough right to use;

• Another way to make a batter by air - knead it to carbonated water. As you know, the famous "Carlsbad wafers" is prepared with the addition of mineral water;
• Adding egg yolks makes wafer soft and pliable;
• If we add a small amount of flour, starch wafers are obtained crumbly;
• Sugar dough is better to use the smallest, it is better to replace it with powdered sugar - as waffles will not burn during baking;
• The more sugar in the dough, especially rosy obtained wafer;
• Addition to the dough fats (butter, cream) makes gentle flavor of wafers;
• To improve the taste of the usual waffles, you can use spices: vanilla Vanilla: sweet tenderness , Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cocoa.

Maria Bykov

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