Chef's Choice 839 Krumkake Express

Very good unit to make krumkakes. The recipes that ship with the unit are easy to make and taste excellent. In the weeks following the purchase of this krumkake maker I must have baked over 100 krumkakes and was never disappointed!

Pros: Looks and feels good. Makes cakes up to 6" in diameter and very thin. The barrocco ornament of the iron looks very pretty on the cake.

Cons: To achieve the unified golden color of the cake must use temperature setting no higher than 3, otherwise they come out with patchy color. Because of this, each cake takes approx. 2 minutes to bake.

I have not tried the VillaWare unit, which claims to bake two 5" krumkakes in 30 seconds, but if that's the case than it could be a better choice for someone who needs to accomodate a large party of people fast.

Update 10/17/2008: Friend of mine has the VillaWare maker and she is very happy with it, since she can bake two at a time in about 30 sec. But I have tried her cakes and they don't nearly have that texture and firmness that Chef's Choice unit produces. Some of the difference could be attributed to the recipe variations, but the fast-baked VillaWare cakes just don't get that crispy yet firm sensation that I crave. Just my 2c.

My family is from Norway, so every christmas since I was little we all gathered in the kitchen to make Krumkake, but with the old handheld iron, the kind you put over the burner and guessed at how long it took, and burned your hands frequently. It was still fun, but thank goodness with technological advances comes the Krumkake Express! Still just as fun as the old fashioned one, and this time you can have perfect Krumkake every single time.

It comes with the roller of course, and the pattern on the iron itself is beautiful. It also comes with a recipe just in case you dont have one! We fill ours with sour cream and lingonberries, ice cream, lemon custard and just eat them plain!

I have had mine now for almost 2 years and it still works perfectly.

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Makes thin krumkaker the way a Norwegian likes them.! The ability to select color intensity is very nice but you need to know what to look for! Too hot iron will bake thin batter faster than you expect. First time use, pay attention, but then you are set. Very convenient, easy to clean. This iron has become my best friend, since I can serve delicious krumkaker in no time. Well worth the money.

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First, let me admit that I don't know what an authentic KrumKake is. I had this item on my wishlist because I wanted to use it to make ice cream cones in the summer. After looking at waffle cone makers and other KrumKake devices, I settled on this one because the pattern was pretty and the size of the circle seemed just about right for a reasonably sized ice cream cone. When I got it for Christmas, I tried making cones and formed cups using the included recipe for German cookies. The cones were indeed a good size -not super-sized cones, but a reasonable size for a sensible dessert. And the recipe was quite tasty.

Then, I got the idea that the cookies would make interesting fortune cookies -a little larger than normal, and with a pretty pattern instead of the usual flat surface. Using the same recipe, but adding just a little almond extract, I made fortune cookies, and with custom fortunes, they were a big hit at a recent party.

It does take some time to make a big batch of cookies, but once I got the rhythm down, it wasn't so bad. And to be honest, if this thing was baking two cookies at once, it would be a race to get them formed before they cooled. Better to make them one at a time and be able to shape them better.

Overall, I'm pleased with this device. Yes, the cookies aren't always perfect, but home made products aren't always perfect. I'm fine with that.

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I've made krumkake with the traditional iron in the past, but recently moved to a house with a glass stop stove and the old iron just couldn't work right without the right kind of heat...

I just finished making TWO batches of krumkake, using two different recipes (one recipe is butter based, the other is cream based). The first batch didn't last long enough -I was having so much fun, I ran out of batter and made some more! This iron is so incredibly easy to use... Krumkake is perfect, both recipes worked wonderfully.

How it works: Heat iron for about five minutes until light is green. Wipe small amount of oil on iron. Put tablespoon of batter on iron, close lid. Close latch (latch puts slight pressure on lid for uniform cakes). The light turns to red, then green when it is done in about a minute (depending on how "golden" you like it). There is a small dial with numbers that act as a timer; remember your setting (I started at 3 1/2). When the light is green, open iron, peel off cake, and roll with cone (included with iron). Easy. Recommend putting iron on cookie sheet, as batter may spill out at times.

PROS:

Incredibly easy to use the lights, latch, and dial make it almost automatic.

Batter doesn't stick to iron.

Compact in size

Easy to clean

CONS:

Only one krumkake at a time (which isn't a con if you are baking alone)

All in all, an awesome product. I can make these cookies often, easier than a regular sugar cookie, and the settings on the iron make it fool proof. Strongly recommended.

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