What is a Stroopwafel?
What are Stroopwafels?
A stroopwafel is a traditional Dutch cookie made from two thin waffle layers sandwiched around a warm caramel filling. Originating in Gouda, a charming town in the Netherlands, this iconic treat has been a staple in Dutch homes, cafés, and street markets for over 200 years.
In the US you'll also see them called stroop waffles, syrup waffles, caramel waffles, or Dutch waffle cookies — different spellings, same beloved treat.
Whether you're walking through the canals of Amsterdam or grabbing a coffee in Atlanta, there’s nothing quite like the experience of a fresh stroopwafel — especially when it’s warmed over your cup and the syrup begins to melt.
The best and freshest stroopwafels are slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Stroop should be made with treacle (sugar beet molasses), if it is true to its traditional roots.
How to eat Stroopwafels?
Stroopwafels are best enjoyed when they’re warm. This makes the syrup come alive on your palate, releasing all of its flavor.
The traditional way to eat the stroopwafel is to place it on top of a cup of hot coffee, tea or chocolate. This heats the waffle and slightly softens the syrup making the waffle soft on one side and slightly crispy on the other. Delicious! There is more detail in our guide to how to eat a stroopwafel the right way.
If you prefer your stroopwafel with cold milk, the answer is simple. Put it in the microwave for 8 seconds.
Some people will dunk their stroopwafel in whatever they are drinking. Others are purists and will eat the treat without dunking.
Discover your favorite way to eat your stroopwafel and shop here!
Why do Athletes eat Stroopwafels?
Stroopwafels, traditionally a Dutch treat, have unexpectedly carved a niche in the realm of sports nutrition. 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.
The gooey caramel center provides a quick energy boost, while the outer waffle layers offer sustained release. This dynamic nutritional profile, coupled with the irresistible taste, has propelled stroopwafels into the hands of fitness enthusiasts.
Honey Booster Waffles are especially popular for sports nutrition.
Curious how athletes actually use them? See our guide to energy and protein stroopwafels.
Read our blog for science-based information on sports nutrition.
How to Make a Stroopwafel
Like donuts, stroopwafels are seldom made at home. Ideally they are bought from a bakery where an expert baker uses special equipment to create the treat. If you do want to try it yourself, we published a full authentic stroopwafel recipe. Here’s how 3Bros makes theirs:
A ball of special dough is placed on the stroopwafel press and baked for about a minute at high temperature. The next step is to cut the edges off so the wafer becomes a perfect circle. Then the thin wafer is sliced open (don't try this at home), a good amount of stroop is added, closed back up and a new Dutch waffle is born!
You can see our bakers at work at events and farmers markets. Here is a video of our baker and our baking cart at a farmers market.
The 3Bros stroopwafel baking cart is also very popular at weddings and private events. To learn more, click here.
And if you would like to bake fresh stroopwafels in your own business, we can supply the dough, the stroop and all of the equipment. See how the 3Bros DIY program works.
Thinking about baking stroopwafels yourself?
Plenty of people who land on this page are not only hungry — they are wondering whether they could serve fresh, warm stroopwafels in their own coffee shop, bakery, food truck, market stall or catering business. You can. And you do not have to work out the dough, the stroop or the equipment on your own.
3Bros supplies pre-portioned stroopwafel dough, our own Dutch stroop, professional irons, the baking cart and everything else you need to bake fresh in front of your customers.
🍪 Curious about stroopwafels? Let's stay in touch.
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History Behind the Stroopwafel
The stroopwafel originates from the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. It was first made during the late 18th century or early 19th century by a baker using leftovers from the bakery, such as breadcrumbs, which were sweetened with syrup.
One story ascribes the invention of the stroopwafel to the baker Gerard Kamphuisen, which would date the first stroopwafels somewhere between 1810, the year when he opened his bakery, and 1840, the year of the oldest known recipe for syrup waffles.
Like donuts in the U.S., stroopwafels became a huge hit. If you lived in Gouda in the 19th century, you’d have your choice of 100 syrup waffle bakers. After 1870, the treat began to spread across the Netherlands at bakeries, parties, markets, and cafes.
In the 20th century, stroopwafels spread even further as factories began making the treat. In 1960, there were 17 factories in Gouda alone, of which four are currently still open.
Unfortunately, many Americans haven’t had a fresh stroopwafel. Frankly, if you have only experienced the stroopwafel as a packaged cookie made overseas, you really haven’t had the real thing. Imported stroopwafels are baked industrially, sealed, and shipped across the ocean — by the time they reach a shelf they can be months old, which is why they often snap like a cracker instead of bending like a fresh waffle. So try some 3Bros Stroopwafels made right here in America!
3Bros is the first and premier manufacturer of stroopwafels in the United States — baked fresh in our state-of-the-art family-owned bakery in Fayetteville, Georgia, and shipped to you quickly. FRESH really does make a difference. See where to buy stroopwafels — online, in stores, and around Atlanta. And if you want to see a stroopwafel baked by hand, catch our baking cart at events and farmers markets.
Pronunciation of Stroopwafel
We get asked a lot about how you should pronounce the word Stroopwafel. You will find the shortest answer to that question by listening to the soundbite. If you’re interested, read on below for more information about Dutch pronunciation in general.
For the linguists, here is the pronunciation key in IPA: [ˈstroːpʋaːfəl] Give it a try 🙂
If you’re like most of us, watch this video for a quick, in-depth tutorial about the sounds in the Dutch language and how to pronounce them. Afterward, be sure to come back here and get some of our delicious US-made stroopwafels.
Stroopwafel FAQ
Is a stroopwafel a cookie or a waffle?
Both, honestly. It's made on a waffle iron but eaten like a cookie. In the Netherlands it's officially considered a cookie (a koekje).
How many calories are in a stroopwafel?
A standard stroopwafel runs roughly 130–170 calories depending on size and filling.
Where can I buy fresh stroopwafels?
3Bros bakes them fresh in Fayetteville, Georgia and ships nationwide — see where to buy stroopwafels online, in stores, and around Atlanta, or find 3Bros in a store near you.
Can you warm a stroopwafel without coffee?
Yes — about 8 seconds in the microwave, or a few seconds per side in a dry pan. Just don't overdo it, or the caramel gets runny.
Can I buy stroopwafel dough and make them in my own shop?
Yes. 3Bros supplies pre-portioned stroopwafel dough, Dutch stroop and the professional equipment to coffee shops, bakeries, food trucks, markets and caterers who want to bake fresh on site. See the DIY program.
Keep Reading
- Authentic stroopwafel recipe — how to make Dutch caramel waffle cookies at home.
- How to eat a stroopwafel the right way — the coffee-cup method, and a few others.
- Find 3Bros near you — retailers, markets and festivals across the US.
- The 15 best road trip snacks — ranked by a bakery that ships them.
- Traditional Dutch cookies — a guide to Holland's ten best koekjes.
- Inside America's first stroopwafel bakery — a look at how ours are made.
- More from the 3Bros bakery blog