The Church of St. Luke’s in Clearwater was filled with fun and goodies during their annual Cookie Stroll and Craft Sale held earlier this month. Guests could purchase homemade holiday goodies, crafts, and gift items, then relax and catch up with friends over coffee and a roll. 

In amongst the fun, guests were also treated to the art of making krumkake. Krumkake, which means ‘curved cake,’ is a traditional Norwegian cookie shaped like a cone. The thin, crispy cookie is made on a decorative iron, then rolled into a cone shape before it cools.

Demonstrating the technique to guests was three generations of krumkake makers; Grandmother Ezie Petersen, her daughter Suzanne Holewa, and her grandsons Bryce and Hunter Holewa.

Petersen was first introduced to krumkake from her neighbor, who taught her how to make the treat. She enjoyed the cookie so much it became a family tradition, with her children and grandchildren learning and then participating in the making of them. 

“I grew up with it,” said Suzanne Holewa, who is a parishioner of St. Luke’s. “It’s a tradition.”

During the cookie stroll, Petersen and Holewa both manned krumkake irons, baking the cookies into light brown goodness, then transferring them over to Bryce and Hunter, who proceeded to roll the cookies into their traditional cone shape using wooden dowels. 

“They’re spoiled,” said Holewa with a smile. “I had to use a wooden pencil to roll them with when I was growing up.”

Once cooled, the cookies were then sprinkled lightly with powdered sugar and placed into containers for guests to purchase. Those considered imperfect were broken into pieces and placed out for guests to sample.