I love trying unique foods from other parts of the world, so I have always enjoyed shopping at — and exploring — international grocery stores in my area. One of the things I like about shopping at Aldi is that it sometimes feels a bit like an international grocery store. I’ve found everything from Italian gelato to Indian simmer sauces (both stocked year round) to Greek spanakopita (sold occasionally as a limited-time special). And, of course, many Aldi fans look forward to the store’s twice-yearly German Week when you’ll find schnitzel, doppel keks, German style pickles, peanut puffs, and other German goodies.
One of the international foods that Aldi tends to stock specifically during the winter and Christmas holiday season is stroopwafels from the Netherlands. The word stroopwafel literally means “syrup waffle.” It consists of two thin baked wafers like cookies with a creamy caramel filling. Stroopwafels look like thin waffles, and the outer wafers have a crispy texture while the inside is gooey and chewy.
My first experience with stroopwafels was when I received some in a Universal Yums gift subscription box, which features snacks from around the world. I later spotted mini stroopwafels under the Daelman’s name brand at Aldi’s cousin, Trader Joe’s. When full-sized stroopwafels showed up at Aldi in time for the winter holidays, I picked up a box.
These stroopwafels are sold under the Aldi Specially Selected label, which is not a separate company but rather is the Aldi brand for certain gourmet foods. Other products we’ve spotted at Aldi under the Specially Selected private label include flatbread pizza, specialty macaroni and cheese, and rack of lamb.
Specially Selected Caramel Stroopwafels cost $2.99 for a 10.94-ounce package that contains eight waffles.
These are a seasonal item at Aldi, which means they’re stocked for longer than an Aldi Find, but Aldi does not sell them year round. If they aren’t currently in stock at your local store, you won’t be able to order them online from Aldi.
The package describes these as “delicious waffles filled with sweet, creamy caramel.” These are kosher and are imported from the Netherlands.
The package also states:
Originating in Gouda, Holland and dating back to the 16th century, stroopwafels are among The Netherland’s most treasured treats! Terrific right from the package, stroopwafels are especially tasty when warmed with coffee or tea. Next time you pour your favorite hot beverage, try placing a stroopwafel on top of the cup for about a minute, allowing the steam to soften the caramel. Heerlijk! … That’s Dutch for ‘Delicious!’
They should be stored in a cool, dry place. The package I bought had a best-by date of about eight months out from my purchase date, so these will keep for a while.
Ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
Ingredients are glucose syrup, wheat flour, sugar, palm fat, butter, treacle syrup, soy flour, canola oil, salt, dextrin (wheat), emulsifier (soy lecithin, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), leavening (baking soda), spice (cinnamon), acidity regulator (citric acid), and vanilla pods.
If you’re watching out for allergens, these contain wheat, milk, and soy.
Nutrition information. (Click to enlarge.)
These are not a low-calorie treat. One waffle constitutes one serving, and one waffle will net you 170 calories, 6 grams of total fat (9% DV), 3.5 grams of saturated fat (18% DV), 90 mg of sodium (4% DV), 26 grams of total carbohydrates (9% DV), and 15 grams of added sugars (30% DV).
These taste good eaten straight out of the package, but my family placed these on top of cups of hot tea and hot chocolate to steam them and warm the caramel filling. Warming them this way turns them soft and chewy, and they make for a nice treat. These are basically a rich, caramel-filled wafer cookie.
My stroopwafel steaming on top of a cup of hot English Breakfast tea.
If you do trying steaming your stroopwafels over hot drinks, make sure you use mugs that are not oversized so the stroopwafels aren’t at risk for falling in.
If you enjoy trying foods from around the world, these are a classic sweet you should definitely sample at least once. And if you really like them, be sure to stock up because they won’t stick around at Aldi once the Christmas holidays are past.
The Verdict:
Specially Selected Caramel Stroopwafels are from the Netherlands, and stroopwafel literally means “syrup waffle.” These are waffle-like thin wafer cookies with a sandwich filling of creamy, rich caramel. They’re great eaten straight out of the box, but for a truly indulgent experience, place a stroopwafel over a hot cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate for a minute to steam the wafer and warm the caramel filling.
