Karlovarské oplatky

Karlovarské oplatky are flat wafers made according to an old, traditional recipe in the area of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic since the mid-18th century when they were originally homebaked. As evidence, today there are the oldest wafer-making irons in the Karlovy Vary Museum. In the past, cooks would make wafers sprinkled with sugar for the guests of the Karlovy Vary spa. The wafers have a diameter of 19 centimeters and, in the middle, there is a water fountain or a chamois, a symbol of the spa town. The thermal spring water is used in the production process, acting as a moisturizer for the wafers. They are sprinkled with sugar, hazelnuts, almonds, cocoa, vanilla or cinnamon, and then baked until they are crisp, thin and develop their characteristical flavor and scent. The wafers are extremely popular in the area, eaten as a snack or bought as a souvenir from Karlovy Vary.