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This Ukrainian waffle cake is a cinch! It’s so easy, I bet you could make it simply by viewing the pictures. This is also the favorite dessert of every child in my family.
Waffle Cakes are made with cooked, sweetened condensed milk (i.e. dulce de leche) that is spread onto pre-made wafer sheets and sliced into bite-sized squares or diamonds. These are a hit at all of our holiday parties, weddings, or any gathering really.
Where to Buy Wafer Cakes?
Until recently, I have only been able to find them at Russian or European stores, but now they are available online.
I’ve also seen these wafers sold in a California Walmart (near Rancho Cordova). I guess the Russian/Ukrainian population is so large that Walmart even has a Russian section. Lucky!! Once you buy the wafers, this will be the easiest cake you’ve ever made. And it’s quite fabulous!
Ingredients for Waffle Cake
- 1 package plain wafers – round or square (9 layers, 9-inch diameter)
- 1 (14oz) can of cooked sweetened condensed milk a.k.a. dulce de leche
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp lemon juice
How to Cook Sweetened Condensed Milk
By cooking sweetened condensed milk, you are essentially making dulce de leche. You can use one of 3 methods:
- Buy Pre-cooked or pre-made dulce de leche
- Cook Dulce de Leche in a pot in a slow cooker
- Make the quick version: Instant-pot Dulce De Leche (this is my favorite because it’s speedy!)
Once the dulce de leche is cooked, let it cool to room temperature, then store it covered in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the cakes. You can make the dulce de leche ahead of time.
How to Make Ukrainian Waffle Cake
1. Combined cooked condensed milk, 1/2 stick softened butter and 1 tsp lemon juice in the electric stand mixer and whisk attachment. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes.
2. Spread cream on the wafers, making sure to reach the edges. Don’t be concerned with filling each square or you will have too much frosting on the cake. Just put enough to have the layers stick. You may make 2 skinny cakes or 1 tall one. They do stack nicely when they aren’t as tall.
3. Place cake under a heavy cutting board or make a press using a cutting board with a bowl of water on top. Let it sit under the press at least 2 hours. Then, slice it up (Ukrainian style) and make sure you grab a slice. They go quickly!!
Enjoy! Let me know if you have found a great source for these wafers?
Ukrainian Waffle Cake with Dulce de Leche
Ingredients
- 1 package plain wafers – round or square, 9 layers, 9-inch diameter
- 1 14 oz can cooked sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Combined cooked condensed milk, 1/2 stick softened butter and 1 tsp lemon juice. Beat them on high speed for 3 minutes.
- Spread cream on the wafers, making sure to reach the edges. Just put enough to have the layers stick. You may make 2 skinny cakes or 1 tall one. They do stack nicely when they aren’t as tall.
- Place cake under a heavy cutting board or make a press using a cutting board with a bowl of water on top. Let it sit under the press at least 2 hours. Then, slice it up and serve.
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Can I freeze this, or would this damage the dulce de leche filling?
Hi Michele, I haven’t tried this frozen, but a few of our customers have mentioned freezing them before. Here is what one of our readers wrote “After all just put in the freezer for couple hours. U will love this. It’s like a frozen cake. Try and enjoy it.”
Hello! I am getting ready to try this recipe, but would appreciate it if you could tell me whether the dulce de leche frosting will “harden” once it sets for a a few hours. I am expecting that I will have some frosting leftover, and would like to be able to reheat it and coat individual waffle cake pieces, but only if the frosting will actually become firm enough that it will not stick to fingers or drip.
Hi Sasha, this doesn’t harden like a stiff caramel if that’s what you’re asking. The layers soak pup the caramel and are soft.
Hi what is the lemon for? Have never used lemon in this dessert. Is it added for taste or to help preserve?
It’s used to offset the sweetness, I think you’ll love it with lemon.
Wafers are available on Amazon. Search for “veselka wafer sheets”
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Pryvit Natasha! Thanks for the recipe, have not had it since my mother passed away. It is really delicious and very simple to make.
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Tania! I’m so glad you found our recipe.
Hello, how far in advance can I make this cake?
Hi Anna, you can leave it at room temp overnight. I’d refrigerate overnight after that if you have leftovers.
Just made these for a Ukrainian wedding. Topped with semisweet chocolate and sea salt flakes. Thank you for the inspiration! Hello from Winnipeg, Canada!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I love the Russian wafers. Can you freeze them after making them? Thank you.
Hi Myra, I haven’t tried this frozen, but a few of our customers have mentioned freezing them before. Here is what one of our readers wrote “After all just put in the freezer for couple hours. U will love this. Its like frozen cake. Try and enjoy.”
Amazon sells the wafers. I found in a shop in the Atlanta area.
Thank you for sharing that with me!!
Familiar taste from the childhood 🙂 I’ve added bananas to my version. They make the cake less sweet that way. It literally melts in your mouth! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Iryna!! & thank you for that awesome review!
Could I make this without the butter with just the cooked condensed milk? Or Anything I could substitute by chance?
Hi Julia. I haven’t tried this but one of our readers wrote “Your website helped out so much with my last pregnancy as I was craving ukr food. I used to make my waffles with butter but tried cool whip and my family never wants to go back to the butter.” Hope this helps!
Hi Natasha! How far in advance do you think i can make these?? If I freeze them or refrigerate them…
Yes, if you’re not going to be eating it soon, wrap in plastic wrap then refrigerate.
Can you use pre made Dulce de leche like this:one. Will the taste differ greatly?
If you use regular condensed milk, how many cans does it take to slow cook to end with the necessary amount of dulce de leche for this recipe?
Hi Natalia, it takes just 1 can and you can use the can of already made dulce de leche. It is essentially the same thing 🙂 1 can uncooked is equal to 1 can cooked.
Thank you so much for your quick
reply! I am excited to try it!
You’re welcome! Enjoy!
I’m having trouble understanding what “cooked sweetened condensed milk” is compared to where I buy it in a can just the regular sweetened condensed milk. If you can clarify for me so I can make this! Thanks! I also found the waffles at a local Turkish store in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 🙂
Hi Juline! It’s also known as “dulce de leche” We have a recipe for it here.
My mother-in-law does intervals of dulche de leche and farmers cheese. It really cuts down on the sweetness and makes it creamy. My only problem is finding farmers cheese in Texas!
Great suggestion KG, thanks for sharing!
I live in Texas too and you can find farmers cheese in Sprouts and even Fiesta stores!
A few HEBs near me carry farmers cheese, but I’ve used shredded queso fresco in its place pretty successfully.
I have been dating my boyfriend for almost 5 years, and he is a russian/ukranian.
His Babushka makes THE BEST WAFFLE CAKE but she doesn’t speak English so here I am lol
She has a lot more dulche de leche and I think she chops up nuts to go in, peanuts usually.
She also freezes it before serving, cold creamy, and delicious.
Great tips Marisa! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I found the wafers at Stop and Shop. NY area
Thanks for sharing with other readers Carmen!
I’m planning to make this recipe but I’d like to know how much duce de leche to use. Different brands vary in can or jar size. Thank you.
Sorry I missed that! It is a 14 oz can 🙂
Hi Natasha this looks delicious. …I just made it but got little confused by going over the comments. Do you put cream on both sides of waffle or just one side and put a dry one on top? Thank you can’t wait to try it hope it won’t be too dry.
Hi Mariam, I just put cream on one side of the waffle and top with a dry one. Some folks like more cream and you can add more if desired. After you let it sit under a press and absorb the cream, it won’t be dry 🙂 Enjoy!
Do you have this recipe in Nutrition Facts? Do you have this recipe in weight watchers smart point?
Hi Kathryn, I don’t typically include calorie counts, but if you go to caloriecount.com you can plug in the ingredients and servings and figured out pretty easily that way. I hope that helps!
hi
after its been seating for 2-3 hrs does it needs to be refrigerated?
Yes, if you’re not going to be eating it soon, wrap in plastic wrap then refrigerate or keep it in a very cold garage.