Germany serves up pinwheels of fun – wound up skinny spirals – whirly, twirly Haribo Licorice Wheels. Something you’d stumble upon in Willy Wonka’s home.

And for some Finland fanfare, sample La Pipette, Finnish licorice pipes available in both red and black varieties.

Licorice arrives fresh and individually packaged, perfect for gift giving when you want to stray from traditional chocolates. Good ol’ American varieties include your rainbow arrayed Licorice Bridge Mix, Black Licorice Scotties, or double trouble, Licorice Candy Coated Chocolate. But for a true tongue tango, trip your taste buds fantastic with Holland Double Salt Licorice. Fair warning, it packs a punch.

There’s a lot of love for licorice out there, and a seemingly infinite smorgasbord to be enjoyed. Exploring The Licorice Exchange is visual eye candy – shop by flavor, color, country – explore candy that caters to grown up sweet tooth sophisticate. The website is impeccably created and their customer service, elite. Visit for love of licorice. Stay for dessert. www.licoriceexchange.com

Next, beat yolks and sugar until mix turns a pale-yellow or off-white. Add your buttermilk and vanilla and mix.

While stirring, gradually add remaining dry ingredients, it helps if you mix remaining dry ingredients separately first in a measuring cup. Make sure not to over mix it or you will excite gluten in flour and over-excited gluten makes for a very chewy waffle. Remember: Think golden, crisp on outside and fluffy or light on inside.

Get your whipped egg whites and add them to rest of your mixture. Gently incorporate them and don’t over mix, or you will lose bubbles. While stirring, add butter.

I have a Krups Wafflechef, it signals you when its heated and ready to go. Baking waffles in this iron only takes about 4 minutes. Don’t go for a cheap, no-name iron, I highly recommend Wafflechef. Pre-heat waffle iron. Add about 2 oz. of batter on each square, making sure you don’t put more than iron can handle. If you do over-do it on batter you will make a mess.

Waffles are great for breakfast or even for dessert. They are great topped with maple syrup or whipped cream and fruit; even ice cream makes a fantastic topping! Happy waffle making!

Paul Rinehart is a classically trained chef who currently works as a web developer. He is also founder of Online Cooking, a place where he can work on two interests at same time, computres and food.