Catalan Neules Rolled Christmas Wafers

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cookies bars Medium

Paper-thin, crisp lemon wafers rolled into cylinders while still warm. They are light and buttery and traditionally served with sweet wine, nougat or cava. Makes 24 wafers in about 35 minutes.

Prep 15 min

Cook 20 min

Total 35 min

Yield 24 wafers

Ingredients

Adjust yield

wafers

¾ cup (90 g)all-purpose flour
½ cup (90 g)sugar
⅓ cup (90 g)unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 (132 g)egg whites
1 ½ tsp (3 g)lemon zest
1 tbsp (15 ml)water, only if batter is stiff

Fresh ingredient guides

LemonsHow to pick, season & nutrition · 24 kcal per 84 g

Baking tools for this recipe

Convert to grams Scale it Change the pan

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment and lightly butter it.
Whisk the flour and sugar together, then stir in the egg whites and lemon zest to make a smooth batter.
Stir in the melted butter. The batter should spread easily; add up to a tablespoon of water if it is stiff.
Spread about 2 teaspoons of batter into a very thin 3-inch (8 cm) round. Bake only 4 rounds at a time.
Bake 5 to 7 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers are pale gold.
Work quickly: lift each wafer with a thin spatula and roll it around a wooden spoon handle or dowel. Hold a few seconds until set.
Repeat with the remaining batter, cooling the sheet slightly between batches.

Tips

Thin rounds are the secret; thicker ones turn chewy instead of crisp.
If the wafers harden before rolling, return them to the oven for 30 seconds.
Dip the ends in melted chocolate for a variation.
Good with cava.

Made this?

Log it to keep your bakes, ratings and notes together in My Kitchen.

Be the first to share one.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make catalan neules rolled christmas wafers?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 24 wafers.

How should I store catalan neules rolled christmas wafers?

Store airtight at room temperature up to 2 weeks; they soften quickly in humid air.

Can I make catalan neules rolled christmas wafers ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Neules are thin rolled wafer biscuits eaten in Catalonia at Christmas, often with cava; the earliest written mention dates to 1267. Serve it with cava.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 24 servings this recipe makes.

58 Calories / serving

3.1g Fat

6.7g Carbs

1.0g Protein

3.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (24 servings): ~1392 cal · 74g fat · 161g carbs · 24g protein · 91g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.