How to make Norwegian Lefse - Recipe Diaries (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments

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Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread that is typically made from potatoes, flour, butter, and milk. It is a staple food in Norway, and it is usually eaten during the holiday season. There are many ways to eat lefse, and it can be served plain or with a variety of toppings.

This post makes me kind of sad looking at the pictures of my Grandma since she is no longer living. I miss her, especially around this time of year when she would always make this. 🙁

Do you love recipes from the Midwest region? Try my Knoephla Soup Recipe or Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Walleye recipe.

Jump to:
  • What is Lefse?
  • Best Potatoes for Lefse
  • How to make Lefse (Step by Step)
  • Tools needed to make Lefse
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Other Recipes To Try
  • How to make Lefse

What is Lefse?

Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made from cooked potatoes. Up in the Midwest, we like to serve the lefse with softened butter. If you want to get really fancy spread the butter on top of the lefse and sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar. It's so delicious and makes a good dessert after eating all the turkey on Thanksgiving day.

Best Potatoes for Lefse

Russet potatoes are the best type of potatoes to use for making lefse. Do not overcook them.

How to make Lefse (Step by Step)

We all took turns rolling out the dough and then it gets cooked on a big lefse skillet. Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made with cooked potatoes and it gets cooked on a large flat griddle. If you don't have a special lefse making griddle any griddle will work just as well.

This is the part where you have the dough combined and it's ready to be cooked on the griddle. Making lefse is very similar to the process of making pancakes or any other type of flatbread.

How to make Norwegian Lefse - Recipe Diaries (2)

You need a rolling pin with a fancy cloth attached to it. See link above. This cloth gives the lefse that famous texture. A circular rolling board to roll out the flour, lots of flour, and a lefse griddle.

How to make Norwegian Lefse - Recipe Diaries (3)

Form into ball shape with your hands

How to make Norwegian Lefse - Recipe Diaries (5)

Pick the lefse dough out with these fancy sticks. Sometimes the dough will stick to the board to transfer it to the griddle, that is why a lot of flour is required.

How to make Norwegian Lefse - Recipe Diaries (6)

This is my grandma below and Uncle Mark above with his awesome ninja skills. Lefse is just like making a pancake. The edges start to bubble when it is ready to flip on a flat griddle. You also use those fancy sticks to flip the lefse on the grill.

This is the final product. Transfer it to some parchment paper and let it cool off. Usually, we like lefse with lots of butter and sugar. Some people like to stuff leftovers from Thanksgiving inside and fold it up like a burrito. Those people are weird. J/k. 🙂

Amazon has all the tools you need to make lefse. If you click on the link below and purchase a product from one of the links, I may earn a small commission from them. There's even a lefse making kit that comes complete with all the tools you need. If you try to make lefse without any of these tools it will be a disaster the first time. 🙂

Recipe FAQs

Can I freeze lefse?

Tofreezethelefse, lay out flat on top of parchment or wax paper in layers. Store in freezer bags large enough to store the lefse. The lefse lasts up to 3 months in the freezer. Wrapping the bags in foilcanalso help prevent freezer burn flavor. When you are ready to use thefrozen lefse, thaw in fridge.

How is Lefse Eaten?

Lefse is just like a pancake or flatbread. You can do whatever you like or add whatever you like to it. Lefse also makes a good wrap or burrito for any Thanksgiving leftovers.

What else can I use if don't have a potato ricer?

If you don't have a potato ricer try one of these handy kitchen tools.
Food Mill. This is best for light and fluffy mashed potatoes. ...
Food Processor
Fork
Hand Masher.
Hand Mixer
Stand Mixer

What is traditionally put on lefse?

Some traditional toppings for lefse include butter, cinnamon, sugar, and lingonberry jam. Many people also enjoy lefse with savory toppings such as meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Ultimately, the choice of toppings for lefse is up to personal preference, and there are many delicious ways to enjoy this traditional Norwegian treat.

Other Recipes To Try

  • Mini Cherry Cheesecakes
  • Rotel Tacos (Tiktok Recipe)
  • Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
  • THE CHEWY Chocolate Chip Cookie

If you tried this How to Make Lefse any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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How to make Norwegian Lefse - Recipe Diaries (13)

How to make Lefse

  • Author: Jenna
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 5 - 10 min
  • Total Time: 36 minute
  • Yield: 42 flatbreads 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made from cooked potatoes. Up in the Midwest, we like to serve the lefse with softened butter.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 7 cups of potatoes, peeled
  • ¼ cup cream
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups of flour

Instructions

  1. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes; drain.
  2. Run hot potatoes through a potato ricer into a large bowl. Beat butter, cream, salt, and sugar into riced potatoes. Let cool to room temperature.
  3. Stir flour into potato mixture to form a soft dough. Pull off pieces of dough and form into walnut-sized balls. Lightly flour a clean cloth and roll out lefse balls to ⅛-inch thick.
  4. Heat a griddle over high heat.
  5. Cook lefse on the hot griddle until brown blisters form, about 1 minute per side. Place cooked lefse on a damp towel to cool slightly. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking them on top of each other as they're cooked; cover until ready to serve
  • Category: Medium
  • Method: Combine
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: how to make lefse

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenna says

    Thank you! It's my Grandma's recipe. 🙂

  2. Judy says

    Made lefse using your recipe, but no special equipment. They turned out great.

  3. Jenna says

    yes

  4. Ellen says

    Is it 7 cups of the riced potatoes?

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How to make Norwegian Lefse - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

Is lefse Norwegian or Scandinavian? ›

Lefse is a Norwegian treat that is especially popular around the Christmas holidays. Many Scandinavian-Americans eat lefse primarily around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

How was lefse traditionally made? ›

Lefse is a soft Norwegian flatbread, made using traditional recipes and baking methods. Lefse is usually made with potatoes, flour, butter, and milk, cream, or lard. Traditionally, lefse is cooked on a flat griddle, with particular wooden utensils used in the process. Lefse has its roots in Viking food traditions.

What is the difference between lefse and Lompe? ›

Lompe is only used about the potato leaf you wrap around a hot-dog, while lefse is, well, your definition. I have seen lefse that are thin, like lompe, which you're supposed to butter and put something (like salmon) in, though.

What can you use as a substitute for a lefse stick? ›

Lefse Stick (substitute long wooden handle of spoon or even better, an unused wooden paint can stirrer). Grooved Lefse Rolling Pin (regular pin can work).

What does lefse mean in Norwegian? ›

noun. a round Norwegian flatbread resembling a tortilla, made with mashed potatoes and flour.

What is lefse called in Norway? ›

Lemse – Lefse from Røros in Trøndelag. Klenning – The Trøndelag region's version of sweet lefse with butter, cinnamon and sugar. Kling – The name for sweet lefse in Buskerud, Eastern Norway.

What is the best way to eat lefse? ›

Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar and roll lefse to eat. This is the traditional Norwegian way to serve and enjoy lefse. Raid your pantry and refrigerator. Fill small bowls or ramekins with whatever jams, jellies and spreads you already have.

Did Vikings eat lefse? ›

It brought back good memories of the trip and filled our bellies with comfort. As I said, lefse is traditionally made with potatoes, and Hardanger Lefse is made with flour. I read somewhere that it dates back to the Vikings before potatoes were introduced to Norway.

What is the traditional way to eat lefse? ›

The typical way of eating lefse is with a spread of butter, sugar and sometimes cinnamon. But did you know that during Christmas, some Norwegians eat their lefse with meat in it? This tradition is especially strong in the eastern parts of Norway, in the region today called Viken.

Do you put lefse in the fridge? ›

Lefse should be refrigerated or frozen. Our lefse is made with no preservatives, so it can take a week or so in the fridge. In the refrigerator, it needs to stay in its sealed package or it will dry out. If you don't plan on eating it right away, toss it in the freezer.

What do you serve with lefse? ›

Serve the lefse with scrambled eggs and smoked fish, or cheese and jam, or gjetost, or butter and cinnamon-sugar, or hot dogs, or really any topping that appeals to you. Lefse can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.

Do people in Norway eat lefse? ›

How do Norwegians eat lefse? Parts of western, eastern and central Norway, lefser are used as an alternative to bread. They are eaten with savoury, salty foods or with sweet foods. ... Common sweet fillings are sugar and cinnamon.

Can I use a regular rolling pin for lefse? ›

If you don't use a pastry cloth, the lefse will stick, and you will wonder why you ever tried this ! @#$ project. Corrugated rolling pin, preferably with cloth cover. If you try a regular rolling pin, your lefse will stick, and again you'll wonder why !

Can you use a tortilla press for lefse? ›

You can use regular flour too. Add in enough flour until it is the consistency for rolling out. I use a tortilla press to make the lefse. It is so much easier than hand rolling with a rolling pin.

What kind of rolling pin do you use for lefse? ›

A good rolling setup: Pastry rolling board with cover and a ridged rolling pin with a rolling pin cover — because, you can't get paper thin lefse without these tools.

Where did lefse originate from? ›

What is Lefse? Lefse is a Norwegian original. Colorful stories carry it back to the time of the Vikings, but history shows potatoes first appearing in Norway some 250 years ago. On the traditional Norwegian homestead, enough lefse would be made at one time to last for up to a year.

What is Scandinavian bread called? ›

Danish Pumpernickel is a thinly sliced coarse heavy bread made from dark rye flour. Swedish Limpa Bread is sweet rye dough flavored with anise oil. Very popular during the Christmas holiday Limpa Bread with its soft thin crust is often served with creamy butter and Lingonberry Jam.

Do they eat lefse in Sweden? ›

Her family is Swedish, and many Scandinavian foods are enjoyed by our family each year, including søtsuppe (Scandinavian sweet soup), lutfisk (a dried fish), köttbullar (Swedish meatballs) and of course lefse. Lefse is a flatbread made from flour and potatoes, and is a little thicker than a tortilla.

What kind of bread do Scandinavians eat? ›

Rye Bread. Dense, dark, and delicious, rye bread is a staple among Scandinavians and Finns and is eaten with almost every meal either on its own or as the base of an open-faced sandwich.

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