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    Home » Appetizers/Sides

    How to make Norwegian Lefse

    Published: Oct 23, 2022 · Modified: Jul 23, 2023 by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    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.

    How to Make Lefse

    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.

    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.

    Form into ball shape with your hands

    Press into patties on the tray

    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.

    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.

    How to make Lefse

    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. 🙂

    Tools needed to make Lefse

    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. 🙂

    • Good Grips Stainless Steel Potato Ricer
    • 20 in pastry board and cloth set
    • Lefse Griddle - A flat griddle will also work for this
    • Lefse Rolling Pin -
    • Lefse Making Kit
    lefse3

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I freeze lefse?

    To freeze the lefse, 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 foil can also help prevent freezer burn flavor. When you are ready to use the frozen 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 

    • 5 Ingredient Sausage Hash Brown Casserole
    • Keto Chaffle Recipe (3 Ways!)
    • Crock Pot Salsa Chicken (2 Ingredients)
    • Baked Blueberry Doughnuts

    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

    Print

    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
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    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

      December 18, 2021 at 9:35 am

      yes

    2. Ellen says

      December 17, 2021 at 6:25 pm

      Is it 7 cups of the riced potatoes?

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