Forum

My Norwegian grandmother always made lefse for our Thanksgiving dinner. It was one of my favorite parts of the meal. Unfortunately, my grandmother did not want children in her kitchen and I never had an opportunity to see her make it. I inherited the rolling pin she used, but no recipe.

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe they can recommend for an enthusiastic novice?

Thank you!

I'm not sure how much experience our members have making Lefse since so-one has yet replied. And only one Lefse recipe in the library (from The New Midwestern Table) has a Note - which was how hard they were to make! Though there is also a rave review from Serious Eats. A recipe from The Kitchn got 4 stars though no Note. These are the Online Recipes for Lefse, with the two I mentioned at the top. I also see recipes in our list from the Washington Post and NYT sites and they probably have lots of reader comments which may help you decide which to try.

Thank you, Jane! I will check these out. I feel like I need to give Lefse a try to justify holding on to a very large rolling pin I have never used!🤣

Trine Hahnemann, Nevada Berg, and Nichole Achelotta all have lefse recipes in their cookbooks. The Big Book of Bread (King Arthur Flour) also has one. My favorite lefse is from my Swedish grandmother; it is a bit thicker than the Norwegian lefses I have had since I moved to North Dakota (we have a large Norwegian immigrant heritage here). In addition to the special lefse rolling pin, you will need a "ricer" for the potatoes. Also you must use starchy potatoes, like Russet; do NOT use potato starch.

Lefse is a traditional part of my family Christmas tradition. It is much easier to make with two people (one person to roll out the lefse dough, another to work the griddle or frying pans).

Thank you for your reply and recommendations. The Big Book of Bread is a recent addition to my collection and somehow I missed the Lefse recipe. I will check out the others you mentioned as well. 

We have a ricer and my husband enjoys participating in cooking projects with me, so we are all set. I will pick up some Russet potatoes and give it a go!

Thank you for this great advice!

You have solved the mystery of the two sticks that are in the same box as the rolling pin!😊

I have a Baking Steel griddle that I am planning on using. I think I have all the equipment and just need to summon the courage to give it a try. My hope is to learn how to make Lefse that is good enough to eat by mid February...my mom will turn 86 and I would love to surprise her with this food memory. 

Rolled up with butter and sugar was how we always ate it. So delicious!

I appreciate this community and the sharing of experiences and wisdom. What a gift!

Thank you! I did Google Bea Ojakangas and found her Best Lefse Recipe Ever! I had a great laugh when I saw that it would make 100 pieces. 😊 I was not aware of her and quickly fell down the rabbit hole into her world of Scandinavian cooking. This whole quest to learn to make lefse has uncovered so many flavor memories that I have from visiting my grandmother's home as a young child. Cookies, pies, and many other dishes I have not thought of in years. I feel the need to add a Scandinavian baking book to my collection!

Many thanks!