RoughChop Logo
Suggestions

Lefse

Chop Rating
chopchopchopchopchop
Sign in to review
Not yet rated
breadsnorwegianvegetarian, contains dairy, contains gluten
5 hours12 lefse

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds russet potatoes (~4.5 medium russet potatos)
  • 4 tbsp unsalted buttersoftened
  • 1/3 cups heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • all-purpose flourfor dusting
  • unsalted butterfor serving
  • granulated sugarfor serving
  • ground cinnamonfor serving
lefse

Instructions

1. Scrub the potatoes and place them whole, unpeeled, in a large pot of water. Bring to a boil and cook until fully tender when pierced, 25–35 minutes. Drain well, return to the warm pot for 1–2 minutes to steam off excess moisture, then peel while still warm.

2. Rice the warm potatoes into a large bowl. Add the unsalted butter, heavy cream, granulated sugar, and kosher salt. Stir until smooth and evenly combined, then press into a flat layer. Cover and chill until completely cold, at least 4 hours or overnight.

3. Break up the chilled potato mixture, then sprinkle in the all-purpose flour (1.25 cups). Fold and knead gently just until a soft, cohesive dough forms that is barely tacky; avoid overworking.

4. Preheat a lefse griddle or cast-iron griddle to 450°F/230°C. Lightly flour a cloth-covered board and rolling pin with all-purpose flour (for dusting). Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a ball; keep covered with a towel to prevent drying.

5. Working with one piece at a time, roll the dough very thin (about 1/16 inch/1–2 mm), adding a whisper of flour as needed to prevent sticking. Use a lefse stick or long spatula to lift the round.

6. Lay the lefse onto the hot griddle. Cook until light brown freckles appear and the surface looks dry in spots, 30–60 seconds, then flip and cook the second side 20–40 seconds until flexible with scattered brown spots. Adjust heat to prevent scorching. Stack cooked lefse between clean kitchen towels to keep soft. Repeat with remaining dough.

7. Serve warm or at room temperature, spread with unsalted butter (for serving) and sprinkled with granulated sugar (for serving) and ground cinnamon (for serving), if desired. Cool completely before storing; wrap well and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months.

Lefse is a tender Norwegian flatbread known for its delicate chew, subtle potato sweetness, and faintly toasty spots from the griddle. Rolled paper-thin and cooked dry on a hot plate, it stays pliable enough to fold or roll around sweet or savory fillings. Many enjoy it simply, spread with butter and dusted with sugar and cinnamon, while others pair it with cured meats, cheeses, or holiday roasts.

Rooted in Norwegian home kitchens, lefse has both pre- and post-potato traditions, with today’s familiar potato version flourishing after potatoes became widespread in Scandinavia. Families developed regional methods, specialized tools like cloth-covered boards and lefse sticks, and festive rituals around fall potato harvests and Christmas gatherings. Norwegian immigrants carried these practices to North America, where lefse remains a cherished heirloom bake linking generations to their heritage.