Homemade Gluten Free Lefse (2024)

Do you want Lefse to be a part of your Christmas traditions? Here’s my version of Gluten Free Lefse (dairy-free options as well!) that you can make for your family this year.

How to Make Lefse

Nope, I’m not Norwegian. My ancestry is German and Czech. But my hubby’s family has some Norwegian blood running through it and so that’s my excuse to make this delicious treat! Not that I need one because we love lefse! I learned how to make lefse many years ago from a neighbor. Lefse is very commonly made in my area, and also in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread that can be served in many different ways. The potato actually wasn’t always added to the dough, but it’s common in lefse-making today since it helps the dough stay together and makes it easier to work with.

Lefse is most commonly eaten by spreading butter and sugar on the inside, rolling it up, and enjoying it warm. SO good! You can also eat it with jam, eggs, meat, or whatever you want! It’s very versatile and can be frozen, so you can make a BIG batch and freeze half for later. This recipe does take some time to make so it’s a good idea to make a big batch and make it worth your while.

*Note: You will need a Potato Ricer for this recipe.

Ingredients in Gluten-Free Lefse

• Potatoes. These need to be peeled and cooked before you can use them in this recipe. I like using gold potatoes because they are the creamiest.
• Butter. This helps give good flavor to your lefse. If you want these to be dairy-free, add shortening instead. Vegan butter may work as well.
• Heavy Cream. I like using my Cream Cubes in this recipe but fresh cream works the same. Use coconut cream for dairy-free.
• Salt and Sugar. You need a small amount of both of these for a little more flavor in your lefse.
• Gluten-Free Flour. I use all-purpose gluten-free flour in this recipe. Most cup-for-cup gluten-free flours should work but I haven’t tried them all.

I love lefse even though I am not norwegian. I am originally from North Dakota where lefse is very popular year round. My mom has a lefse grill and we make it when I go visit. It is the best when rolled very thin and served warm off the grill. We like to put butter and cinnamon & sugar on it. It is very delicious and now I may have to call my relatives up there to ask them to bring me some when they come for a visit 🙂

Julie, Little House Living reader

Step By Step Instructions for Making Gluten-Free Lefse

Start this recipe by cooking your potatoes; make sure to peel them. (Save the potato water for later!) Using a Potato Ricer, rice all your potatoes into a large bowl.

Add in the cream (I used my Cream Cubes), butter, salt, and sugar into the riced potatoes until they melt into the warm mixture. Set the mixture aside for a while and let it cool.

Then, whip everything together with a hand mixer until the entire mixture is nice and smooth.

After the mixture has cooled, mix in the flour. Form small balls. You may need some extra flour to be able to roll these out.

Take a clean flour sack or another thin towel and place the balls of dough on part of the towel with a little flour. Sprinkle a bit more flour on the top. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until it’s very thin.

*Note: if you are making gluten-free or dairy-free versions, do NOT roll the dough super thin like regular lefse. It needs to be left a little thicker to hold together.

Remove the rolled-out dough carefully from the towel. (I did this by cupping it in my hands and carefully flipping it onto the griddle.) Fry on a warmed griddle (you can use a hot frying pan if you don’t have one).

You do not want to cook long, just long enough for each side to get some bubbles. If you cook it too long, the leaves will get hard and crispy; it should be soft and flexible, like a tortilla.

Lefse takes some time to make, but it’s very worth it in the end! We like to spread butter and sugar inside a warm lefse and enjoy!

The is a restaurant about and hour or so from my house that serves meals wrapped up in leafsa. I just love the potatoe and meatball one all rolled up and smothered in gravy! My husbands family is Norwegian so I have had the opportunity to taste many of their native dishes. Leafsa is fun to make and also makes fond memories.

Lisa, Little House Living reader

Gluten-Free Lefse Variation

Instead of regular flour, substitute all purpose gluten free flour in the mixture. All other ingredients can remain the same.

Dairy-Free Lefse Variation

Instead of the butter and cream, substitute coconut milk and shortening in the mixture. All other ingredients can remain the same. You can also make a gluten-free and dairy-free version.

Want to print this Gluten Free Lefse recipe to add to your Recipe Binder? Grab it below!

My mom was from oslo so growing up we mostly norwegain meals and lefse was a common item love them with butter and sugar, and also spicy mustard and a hot dog wrapped up so good.

Richard, Little House Living reader

More Gluten Free Holiday Treats

• Chewy Coconut Macaroons Recipe
• Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Brown Rice Crackers Recipe
• Easy Gluten Free Banana Bread

Does your family enjoy Lefse? What kind of toppings do you use? Have you ever tried to make lefse gluten-free?

Merissa Alink

Merissa has been blogging about andliving the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from theContact Page.

This recipe for Gluten Free Lefse was originally published on Little House Living in December 2013. It has been updated as of December 2023.