A quintessential traditional Norwegian recipe: A thin, crispy, very slightly sweet flatbread that is good eaten plain, with butter or as a part of a Scandinavian-style appetizer spread.
Norwegian flatbread (flatbrød) recipe. Taste like homemade crackers - so delicious! Repin to save.

Did I ever tell you about that time that I auditioned for a Norwegian reality show?

A few years ago, a friend and I sent in an audition video for Alt for Norge. This show casts Americans with Norwegian ancestry who have never been to Norway.

The cast members are put into all sorts of fish-out-of-water scenarios – with a Norwegian twist:

  • Memorizing Norwegian words and phrases
  • Trying traditional Norwegian foods
  • Learning Norwegian folk dances
  • … and more

I didn’t get on the show, but I did have a heck of lot of fun creating my audition video (we even made up our own version of the Norwegian national anthem!).

I hope to someday go to Norway and visit Singsås, the town where my family came from some 140 years ago.

But in the meantime, I am going to enjoy some more homemade Norwegian foods.Norwegian flatbread (flatbrod) recipe. Serve with cheese, apples, marmalade, or as a side for soup.

Norwegian Flatbread (Flatbrød)

In my quest to make all the Norwegian recipes I grew up eating, flatbread was on the top of my list. This is a food my family has eaten around Christmas for as long as I can remember.

Flatbrød is more like a cracker than a bread. It’s slightly sweet and nutty, thanks to the whole wheat flour.

Here are some ideas for how to enjoy flatbrød:

  • Eat plain or with butter
  • Serve with orange marmalade alongside a warm bowl of soup
  • Serve with white cheddar cheese slices and apples
  • Serve with Norwegian Ski Queen cheese (Gjetost) – This cheese goes GREAT with apples because it has an irresistible caramel flavor

If you’re really into Norwegian customs, consider making a batch of this flatbread and serving it on the 17th of May/Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day).

How to make homemade Norwegian flatbread (flatbrod). Great with jelly, cheese, butter, and other toppings!

The trick to making good flatbread is to roll out the dough as thin as possible. Then it’s more cracker-like and packs a good crunch.

Making homemade Norwegian flatbread. Click through for instructions.

Why do I love making traditional Norwegian recipes? They don’t contain exotic spices or ingredients. And for the most part, they’re not bursting with flavor.

But they are delicious in their simplicity.

The recipes I am featuring are traditional recipes that Norwegian immigrants brought with them when they came to Minnesota/South Dakota/North Dakota and other areas in the late 1800s.

These people made great use of what they had – lots of dairy, flour, eggs, potatoes, and rice. I’m having a blast recreating some of these classic recipes, and I hope you will give them a try in your own kitchen!

In the meantime, stay in touch on Instagram for extra recipes, money-saving tips, and other inspiration.

More Traditional Norwegian Recipes

Norwegian recipes, from Cheap Recipe Blog. Click through for many traditional Norwegian recipes!

How to make homemade Norwegian flatbread (flatbrod). Great with jelly, cheese, butter, and other toppings!

Norwegian Flatbread (Flatbrod)

Yield: 8 large rounds
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

I prefer my flatbread to be thin and crispy, so I roll it out as thin as possible. Norwegian flatbread is traditionally served with butter, as a side to meat and potato-based meals. For special occasions, it may be served with cheese or jam.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, sift together flours, baking soda, and salt. Add vegetable oil and mix well.
  2. Add buttermilk. Knead dough for a minute or so on a well-floured surface.
  3. Preheat oven to 350F. Cover dough with a damp paper towel when not using. Take approximately 1/4 cup of dough, roll it into a ball, and proceed to roll it out with a rolling pin on a floured counter top. I like my flatbread very thin and crispy, like a cracker. Place rounds onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until flatbread is lightly browned and crisp.

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