Scandinavian Home Bakery in Brooklyn Park Brings Holiday Traditions to Market
Minnesota is home to hundreds of thousands of people with Scandinavian ancestry, many of whom might recognize the region’s traditional confections: krumkake, rosettes and lefse.
Even if your heritage isn’t rooted in those treats, you might see them pop up around the holidays.
One Brooklyn Park woman’s bakery is ensuring those traditional foods are accessible in the northwest suburbs.
It just takes a few ingredients for tradition to come alive in Sarah Lueck’s kitchen, where she crafts the Norwegian flatbread lefse. She runs a cottage bakery out of her house, specializing in those treats.
Just last year, she sold 60 pounds of lefse.
“In a day, I probably do about four batches,” she said. “And usually, my mom is here helping me. So she’s my flipper, I’m the roller. It’s just a fun family activity.”
Lefse is made with a potato base. It can be eaten plain, savory with a holiday meal, or sweet and buttered with brown sugar and cinnamon.
Lueck grew up in Hanska, Minnesota, a town she says has a strong Norwegian heritage.
Her mom helps her connect with that cultural tradition.
“We work pretty well together, and [mom is] sharing stories about her growing up, and her grandparents, all that stuff,” Lueck said, “It’s fun.”
Her mom didn’t stop by for this lefse session, but Lueck’s heritage was alive and well at her workstation. She uses her family recipes, and even family tools.
The griddle, the “Lefse Turning Stick,” and other baking essentials were passed down to her.
Sarah Lueck uses a turning stick to put finished lefse between two cloths, hand-embroidered by one of her ancestors.
Making New Memories
Lueck also makes rosettes, a deep-fried dough cookie dusted in sugar; and krumkake, a delicate waffle cookie with a similar flavor to a fortune cookie.
A few years ago, when her mom was away visiting a sister in Norway, Lueck took over the lefse making.
As she took over the tradition, she was inspired to share it with others.
“They brought back so many memories for me. I was like, ‘it has to bring back memories for other people, too,'” said Lueck.
She now swaps stories with many Minnesotans with Scandinavian heritage — and some without — looking to find a new tradition.
“It really is my favorite part, just what people share with me,” Lueck said.
She hopes people try out the traditions for themselves, too.
“I would really like other people to have that experience, too. Gather around the table, making it together.”
Sarah’s Scandinavian Confections is taking orders through Dec. 15.
More details on pricing and how to order are available on their Facebook page.
