Fresh Kringla at Norsland Lefse: The Perfect Norwegian Cookie for Coffee

Last year was all about 6–7, but at Norsland Lefse the year 2026 is all about 8! Have you heard? Norsland Lefse is making and selling fresh Kringla—those soft Scandinavian cookies made from dough rolled into ropes and shaped into either a figure eight or a pretzel-style twist. When it comes to Kringla, the “traditional” shape really depends on who you ask. Family recipes across Norway, Sweden, and the Midwest show both forms—some bakers favor the classic 8, while others prefer the pretzel twist.

At Norsland, we’ve made them both ways. The pretzel shape has proven a bit faster to form and more consistent from batch to batch—and our customers have given it an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

The best part about Kringla is that its subtle flavors perfectly complement a favorite Norwegian beverage: coffee!

(If you’d like to bring some home, you can find Kringla here: Swedish Kringla - Original Flavor.)

Coffee has a special place in Norwegian hearts

Now I know a lot of people enjoy coffee, but it has a special place in the hearts of true Norwegians. When I was a kid, my grandparents always had the coffee on. A visit to Grandpa and Grandma’s meant I got to have my own cup of “coffee!” (Really a mug of milk with a splash of coffee.)

Any gathering included coffee and a treat. In reporting on ladies’ meetings, the local paper would inevitably include the phrase, “and Anna (or any other woman) poured.” What did they pour? Coffee, of course!

My in-laws had the basic meals each day—breakfast, morning coffee, dinner, afternoon coffee, and supper. At coffee, you’d have a small snack as well, a perfect time for a not-so-sweet cookie such as Kringla.

Rushford’s coffee culture (and The Table of Knowledge)

When we moved to Rushford in the seventies, I quickly learned the role coffee played in the culture there. Moms would get together often for coffee and visiting while giving their kids a chance to play with others. Federated groups would gather to listen to a speaker (and of course have coffee!).

In today’s world, moms are usually working during the day, but there still is a very special coffee group in most small towns: The Table of Knowledge! This coffee group usually consists of retired men who meet at local cafes and restaurants for coffee, either in the morning or mid-afternoon. One essential for the group is good, hot coffee; another essential is local news and conversation.

I stopped in at Norsland Lefse’s cafe one Monday morning and chatted with the Table of Knowledge. They assured me they could solve any problem I might have since they were the most knowledgeable Table of Knowledge in town. They also admitted they just might be a little full of a couple letters - B and S, I believe they said.

Why Kringla + coffee just works

Knowing the role coffee plays in the culture of this community—and how well Kringla complements coffee—I decided to pair the two and share. The best part of this was the Kringla cookies were already baked for me by Norsland! I just needed to brew some hot coffee and share.

Want to make it extra easy? Norsland even has a ready-to-gift option: Scandinavian Coffee & Kringla Gift Box.

Sharing kringla around town

One of the stops was an insurance office downtown. The staff was more than willing to take a coffee break and sample some Kringla!

Another tray of Kringla, a coffee carafe, and cups headed to the school. Teachers always deserve a treat and rarely turn down some coffee!

Neighbors may not get together as much as they used to, but a phone call or two and soon a couple friends were available to sample Norsland’s new Kringla cookies.

Easy serving ideas (keep it simple - or dress it up)

Having Kringla cookies readily available makes hosting and treating people much easier. Kringla, with its subtle flavors, makes a not-too-sweet accompaniment for coffee. You can have a little treat without feeling guilty as you enjoy the company of your friends and community. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Of course, if you feel the need to go one step further, you could always frost lightly with some icing and add sliced almonds to the top. Another easy treat would be to make ice cream sandwiches with a couple Kringla cookies and a little ice cream. I’m sure you could come up with many other serving ideas too—but remember, the simple Kringla-and-coffee combination just can’t be beat!

Looking for more Norwegian-inspired treats? You might also enjoy: Norwegian-Inspired Valentine Treats.