Kleinur is the Icelandic name for traditional sweet fried bread. You can find them in every Scandinavian country, but each country has a unique name for this popular treat.
The distinctive twisted shape and cardamom flavor are key elements that distinguish Icelandic Kleinur from similar pastries found in different cultures. It is a process similar to doughnut-making, but some unusual characteristics are what make Icelandic kleinur so beloved in that tiny country.
There is something extra special about the Icelandic version of these "twisted doughnuts." They have the most wonderful aroma when they are frying. The secret is the cardamom and, sometimes, a little bit of nutmeg in the kleinur's dough.
In some Scandinavian countries, kleinur are a holiday treat, but they are a staple in Iceland. They are great with coffee, and you cannot go anywhere in Iceland, day or night, where there is no coffee. Coffee is ever-present. Where there is coffee, there are kleinur. Icelanders eat them by the ton.
They are sold all year round in every Icelandic supermarket and bakery, often packaged in plastic bags, and they are surprisingly good. However, homemade ones, especially while still warm, are undeniably the best!
Sometimes people call kleinur "twisted donuts," but kleinur really aren't at all like donuts. They are not very sweet, and they are more substantial and cake-like than wimpy American donuts. In Iceland, they are seldom, if ever, glazed, frosted, or embellished.
The dough is simple and straightforward. I usually make it up and refrigerate it until the next day when I plan to fry them, but it's not really necessary. Roll out the dough on a well-floured surface. The thickness is up to you, but we usually roll ours out to a little less than 1/4 inch thick, similar to sugar cookies.
I grew up making kleinur, so I got a pastry wheel somewhere along the way, and that's what I use to cut my kleinur. Mine is old and a bit wobbly, but you can get a shiny new one for around ten dollars and use it to make all kinds of beautiful pastries for the rest of your life!
I've never used a knife to cut them, but I think it would work fine as long as you flour the surface. Cut the dough into strips about 1 1/2 inches wide. (I use my two fingers as a guide.) Then, make second diagonal cuts and create diamond-shaped pieces.
Next, cut a slit in the center of each piece of dough and pull one end through the slit to form a classic kleinur-shaped knot. You are ready to fry! You can gather up and reroll any dough scraps to make more kleinur, just like when you make sugar cookies!
Icelanders have been making and eating kleinur for centuries. They were originally fried in sheep tallow, similar to lard, in heavy iron kettles over a fire. Every family had a kettle like it for making kleinur, and many were heavily crusted on the outside with years of residue from hot grease.
Choose a neutral cooking oil like sunflower or canola oil. I like to use a thermostatically controlled non-stick cooker/fryer. The gadget actually comes in pretty handy because you can also use it to boil pasta or potatoes when you need an extra burner. We tried air frying some last fall with disappointing results. I am just giving you a heads-up!
Heat the oil to about 375 degrees. Carefully drop kleinur in the hot oil a few at a time. Don't crowd them. They take very little time to cook. When they pop to the surface and the bottom side is browned, you can flip them over easily by pressing a spoon on one edge. Brown the other side, remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon, and place them on paper towels to drain.
If you like, dust them with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar as soon as you pull them from the fryer. I like mine plain, and I eat them with reckless abandon when we make them because they are not too sweet. Our 96-year-old mom is a native of Iceland and could eat her weight in them if we let her!
This is a kleina. That is the singular form of this famous twisted donut's name. That word is rarely seen because almost no one can stop at one. I dare you!
Have you ever heard of kleinur? Have you ever been to Iceland? If not, I encourage you to do both! It is a fascinating country that is both ancient and modern. The capital, Reykjavik, is naturally warmed by the Gulf Stream, so the average annual temperature is about 33 to 35 F in winter and about 54 F in the summer.
I always like to compare Nebraska temperatures with the temperatures in Reykavik in the winter. It is often warmer there! I must add that the mostly uninhabited parts of the island country away from the Gulf Stream are quite frigid!
Even if you never visit Iceland, we hope you will try making a batch of Icelandic kleinur and send us pictures when you do!! You may just start a new holiday tradition!
Traditional Icelandic "twisted donut" that is spiced with cardamom and deep-fried.
You can make this dough and refrigerate it the day before you fry the kleinur if you want, but it is not necessary.
My other favorite food from Iceland and my Icelandic heritage is Butter Baked Cod! From the Danish side of my family, our whole family loves Danish-style Cucumber Salad!
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Love, GB (Betty Streff)
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