Laufabrauð or leaf bread in English is a thin and deep fried crispy wheat cake. Leaf bread baking and making is an old Christmas tradition in Iceland. The name leaf bread is probably because of how thin the bread is like a leaf.
It is not known when Icelanders first started making leafy bread, but the oldest records about it are from the 18th century. In sources from that time, it is said that Laufabrauð is a delicacy of Icelanders.
The bread is crispy and has a good taste, but is best with butter, you can also put smoked lamb on it with the butter. It is very good. Smoked lamb was the main Christmas meal of Icelanders in many years in the old days and is also popular today.
When the dough has been made and flat out, you have to cut a pattern in the bread. The bread therefore becomes a great work of art because the patterns are all kinds and very beautiful. like that the leaf bread has also been named snowflake bread because the shape of the bead and the pattern resembles a big snowflake.
To make the pattern on the leaf bread you can use small knives or pocket knives to cut the bread. But there are also special leaf bread irons where the pattern is cut into the bread by sliding them over a wheel made for that purpose.
Baking the leaf bread is in that way also a big family tradition and at the beginning of December during Advent many families in Iceland then get together and make Laufabrauð.
Laufabrauð is in that way a very valuable part of the Icelandic Christmas tradition. The bread is generally served with festive meals and is enjoyed during the Christmas festival in Iceland in December.
Here you can see more information about how Laufabrauð is done and if you want to tray making it your self.