Klenät

Lore & Background

Klenäter are an old type of pastry mentioned in Denmark as early as the 14th century and appearing in Danish and Icelandic cookbooks in the 18th and 19th centuries. They are referenced in a Swedish poem by Anna Maria Lenngren from 1800, 'Grevinnans besök' (The Countess' Visit), where a countess is served klenäter as part of the entrée at a pastor's dinner party. Klenäter also frequently appear in Christmas stories by Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909.

In Norway, klenäter are known as fattigmann (poor man) or fattigmannsbakkels (poor man's pastry), based on a myth that the high cost of making the cookies could leave you impoverished. Fattigmann tend to be made with cinnamon, cardamom, and a dash of cognac. In Iceland, kleinur are a very common everyday pastry sold in bakeries singly and in stores in bags of ten or so, eaten plain. They are similar to the American cruller.

The dough is made from flour, egg yolks, sugar, and margarine or butter, rolled out and cut into strips (often with a special cutting wheel called a kleinujárn in Iceland), left to rest for two hours, then fried in oil or lard. Traditionally Icelanders fried kleinur in sheep tallow, but today oil is typically used. Lemon juice, brännvin, or cognac are optional ingredients; water mixed with acetic acid can be used instead.

Reader's Guide

Klenät holds significance as a traditional pastry with deep roots in Nordic culinary history, mentioned as early as the 14th century in Denmark and appearing in cookbooks and literature across Scandinavia. Its many names—kleinur, fattigmann, faworki, pestiños, and others—reflect its widespread presence across Europe and the Americas, from Lithuania and Latvia to Chile and Brazil. The pastry's association with Christmas in Scandinavia and its status as an everyday staple in Iceland highlight its cultural versatility. The disputed origin story (Low German 'Kleinet' meaning 'little object' or 'present') and the myth behind the Norwegian name 'fattigmann' (poor man) add layers of folk history. Its preparation method—cutting, knotting, and deep-frying—is shared with similar pastries worldwide, such as the American cruller and Chilean 'calzones rotos'. Klenät thus serves as a case study in how a simple fried dough can travel across borders, adapt to local tastes, and become embedded in holiday traditions and daily life.

Did You Know?

• The name 'klenät' originates from Low German 'Kleinet' meaning 'little object' or 'present', possibly indicating a German origin.
• In Norway, klenäter are called 'fattigmann' (poor man) based on a myth that the high cost of making them could leave you impoverished.
• Icelandic kleinur are a very common everyday pastry sold in bakeries singly and in stores in bags of ten or so, eaten plain.
• A similar pastry in Chile is called 'calzones rotos' (literally 'broken panties'), and in southern Brazil 'cueca virada' (meaning 'twisted panties').