Grandma Carlson's Swedish Pancake Mix

Grandma Carlson's recipe for these delicate pancakes is a family favorite. A variety of spreads, butters, syrups, jams, jellies, or fresh fruit can be used to create pancakes appropriate for any meal of the day.

About Julia Hagstrom Carlson
Grandma Carlson, Julia Hagstrom Carlson, was born July 4, 1890 in Angus, Iowa, to Erick and Lina Hagstrom. Julia’s parents immigrated to the United States from Sunne, Sweden. When she was just two years old, Julia lost her father in an accident at the mine where he worked. This event brought many hardships for Julia, and her four siblings during their childhood years.

Upon her mother’s death, 16 years later, Julia moved to Portland, Oregon to live with her mother’s sister. From there, Julia accompanied a friend on a trip to Ione, Oregon where she met Victor Leonard Carlson. They were married in 1917, and lived on the Carlson Homestead where they ran a dry land wheat operation. At the time, farming required long hours in the field using horse drawn equipment. Julia prepared three hardy meals each day for the hungry ranch hands.

Her grandchildren describe her as a reserved, gentle, patient yet firm woman. Julia was a woman of profound faith. Her grandchildren remember her teaching them prayers and hymns in Swedish. All work stopped on Sundays. At the ranch, everyone attended services a mile up the hill at Valby Lutheran Church where the services were done in Swedish.

After retiring to Portland, Julia continued to treat visiting family to delights from her kitchen, and bible verses from “the box” she kept on kitchen table. Today, each of Julia’s grandchildren makes Swedish pancakes for their families remembering her with great fondness.