Best kringle around Milwaukee: Where to find Wisconsin's pastry

Wisconsin's official state pastry is hiding in plain sight across the greater Milwaukee area—from legendary Racine bakeries still hand-rolling dough the way Danish immigrants did a century ago, to your neighborhood grocery store's freezer section. This guide covers every place Milwaukee-area families can find authentic kringle, whether you want the full bakery experience or a quick weeknight treat.

The best news for Milwaukee families: O&H Danish Bakery's Oak Creek location puts fresh, authentic Racine kringle just 15 minutes from downtown, complete with a drive-through. For budget-conscious families, Trader Joe's sells O&H kringle for just $9.99 seasonally—less than half the bakery price. And for those willing to make the 30-minute pilgrimage to Racine, you'll find bakeries that have been perfecting this 3-day, 36-layer pastry since the 1930s.

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Why Racine became kringle capital of the world

The story begins in the late 1800s when Danish immigrants flooded into Racine, recruited by companies like Mitchell Wagon Works and J.I. Case. By 1900, roughly 10% of all Danish immigrants to America had settled in Racine—so many that the neighborhood of West Racine earned the nickname "Kringelville." The climate reminded them of home, and Wisconsin's dairy farms provided the essential ingredient: butter.

These immigrants brought a pastry tradition dating to the 13th century, when Roman Catholic monks introduced pretzel-shaped treats to Denmark. The modern kringle emerged in the 1850s when Austrian bakers, brought in during a Danish guild strike, introduced the revolutionary technique of laminating butter into yeast dough. When Danish bakers returned, they fused Austrian technique with traditional Danish ingredients—creating the flaky, layered pastry we know today.

Authentic kringle requires three full days to prepare. The dough is folded repeatedly with cold butter to create 32-48 distinct layers, rested overnight between folds to keep the butter from melting. When baked, water in the butter creates steam that forces the layers apart, producing that signature flaky texture. A finished kringle measures approximately 14 by 10 inches, weighs 1.5 pounds, and serves 8-12 people.

On June 30, 2013, Wisconsin made it official: kringle became the state pastry, cementing Racine's claim as America's kringle capital.

Legendary Racine bakeries

Pecan Kringle at O&H Danish Bakery

The half-hour drive from Milwaukee to Racine rewards families with bakeries that have operated for generations, where you can watch dough being rolled and taste pastries still warm from the oven.

O&H Danish Bakery is the largest operation, with five locations and a four-generation family legacy dating to 1949. Their flagship store at 5910 Washington Avenue features Viking-themed décor, a full café with sandwiches and fair trade coffee, and scheduled bakery tours for groups. Standard kringles run $24.99 for everyday flavors like their best-selling pecan, raspberry, and almond, with seasonal varieties at $26.99 and no-added-sugar options at $31.99. They ship nationwide and offer a Kringle of the Month Club. For families, the most convenient locations are Oak Creek (covered below) and the Sturtevant Petro Travel Plaza at 717 South Sylvania Avenue—perfect for I-94 road trips, with self-service counters available after hours.

Bendtsen's Bakery at 3200 Washington Avenue represents the artisan gold standard. Operating from the same location since 1934, this fourth-generation bakery earned a spot on Food & Wine's "100 Best Bakeries in America" and won a 2025 QVC taste test. The key difference: they still hand-roll every kringle, unlike larger operations that have mechanized portions of the process. The small, old-fashioned atmosphere lets customers watch the rolling process from the counter. Open Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday), they ship nationwide but recommend 2-day air shipping for distances over 900 miles. Phone orders at (262) 633-0365.

Lehmann's Bakery at 9117 Durand Avenue in Sturtevant claims two distinctions: it's Racine's oldest continuously operating bakery (since the 1930s), and it creates 48 layers—more than competitors. They offer over 36 flavors, including creative options like Bourbon Pecan, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Raspberry White Chocolate. Most importantly for families, Lehmann's offers free guided bakery tours where a bakery guide makes pastries in front of guests. Call 800-607-8721 to schedule.

Larsen's Bakery (now housed at Lehmann's facility) stands out for families with dietary restrictions: they offer vegan kringle options in many flavors, plus vegan donuts—rare among Racine bakeries. Their standard 22-ounce kringles cost $21, with specialty varieties at $21.50-$23. Open Wednesday through Saturday only, 7am-4pm. Their Baker's Pride 3-Pack (Pecan, Raspberry, Apple) runs $58.

Racine Danish Kringles at kringle.com operates primarily as a wholesale and mail-order business, supplying many grocery stores. They're Kosher Dairy certified and known for creative seasonal flavors. Their standout deal: flat-rate shipping at just $9.95 per address nationwide.

Fresh kringle without leaving Milwaukee

Hot drink and a Kringle at Rocket Baby

Milwaukee families don't need to drive to Racine for the authentic experience. O&H Danish Bakery's Oak Creek location at 9540 South 27th Street is just 12 miles south of downtown, about 8 minutes from IKEA. This isn't a satellite selling day-old goods—kringles are baked fresh daily on-site with the same recipes and methods as the Racine stores. Open Monday-Friday 6am-6pm, Saturday 6am-5pm, Sunday 7am-1pm. Phone: (414) 856-1141. They have a drive-through for busy families, plus a full café with seating. This location delivers the complete Racine experience without the 30-minute drive.

Rocket Baby Bakery in Wauwatosa at 6822 West North Avenue takes a different approach. This artisan bakery creates their own oversized kringle—described as a "big fat kringle that could feed a small family." It's a boundary-pushing interpretation larger than traditional size, made with European artisan techniques. Open Monday-Friday 7am-2pm, weekends 8am-2pm. They also appear at the Shorewood Farmers Market seasonally. Phone: (414) 502-7323.

Wisconsin Cheese Mart in downtown Milwaukee at 215 West Highland Avenue carries kringle alongside their 150+ cheese varieties—perfect for assembling Wisconsin gift packages or grabbing a treat after exploring the RiverWalk. Family-owned since 1938, they're open daily (10am-5pm weekdays, 9am-5pm weekends). Phone: (414) 272-3544.

Where to find kringle at grocery stores

Sendik's kringle

For everyday convenience, major grocery chains throughout Milwaukee stock frozen kringle from Racine bakeries. The quality is excellent—these are the same recipes, just flash-frozen for distribution.

Trader Joe's offers the best value on premium kringle: O&H Danish Bakery kringles for just $9.99—less than half the bakery price. The catch: they're seasonal and rotate flavors throughout the year. Pecan appears January-February, Raspberry March-June, Cheesecake June-August, Pumpkin Caramel September-October, and Almond late October-December. They sell out fast—call ahead. Milwaukee-area locations include Bayshore and Brookfield.

Aldi offers the absolute lowest price at $6.49-$6.99 for 14-ounce Racine Danish Kringles in Raspberry and Almond. However, these appear as seasonal "Aldi Finds" (typically December and sometimes Easter) and vanish quickly. The size is smaller than standard 22-ounce kringles, but the quality is authentic.

Sendik's Food Market carries Racine Danish Kringles across all 17 metro-area locations, including their own "Sendik's Turtle Kringle." Look for these in Whitefish Bay, Mequon, Wauwatosa, Brookfield, Grafton, and throughout the suburbs. Premium grocery pricing, but convenient for North Shore families.

Costco stocks Racine Danish Kringles year-round, often in multi-packs at competitive bulk pricing. Membership required. The Menomonee Falls location at W162N9235 Pershing Avenue is convenient for North Shore families.

Pick 'n Save reliably stocks frozen Racine Danish Kringles at over 100 Wisconsin locations—the most widely accessible option. Check the bakery or freezer section.

Meijer carries Racine Danish Kringles at Milwaukee-area stores including Greenfield, Wauwatosa, Oak Creek, Waukesha, Pewaukee, Grafton, and West Bend.

Woodman's offers warehouse pricing on Racine Danish Kringles. The Oak Creek location is 24-hour for late-night kringle emergencies.

Outpost Natural Foods stocks Larsen's kringle for families seeking natural food retailers.

Flavors from traditional to adventurous

Traditional Danish kringles featured almond paste, raisins, and currants. Modern Racine bakeries honor tradition while embracing Wisconsin creativity.

The all-time best-seller across every bakery is pecan—it's been the top flavor for over 75 years. Almond (the original Danish filling), raspberry, cherry, and apple round out the classics.

Wisconsin-themed innovations include the Wisconsin Kringle (Door County cherries, cranberries, cream cheese), Brandy Old Fashioned (honoring supper club culture), and Turtle (chocolate, caramel, pecans—referencing the ice cream sundae invented in Two Rivers, Wisconsin).

Seasonal and limited flavors create year-round excitement: Pumpkin Caramel in fall, Peppermint Brownie and Eggnog during holidays, Key Lime in summer. O&H occasionally releases specialty flavors like Tipsy Elf (whisky-infused) and Red, White & Blue for July 4th.

For dietary needs, O&H offers no-added-sugar kringles ($31.99) in Apple, Cherry, and Pecan. Larsen's specializes in vegan kringle—one of the only Racine bakeries offering this option.

How to store, serve, and enjoy kringle

Kringle keeps remarkably well. At room temperature, expect 5-7 days; refrigerated, 10-12 days; frozen, up to 6 months. For freezing, leave kringle in the original wax bakery bag—no additional wrapping needed.

Serving temperature is personal preference. Room temperature showcases the flaky layers best. To warm, place unwrapped on a cookie sheet at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or microwave 7-10 seconds (careful not to melt the icing). After freezing, thaw 6 hours at room temperature or 12 hours refrigerated.

Cut into 1-2 inch slices—a standard kringle yields 10-14 servings. Coffee is the traditional pairing, embodying the Danish concept of hygge (cozy togetherness).

Family fun facts and annual celebrations

Kids love learning that kringle started as a pretzel shape—medieval monks made pretzels with crossed arms to represent hands folded in prayer. The word comes from Old Norse kringla, meaning "ring," connecting modern treats to 1,000-year-old Viking language.

A single kringle contains up to 48 layers of buttery dough. During Christmas season, O&H Bakery produces around 7,000 kringles every single day. President Eisenhower declared kringle one of his favorite pastries after receiving a gift in 1956.

The annual Kris Kringle Tour in downtown Racine (December, typically mid-month) features over 30 businesses offering samples, with O&H providing complimentary kringle tastings. The free event runs 11am-2pm and includes Santa, holiday shopping, and window decorating competitions. It's the perfect family outing to experience Racine's Danish heritage.

Quick reference for North Shore families

Closest fresh kringle to the North Shore: O&H Danish Bakery, Oak Creek—9540 S. 27th Street. Fresh daily, drive-through, full café. About 25 minutes from Shorewood.

Best North Shore grocery options: Sendik's in Whitefish Bay and Mequon stock Racine Danish Kringles. Trader Joe's Bayshore has O&H for $9.99 seasonally.

Best value: Aldi ($6.49-$6.99 seasonally) and Trader Joe's ($9.99 seasonally).

Best for bakery experience: Drive to Bendtsen's in Racine for hand-rolled artisan kringle, or Lehmann's in Sturtevant for free tours.

Best for dietary restrictions: Larsen's for vegan options; O&H for no-added-sugar.

Best for road trips: O&H at Petro Travel Plaza, Sturtevant, right off I-94.

Ordering ahead: All major Racine bakeries accept phone orders. O&H: 1-800-709-4009. Bendtsen's: (262) 633-0365. Lehmann's: 800-607-8721.

Nationwide shipping: All major bakeries ship nationwide. Racine Danish Kringles offers $9.95 flat-rate shipping.

This flaky, layered pastry connects Milwaukee families to a tradition spanning centuries—from medieval monks to Danish immigrants to your breakfast table. Whether you're making the pilgrimage to Kringelville or grabbing a frozen kringle at Sendik's, you're participating in a uniquely Wisconsin tradition that earned its place as the official state pastry.