Nothing makes us swoon like a bunch of good looking Danish guys in white baker’s garb, aprons lightly dusted with cinnamon—especially if they’re making something as buttery-delicious as kringle. The handsome Olesons of O & H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin have been turning out fantastic pastry for over 60 years, and their melt-in-your mouth kringle is the perfect treat to surprise your friends and relatives with this holiday season.
Austrians who went to Denmark to work during a bakers’ strike in the late 1800’s taught Danish bakers how to layer yeast dough with butter, and the kringle was born. Danish immigrants brought kringle to the wilds of Wisconsin, and Danish-American bakers have been working their kringle magic ever since. Kringle is the Danish word for pretzel, the original shape of the pastry. To simplify production and ensure that every kringle eater got an equal share of icing and filling, bakers changed the shape to an oval, but in Denmark and in Racine, bakers still use the pretzel as a symbol to identify their shops.
Four generations of Olesons have made kringle at O & H Danish Bakery, which has been repeatedly voted Racine’s best. In one week during the holidays they may make over 12,000 kringles. Though they also sell coffeecakes and other more lavish dessert items, kringle is the headliner for a reason. Intensely buttery with a pleasing saltiness, filled with delights from cranberry to pumpkin and caramel, this treat pleases for breakfast, coffee breaks and dessert alike. Of course, it probably won’t last past breakfast! Our favorite is the cream cheese, which is silky smooth and not too sweet. You can also send a selection of their most popular flavors: raspberry, pecan and cream cheese, packaged in a beautiful holiday box, complete with freezing and reheating instructions on the very sturdy storage bag. Send O & H treats this holiday season and you will be loved as much as Kris Kringle!
