Kringle is the official state pastry of Wisconsin, and once you understand how good the real thing can be, road trips start to look a lot more delicious. This flaky, oval-shaped Danish pastry is filled with fruit, nuts, or almond paste and finished with a light icing.
While Racine gets most of the fame, plenty of smaller towns across the state turn out kringle that keeps regulars coming back week after week. If you love baked goods and a good drive, this list is for you.
Below are nine Wisconsin bakeries where kringle is treated as a craft, not just a menu item. Some have been baking for generations, others put creative spins on the classic.
Grab your car keys and maybe a cooler, because these stops are the kind you plan a whole day around.
1. O and H Danish Bakery, Racine, WI
Any conversation about Wisconsin kringle starts in Racine, and O and H Danish Bakery is a big reason why. The business has been run by the Olesen family across multiple generations, keeping Danish baking traditions alive in a town known for its Danish heritage.
What sets O and H apart is the sheer variety. You will find classic flavors like almond, pecan, and raspberry alongside seasonal and specialty options that rotate through the year.
The dough is layered over several days, which gives the pastry its light, flaky texture. That slow process is part of why the kringle here has such a loyal following.
Racine sits along Lake Michigan in the southeastern corner of the state, making it an easy stop if you are traveling between Milwaukee and Chicago. The bakery ships nationwide, but picking one up fresh is a different experience.
If you only make one kringle pilgrimage, this is a strong place to begin.
2. Bendtsen’s Bakery, Racine, WI
Just down the road from its better-known neighbor, Bendtsen’s Bakery has been quietly turning out kringle since the early 1900s. It is one of the oldest kringle bakeries still operating in Racine, and it keeps things refreshingly traditional.
The shop leans into the classics. Pecan, almond, and fruit-filled kringles are the stars, made with the same layered dough method that defines authentic Danish baking.
Regulars appreciate that Bendtsen’s has stayed small and focused rather than expanding into a big commercial operation. That old-school approach is part of the charm.
If you want to taste the difference between two historic Racine bakeries, buy a kringle here and one at O and H, then compare them side by side. It makes for a fun and tasty afternoon in a town that takes its pastry seriously.
3. Larsen Bakery, Racine, WI
Racine really is the kringle capital, and Larsen Bakery rounds out the trio of longtime Danish shops in town. Family owned and rooted in Danish baking tradition, it has served the community for decades.
Beyond kringle, Larsen offers a full range of Danish pastries, cookies, and breads, so it works well if you want to fill a box with more than one treat. The kringle itself sticks to the flaky, filled style Racine is famous for.
Because the three historic bakeries sit within a short drive of each other, you can plan a self-guided kringle tour of Racine in a single morning. Larsen fits naturally into that route.
I like this stop for anyone who wants the full Danish bakery experience, not just the signature pastry. It is a genuine slice of the town’s heritage.
4. Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe, Green Bay, WI
Head north toward Packers country and you will find Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe, a family-run operation in the Green Bay area with a strong reputation for kringle. It has become a favorite stop for people traveling through the northeastern part of the state.
The bakery keeps a rotating lineup of kringle flavors, from fruit fillings to richer options like almond and specialty combinations. There is usually something new to try alongside the standbys.
Beyond kringle, the shop turns out cakes, cookies, and other baked goods, which makes it a practical stop when you need to feed a crowd or grab a gift.
For road trippers, Green Bay is an easy destination, especially on a game weekend. Picking up a kringle here is a nice way to bring a little of Wisconsin home.
5. Racine Danish Kringles, Racine, WI
With more than three dozen kringle varieties, Racine Danish Kringles gives you options that go far beyond the basics. The bakery specializes almost entirely in kringle, which shows in the care and range it offers.
Flavors run the full spectrum, from traditional pecan and almond to fruit fillings and dessert-inspired combinations. If you have ever wanted to taste-test your way through a long list, this is the place.
The dough follows the classic multi-day layering process, so the pastry stays true to Danish tradition even with all the modern flavor experiments.
Shipping is a big part of the business, but visiting in person lets you browse the full selection at once. For anyone who wants variety over anything else, this stop delivers.
6. Lehmann’s Bakery, Racine, WI
Family baking traditions run deep at Lehmann’s Bakery, another longtime Racine spot that has served the community for generations. It blends kringle with a wider menu of everyday baked goods.
The kringle here follows the flaky, filled style the town is known for, with familiar fruit and nut options. It pairs well with the bakery’s breads, rolls, and pastries.
What makes Lehmann’s useful is its role as a neighborhood bakery. You can grab a kringle and stock up on other treats in one trip.
For visitors building a Racine baking tour, adding Lehmann’s gives you a fuller picture of the town’s pastry scene beyond the three most famous Danish shops.
7. Wilkens-Bergmann Bakery, Racine, WI
Not every great kringle bakery is a household name, and Wilkens-Bergmann is one of Racine’s neighborhood favorites that flies a little under the radar. It keeps the focus on traditional baking done well.
The bakery offers kringle alongside a range of classic pastries and baked goods, giving it a local, everyday feel rather than a tourist-driven one.
Because Racine has so many kringle makers, smaller shops like this one give you a chance to taste the pastry the way locals actually buy it. That is part of the appeal.
I would save this one for travelers who want to skip the busiest stops and see a quieter side of the kringle capital.
8. Cravings Bakery, Sturtevant, WI
Right next to Racine in the village of Sturtevant, Cravings Bakery keeps the local kringle tradition going just outside the city limits. It is an easy add-on if you are already touring the area.
The bakery turns out kringle in the classic Danish style, along with a selection of other baked treats for anyone who wants variety.
Its location in a smaller village gives it a more relaxed, community-bakery vibe compared to the busier Racine shops.
For a road trip, Sturtevant sits conveniently along the I-94 corridor, so you can swing through without going far out of your way. It rounds out a southeastern Wisconsin kringle run nicely.
9. O and H Danish Bakery, Sturtevant, WI
To wrap up the list, it is worth knowing that O and H Danish Bakery operates more than one location, including a spot in Sturtevant near Racine. If the main shop is crowded, this gives you another way to get the same beloved kringle.
The menu carries the same layered, multi-day dough and the wide flavor lineup the family is known for, from almond and pecan to seasonal fillings.
Having a second location makes it easier to fit a stop into your route, especially if you are passing through on the interstate.
For a satisfying finish to a kringle road trip, this bakery ties everything together. Between all nine stops on this list, you could plan a full day of pastry hunting across southeastern Wisconsin and beyond, and come home with a car that is a whole lot sweeter than when you left.
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