Sunday, December 1, 2013

I’m Dreaming of a Kringle

Ah, kringles. That rich, buttery, light and flaky pastry unknown to me until I spent some time in the State of Wisconsin.
Credit: what'scookingamerica.net
The South may be known for its Peach Cobbler Pie, Banana Pudding or Lane Cake, but when you’re in Wisconsin you eat kringles.

So what the heck IS a Kringle, anyway?

Credit: Racine Danish Kringle
A type of Danish pastry which is specially worked and kneaded so that it becomes light, flaky, and very rich, it is almost like French puff pastry, which is then filled with a nut or fruit filling.

They were first introduced to Racine, Wisconsin in the late 1800s by immigrant Danish bakers. In Denmark, they are traditionally pretzel-shaped, almond-filled coffee cakes called Wienerbroth (Viennese bread).



At one time Racine was home to more Danes than anywhere else in the country and as a result there are more kringle shops in Racine than you'll find anywhere else in the U.S.

The Kringle became the Official State Pastry of Wisconsin on June 30, 2013. Racine has historically been a center of Danish-American culture and kringle making, both an important part of Racine's cultural identity.

While traditionally round, kringles are sometimes formed into a rectangle shape.
Credit: Huffington Post
A typical Racine–made kringle is a large flat oval measuring approximately 14 inches by 10 inches and weighs about 1.5 pounds.

Credit: Food Network
If you want to order kringles Racine Danish Kringles has a cyberMonday special (three for the price of two). Or if you want to make your own, find a less complicated version at What's Cooking America. This version doesn't 
require the tedious process of rolling out layers of butter and dough but the result is similar and very, very good (in fact fantastic).

Here’s a little joke I found (whether true or not…who knows; cute though!)

Lars Larson, was on his deathbed in an upstairs bedroom. His doctor had said Lars would last for only a matter of hours. Lars woke from a deep sleep and sniffed. His wife must have just returned from the bakery, and the aroma of freshly baked kringles bought a spark to Lars. He whispered, "If I could just have a taste of kringle before I die, it would make my dying sweeter."

He mustered every ounce of strength and got out of bed. Slowly he made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. there he spied two kringles on the counter. Just as he was reaching out to take a piece, his wife swatted his hand away. "Stop that," she said. "We're saving these for the funeral."

Have you eaten kringles? Are you tempted to make one?



























 [S1]

16 comments:

  1. That is my sister's favorite pastry. She says there is no description that really does it justice - you just need to eat it. But since she loves it so much that she never shares, I have yet to have a piece. Nice to find a recipe for it.

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    1. Well, your sister needs to share with you! I haven't had it in ages but this just may be the year I make the recipe since I have no plans to be in Wisconsin!

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  2. I have never heard of the Kringle, but it certainly looks and sounds delicious, and great for a snowy Christmas. That is a very cute and funny joke, Sanda. I don't think I'll try the recipe, only because I could not trust myself not to eat the whole lot!

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    1. Very similar to Danish pastry but the dough is more like puff pastry. Oh so good....and rich. I thought the joke was hilarious!

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  3. Hello Sanda

    I have had Kringle and it is delicious. I don't know if I have the patience to bake it.

    Hope you have a great week

    Helenxx

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  4. poor Lars..He possibly died from fright and never tasted the Kringle.
    We have a cake very similiar here in Portugal..puff puff.. pastry..
    very similar to the Kringle. A great post Sanda.
    brought a smile to my face..
    have a great day..and thank you for your comments on my last post.. I am hopefully on the path again to blogging..
    val x x

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    1. I felt sorry for him :-{ Your pastry there may be the very same thing; different places, different names. Wishing you a good week and many blog posts!

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  5. Great story about Lars. There was a Danish bakery (Neldams) near where I worked that sold these - I liked the nut filled one, something with almonds. I don't recall them calling it Kringle. I think they just called it an Almond Ring or something like that. Really delicious though.

    Darla

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    1. The nut filled ones are my favorites as well: pecan or almond. Is the bakery still there? If so, rush out and get one now! Like you say, really delicious.

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  6. Smiling about Lars, maybe the poor fellow lived on for a few years to repeat the saying!!.
    Have never heard of a Kringle,just about to have my morning coffee one would be delicious with it.

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    1. Am sure it isn't a true story (at least I hope not!) Why must it be that everything that tastes so good is so BAD for us? Morning coffee plus Kingle equals heaven.

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  7. Not sure about " Kringles ", but in the past, Viennese bread were one of the few sweet somethings we could buy over here at a cafe, store.
    They are loaded with calories, so I´m not tempted to order one these days!

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    1. Your Viennese bread must be the same as our Kringle. True, loaded with calories and stuff bad for you, but OK once in a while as an indulgence. In small amounts, of course.

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  8. Oh! Terrible joke! I've never met a Kringle before - they look and sound a bit like baklava, which is heaven. But then, I don't know what Lane Cake is either... Just read about it on Wikipedia. Love sponge cake and bourbon sounds OK, but not sure about candied fruit. I'd be more like to love the Kringle!

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    1. Not very much like baklava; not quite as sweet and no honey in the recipe. Oh, the Lane Cake is one splendid cake. No candied fruit in my version; raisins and nuts and EIGHT eggs. I just might have to do a blog post on the revered Lane Cake soon!

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