Who knew you could make homemade Wisconsin kringle so easily? You may have seen these tasty treats at Trader Joe's since they are an absolute favorite there. But you can also make them yourself, and it's pretty easy to learn.
My introduction to Kringle was through my sweet co-worker, Mary, whom I worked with in Nashville for many years. Mary was originally from Racine, Wisconsin, which I believe is where Danish immigrants originally popularized Kringle. Anyway, when Mary would travel back to Racine to visit relatives, she would bring back several Kringles for friends and family. I sure was glad we were friends!
Now I know Kringle is Wisconsin's state pastry. When it comes to flaky pastries, this Danish pastry with fruit or nut filling is my favorite treat with a great cup of coffee.
How To Make a Wisconsin Kringle
Wisconsin kringle is the perfect breakfast for New Year's Day. This delicious pastry can be made with the finest ingredients and baked to golden brown perfection. Start your day with an authentic kringle and coffee, or enjoy them as a brunch snack with the family.
Well, let me tell you, our family loves it. It takes some time to make because you have to let it chill for at least 5 hours, but it's worth the wait.
Also, this delicious pastry turns out better if you use margarine instead of butter, so keep that in mind if you decide to make it.
If you're eating gluten-free, you can make it with gluten-free flour and still enjoy this delicacy! See Gluten Free Wisconsin Kringle.
I know you're gonna wanna eat this. If you like the almond variety, you'll need some canned almond paste like this:
What You Need
For this recipe, you'll need just a few things:
- mixing bowls
- a food processor or electric mixer
- a rolling pin
- a baking sheet
- parchment paper or a silicone mat
- and some prepared filling, like almond paste
Do yourself a favor and buy the best tools you can afford.
Homemade Wisconsin Kringle Recipe
Ingredients:
Dough
- 2 cups flour
- 2 sticks margarine or butter
- 8 ounces sour cream
Filling
- 1 can Prepared filling of your choice Nut or fruit. I used canned almond paste, about 10 ounces, see note below.
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions:
Make, Chill, and Roll the Dough
-
Cut margarine and flour together with knives, food processor, etc. Add sour cream.
-
Chill at least 5 hours or overnight.
-
After chilling, divide the dough into three sections (for 3 Kringles) and roll each into a rectangle of about 22" x 9".
Fill the Dough
-
Spread filling down the center and fold the long sides in until they almost meet then fold the ends in.
Bake the Dough
-
Bake at 350F degrees for 20 to 30 minutes
-
Remove when it is golden brown, and it will be delicious.
Cool & Ice the Kringle
-
Make and add icing; drizzle it on.
Let Cool Completely
-
After icing the Kringle, let it cool completely and when the icing is hard, the Kringles are ready for eating or freezing.
Notes
Note About The Icing:
I use a random mix of powdered sugar, milk, and melted butter (the approximate amounts are listed in the ingredients). Sorry, I can't be more specific here: I just keep mixing until I get a nice consistency that streams off the fork to make pretty designs. If you have a favorite icing, by all means, do that.
Note About Butter/Margarine:
I've used both margarine and butter. I usually HATE using margarine, but I think the dough is too crispy and flaky with butter. Kringle should have a softness to it so I always go with margarine. And soy margarine doesn't taste as good as Imperial.
Notes About the Dough:
It is REALLY sticky. Flour your rolling pin and surface liberally and often. I have never made a round Kringle; the rectangles were just so much easier.
The dough will puff up while it bakes and the folds will separate, but don't worry about that. It's nice to see the filling in the middle.
Notes About the Filling:
I use pie filling from a can—Solo, Wilderness, whatever. Buy the pie-filling flavor that you love. One small can generally fills all three Kringles, but my family loves the filling, so I spread it thick and use two cans.
Once I made up my filling and that worked out great too. I mixed pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon together (use a recipe for a crumbly topping for any coffee cake).
Fruit And Nut Kringle Variations
In addition to the authentic Christmas Kringle recipe, you can also add your own variations. Some popular ones are:
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Raspberry Kringle - Pie filling and vanilla icing
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Pecan Kringle - Pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon
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Almond Kringle - An original flavor
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Apple-Cinnamon - Sweet cinnamon and spiced apples
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Cinnamon Roll - Flavorful cinnamon with a powdered sugar icing
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Turtle - Caramel, chocolate chips, and pecans, YUM
You can add brown sugar to your Danish pastry dough and white icing at the end when it's finished. You can also add any type of fresh berries you enjoy and even other flavors like chocolate or chocolate mint.
Once you learn the basic recipe, it's easy to experiment with flavors and try different things.
Wisconsin Kringle FAQs
Here are some things people commonly ask about these delicious flaky pastries.
How long do Kringle stay fresh?
Without freezing, they will stay fresh for about five days.
Can a Danish Kringle be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze your Kringle for up to four months. It's important to be sure it's sealed properly before freezing.
How do you eat a Kringle after freezing?
You can thaw and eat it at room temperature or heat it up if you prefer it that way.
More Baked Recipes You'll Love
Wisconsin Kringle Recipe
Author: Recipe Idea Shop
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 cups flour
- 2 sticks margarine or butter
- 8 ounces sour cream
Filling
- 1 can Prepared filling of your choice Nut or fruit. I used canned almond paste, about 10 ounces, see note below.
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions
Make, Chill, and Roll the Dough
- Cut margarine and flour together with knives, food processor, etc. Add sour cream.
- Chill at least 5 hours or overnight.
- After chilling, divide the dough into three sections (for 3 Kringles) and roll each into a rectangle of about 22" x 9".
Fill the Dough
- Spread filling down the center and fold the two sides of the long length until they almost meet then fold the ends in.
Bake the Dough
- Bake at 350F degrees for 20 to 30 minutes
- Remove when it is golden brown, and it will be delicious.
Cool & Ice the Kringle
- Make and add icing; drizzle it on.
Let Cool Completely
- After icing the Kringle, let it cool completely and when the icing is hard, the Kringles are ready for eating or freezing.
Notes
Kathy acquired the blog, Recipe Idea Shop in 2024. She was raised on a farm in Arkansas where having a big garden and good food to eat was the norm. She shares recipes for homemade comfort food and new trending dishes.
Kathy began her blogging journey in 2011 when she founded PetticoatJunktion.com, a home décor blog focused on repurposing and upcycling furniture, and thrift store finds.
