Kringle
A Northern European pastry in a pretzel-like twisted shape.
Kringle is a Northern European pastry or bread, belonging to the pretzel family. It can be sweet, salty, or filled, and is defined by its twisted, pretzel-like shape. The term comes from the Old Norse *kringla*, meaning ring or circle. In Danish and Norwegian it is *kringle*, while in Swedish it is *kringla*.
The pretzel was brought to Denmark by Roman Catholic monks in the 13th century. From there, it spread across Scandinavia and developed into many local varieties.
In Denmark, *kringle* refers to the knotted shape rather than a specific pastry type. Danish *kringler* can be made from puff pastry or yeast dough, filled with remonce, marzipan, and raisins, and topped with coarse sugar, nuts, or icing. Other Danish types include *saltkringler* (small, salty versions like Scandinavian pretzels), *kommenskringler* (half-hand-sized, caraway-spiced breads), *sukkerkringler* (sweet, sugar-sprinkled pretzels), *fødselsdagskringler* (large sweet pretzels for birthdays), and *smørkringler* (large, crusty sweet pretzels with butter on the back, now less common). Kringle remains popular in Danish bakeries, though modern versions usually have only one crossing instead of two.
In Norway, *kringle* or *kringla* often refers to yeasted, ring-shaped pastries filled with cinnamon sugar, almonds, cream, or jam. A common shape is a wreath of connected cinnamon buns, similar to an almond kringle or *klippekrans*.
In Sweden, *kringla* (plural *kringlor*) are small, pretzel-shaped sweet or bread-like pastries served with coffee (*fika*). The *sockerkringla* is a sugar-twisted soft bun made from cardamom-infused yeast dough, dipped in melted sugar, and popular during holidays. Local specialties include *Södertäljekringlan* (a coffee pastry that earned Södertälje the nickname “pretzel city”) and *choklad-kringlor* (chocolate-flavored, nut-topped pastries, once so common that bakeries hung a kringle sign outside).
An Estonian *kringel* or *kringle* is traditionally braided.
In the United States, kringles are made from Danish pastry dough (*wienerbrød*) that rests overnight before being layered, shaped into an oval, filled with fruit or nuts, baked, and iced. Racine, Wisconsin, a historic center of Danish-American culture, produces large, flat ovals about 14 by 10 inches and 1.5 pounds. Wisconsin made the kringle its official state pastry in 2013. Family-owned bakeries from th
- Origin
- Northern Europe (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia)
- First introduced
- 13th century in Denmark by Roman Catholic monks
- Etymology
- Old Norse kringla, meaning ring or circle
- Variants
- Sweet, salty, filled; puff pastry or yeast dough; various shapes and toppings
- Notable region
- Racine, Wisconsin, United States (official state pastry of Wisconsin since June 30, 2013)
Lore & Background
In the United States, kringles are hand-rolled from Danish pastry dough that has been rested overnight. Racine, Wisconsin, has historically been a center of Danish-American culture and kringle-making. A typical Racine-made kringle is a large, flat oval measuring approximately 14 inches by 10 inches and weighing about 1.5 lb. The kringle became the official state pastry of Wisconsin on June 30, 2013. Bakeries established in the 1930s and 1940s that continue the tradition include Lehmann’s, Bendtsen’s, and O&H Danish Bakery. A Wisconsin distillery makes a kringle-flavored cream liqueur. The almond kringler, also known as Swedish kringler, Norwegian kringler, and almond puff, is a variation popular in Minnesota, made with buttery shortcrust and almond filling, appearing in the 1940s.
Reader's Guide
Kringle holds significance as a versatile pastry that has evolved across Northern Europe and the United States, reflecting cultural adaptations and local traditions. Its introduction by Roman Catholic monks in 13th-century Denmark marks the beginning of a culinary lineage that spread throughout Scandinavia, resulting in diverse forms—from Danish filled pastries to Norwegian ring-shaped treats and Swedish coffee accompaniments. The pastry's symbolic role is notable: baker's guilds in Europe have used the kringle or pretzel as a symbol for centuries, and the Danish baker's guild is the only one in the world with official authority to display a royal crown as part of its trade symbol. In the United States, particularly in Racine, Wisconsin, kringle became a hallmark of Danish-American heritage, culminating in its designation as the official state pastry of Wisconsin in 2013. The almond kringler, popular in Minnesota, illustrates further regional innovation. Kringle's legacy endures in modern bakeries and in cultural events such as the Kringle Kontest held at Dana College in Nebraska in 2005. Its presence in places like Seattle, Solvang, and Story City underscores its continued relevance as a symbol of Scandinavian culinary tradition.
Did You Know?
- The word kringle originates from the Old Norse kringla, meaning ring or circle.
- In Denmark, kringle denotes the pretzel-like knotted shape rather than the pastry type.
- The kringle became the official state pastry of Wisconsin on June 30, 2013.
- A Wisconsin distillery in Middleton, Wisconsin, makes a kringle-flavored cream liqueur.
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