{{short description|Type of pretzel}} {{About|the pastry|the Christmas character|Kris Kringle (disambiguation)|the protein domain|Kringle domain}} {{Infobox prepared food | name = Kringle | image = Kringle 2.JPG | image_size = 220px | caption = Kringle | alternate_name = | country = | region = Scandinavia | creator = | course = | type = Pastry | served = | main_ingredient = | variations = | calories = | other = }}
'''Kringle''' is a Northern European pastry or bread, a variety of pretzel that may be sweet, salty or filled, in a characteristic pretzel-like twisted shape.
In Danish and Norwegian, the word is {{lang|no|kringle}} and {{langx|sv|kringla}}. [[File:Viipurinrinkeli22.jpg|thumb|The Vyborg Kringle (''Viipurinrinkeli'')]]
== Scandinavia ==
Pretzels were introduced by Roman Catholic monks in the 13th century in Denmark, and from there they spread throughout Scandinavia and evolved into their many forms.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
The word originates from the Old Norse {{lang|non|kringla}}, meaning ring or circle.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
=== Denmark === In Denmark, ''kringle'' denotes the pretzel-like knotted shape rather than the pretzel pastry type. ''Kringler'' (the plural of ''kringle'') may be made from puff pastry or yeast dough, filled with remonce or marzipan and raisins, sprinkled with coarse sugar, nut flakes or icing.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Danish Kringle Is a Cozy Sweet Treat That Begs to Be Served with Coffee |url=https://www.simplyrecipes.com/danish-kringle-recipe-5209305 |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Simply Recipes |language=en}}</ref> Other types of kringles in Denmark include ''saltkringler'', which are small salty ''kringler'' — the Scandinavian equivalent of pretzels — and ''kommenskringler'', which are half-hand-sized breads in the kringle shape, made from unsweetened yeast dough spiced with caraway seeds. ''Sukkerkringler'' are similar, but sweet pretzels, sprinkled with sugar instead of caraway.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-26 |title=Sukkerkringler – Sugar Pretzels |url=https://mydanishkitchen.com/2012/11/26/sukkerkringler-sugar-pretzels/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=My Danish Kitchen |language=en}}</ref> ''Fødselsdagskringler'' are a large sweet pretzel for birthday celebrations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mastercook.com/app/Recipe/WebRecipeDetails?recipeId=20740962|title=Fødselsdagskringle - Birthday Kringle - Sons of Norway}}</ref> ''Smørkringler'' are large crusty and sweet pretzels with a spread of butter on the backside. ''Smørkringler'' are not as popular nowadays.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kbh-bagerlaug.dk/Om-lauget/Finurligheder.aspx|title=Finurligheder [Curiosities]|publisher=Københavns Bagerlaug|language=da|access-date=24 April 2015}} Official homepage of the Baker's Guild of Copenhagen.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://samling.nasjonalmuseet.no/no/object/NMK.2010.0071|title=Pike med vogn og smørkringle|publisher=Nasjonalmuseet|author=Frithjof Smith-Hald|language=no|date=1887|access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
''Kringle'' has a long history in Denmark and is still a popular item in modern Danish bakeries. Nowadays, kringles are usually made with only one crossing and not two, as in the original kringle and pretzel shape.<ref name="CopBG">{{cite web|url=http://www.kbh-bagerlaug.dk/Om-lauget.aspx|title=The history of Copenhagens Baker's Guild|publisher=Københavns Bagerlaug|language=da|access-date=24 April 2015}} Official homepage of the Baker's Guild of Copenhagen.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scandinavian Foods |url=https://www.scandinavian-south.com/foods.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=www.scandinavian-south.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kringle: The Nordic Pretzel |url=https://sunnygandara.com/kringle-the-nordic-pretzel/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Sunny Gandara |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Norway === In Norway, ''kringle'' or ''kringla'' often refers to yeasted, ring‑shaped pastries, sometimes filled with cinnamon sugar, almonds, cream, or jam. A common shape is a wreath made of connected cinnamon buns, similar to an almond kringle or ''klippekrans'' in Norwegian baking tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Silvia |date=2024-02-06 |title=Norwegian Almond Kringle |url=https://scandinaviancookbook.com/norwegian-almond-kringle/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Scandinavian Cookbook |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scandinavian Today Cooking Show |url=https://scandinavtoday.blogspot.com/2015/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=scandinavtoday.blogspot.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-02 |title=Why Are Kringles Called Kringles? Unraveling the History of this Delicious Pastry - HomeAndKitchenBlog |url=https://homeandkitchenblog.com/why-are-kringles-called-kringles/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Sweden === In Sweden, ''kringla'' (plural ''kringlor'') refers to small, pretzel‑shaped sweet or bread‑like pastries typically served with coffee (''fika'').<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-14 |title=Day 7 … Swedish Kringla |url=https://stresscake.wordpress.com/2015/12/14/day-7-swedish-kringla/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=STRESSCAKE |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-29 |title=Rye Kringlor from Småland |url=https://foodyoucaneatblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/29/rye-kringlor-from-smaland/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=FOOD YOU CAN EAT |language=en}}</ref> One well‑known variant is the ''sockerkringla'', a sugar‑twisted soft bun made from enriched yeast dough infused with cardamom, dipped in melted sugar and also often enjoyed during Swedish ''fika'', especially around holiday seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tolone |first=Cecilia |date=2023-04-14 |title=Sockerkringlor |url=https://ceciliatolone.com/sockerkringlor/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Cecilia Tolone |language=en-US}}</ref> Bakers in Södertälje and Arboga are noted for local specialties such as ''Södertäljekringlan'', a coffee‑served kringla that helped earn Södertälje the nickname “pretzel city”.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} Another variation, ''choklad‑kringlor'', are chocolate‑flavoured, nut‑topped kringles, once so ubiquitous that old‑style bakeries would hang a kringle sign outside in Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chocolate kringles (Choklad kringlor) |url=https://www.swedishfood.com/swedish-food-recipes-biscuits-cakes/381-chocolate-kringles |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=www.swedishfood.com}}</ref>
== Estonia == An Estonian {{lang|et|kringel}}{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} or {{lang|et|kringle}} is traditionally braided.<ref>{{Cite web |last=megyod |date=2016-09-28 |title=Estonia: Estonian Kringle |url=https://bakingaround.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/estonia-estonian-kringle/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Baking Around |language=en}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=May 2026 |reason=The source does not say that explicitly. All it says is: "This is a kind of braided bread".}}{{Better source needed|date=May 2026 |reason=The author says "this is a country I knew next to nothing about" before researching it. It would be better to use their sources.}}
==United States== [[File:Kringle.jpeg|thumb|right|Kringle from Racine, Wisconsin]] In the United States, kringles are hand-rolled from Danish pastry dough ({{lang|da|wienerbrød}} dough) that has been rested overnight before shaping, filling, and baking.<ref name="whatscookingamerica/kringle">{{cite web |last1=Stradley |first1=Linda |title=Danish Kringle History and Recipe |url=https://whatscookingamerica.net/bread/kringle.htm |website=What's Cooking America |access-date=10 March 2023 |date=3 May 2015}}</ref> Many sheets of the flaky dough are layered, then shaped into an oval. After filling with fruit, nut, or other flavor combinations, the pastry is baked and iced.<ref name="nyt">Marialisa Calta. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=950DE7DC123AF93AA35754C0A96F948260 "Fare of the country: Wisconsin, Danish Pastry With a Classic Twist"]. ''The New York Times'', July 9, 1989.</ref>
Racine, Wisconsin, has historically<ref name="shepherdexpress/kringle-official">{{cite news |last1=Julson |first1=Sheila |title=Kringle is Wisconsin's Official State Pastry |url=https://shepherdexpress.com/food/eat-drink/kringle-is-wisconsin-s-official-state-pastry/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=Shepherd Express |date=18 December 2018 |language=en-us}}</ref> been a center of Danish-American culture and kringle-making.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olesen's Family Bakery |url=https://www.olesensfamilybakery.com/ |website=olesens family bakery .com |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="wisn42350455">{{cite news |last1=Jordan |first1=Gerron |title=Go inside O&H Danish Bakery where kringle is made |url=https://www.wisn.com/article/go-inside-o-h-danish-bakery-where-kringle-is-made/42350455 |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=WISN-TV |date=28 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="biztimes/racine-kringle-battle">{{cite news |last1=McCombs |first1=Steven |title=Independent attorneys state opinions on Racine kringle battle |url=https://biztimes.com/independent-attorneys-state-opinions-on-racine-kringle-battle/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News |date=27 April 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930004448/https://biztimes.com/independent-attorneys-state-opinions-on-racine-kringle-battle/ |archive-date=30 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia-Ethnicity">{{cite book |last1=Schaefer |first1=Richard T. |title=Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society |date=20 March 2008 |publisher=SAGE |isbn=978-1-4129-2694-2 |page=423 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMUola6pDnkC&dq=Racine+Wisconsin+kringle&pg=PT423 |access-date=10 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Where to Get: Kringle |url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/where-to-get-kringle/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=Milwaukee Magazine |date=29 March 2019}}</ref> A typical Racine-made kringle is a large, flat oval measuring approximately 14 inches by 10 inches (35 cm by 25 cm) and weighing about 1.5 lb (680 g).<ref>{{cite web |title=It's Kringle Time At Aldi, And We Don't Mean Santa |url=https://www.aisleofshame.com/aldi-kringle/ |website=Aisle of Shame .com |access-date=10 March 2023 |date=14 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Trader Joe's Pastry That Makes Me Feel Like a Kid on Christmas Day |url=https://www.thekitchn.com/trader-joes-kringle-review-23256207 |website=Kitchn |access-date=10 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=9th Annual Customer Choice Awards Winners |url=https://www.traderjoes.com/digin/Post/Post/9th-customer-choice-winners |website=Trader Joe's |access-date=10 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921112308/https://www.traderjoes.com/digin/Post/Post/9th-customer-choice-winners |archive-date=21 September 2018 |date=2018}}</ref><ref name="nyt"/> The kringle became the official state pastry of Wisconsin on June 30, 2013.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141129215909/http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/213832791.html "Kringle becomes Wisconsin state pastry"]. ''WTMJ'', July 1, 2013. Accessed July 26, 2013.</ref> Today, several of the original family-owned bakeries established in the 1930s and 1940s that continue the tradition of making kringles include Lehmann’s, Bendtsen’s, and O&H Danish Bakery.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gopal |first=Trisha |date=December 12, 2024 |title=How the Kringle Became a Wisconsin Christmas Classic |url=https://www.eater.com/24308939/kringle-trader-joes-wisconsin-history-o-and-h-bakery |access-date=November 11, 2025 |website=Eater}}</ref> A Wisconsin distillery in Middleton, Wisconsin, makes a kringle-flavored cream liqueur from Wisconsin cream, rum, sugar, and natural kringle flavor.<ref>[http://drinkwire.liquor.com/post/gsn-review-kringle-cream "GSN Review: Kringle Cream"] December 29, 2013.</ref>
In other parts of the United States, kringle may refer to a slightly sweet buttermilk cookie shaped like a pretzel or figure eight.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dedman|first=Sherry|title=Kringla Danish Kringle Recipe|url=http://oldrecipeblog.com/2009/10/kringla-danish-kringle-recipe/|work=Old Recipe Blog|access-date=17 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127002524/http://oldrecipeblog.com/2009/10/kringla-danish-kringle-recipe/|archive-date=27 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Other places where kringles may be found in the United States include the Ballard area of Seattle, Washington; Redmond, Washington; Solvang, California; Story City, Iowa; Burr Ridge, Illinois; Springfield, Missouri, and Watertown, Massachusetts.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} In 2005, Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, held a Kringle Kontest, which was won by Kirsten's Danish Bakery of Burr Ridge, Illinois.
=== Almond kringler === The '''almond kringler''', also known as '''Swedish kringler''', '''Norwegian kringler''', and '''almond puff''', is a variation of kringle popular in Minnesota. It is made with a buttery shortcrust, almond filling, and either an almond glaze or buttercream topping. Optionally, it can be topped with shaved almonds or chopped pecans. Its shape is also unique, often a rectangular or oval shape, and never a ring. This dish appeared in the 1940s, and despite the name was likely invented in the Upper Midwest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-04-06 |title=Almond Kringler Recipe |url=https://www.cheaprecipeblog.com/2012/04/almond-kringler-recipe-2/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Swedish Kringler or Almond Puff |url=https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/other-dessert/swedish-kringler-or-almond-puff.html |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Just A Pinch Recipes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zanotti |first=Fanny |date=2025-05-31 |title=The Swedish kringle that wasn’t |url=https://fannyzanotti.substack.com/p/the-swedish-kringle |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=The bakers' cottage}}</ref>
== Netherlands == In the Netherlands, a particular type of sweet kringle is well known under the Dutch name {{lang|nl|krakeling}}.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
== Symbolism == [[File:Ribe - Bäckereizeichen.jpg|thumb|upright|In Denmark, the official ''kringle'' emblem of the baker's guild is topped with a royal crown. Seen at a modern bakery shop in Ribe.]] {{See also|Pretzel#Emblem of the Bakers' Guild}} Baker's guilds in Europe have used the kringle or pretzel as a symbol for centuries. It is told (though currently unconfirmed by historic documents), that when Vienna was besieged by the Turkish Ottoman armies in 1529, local bakers working in the night gave the city defence an early warning of the attacking enemy. For this, they were later rewarded by the Pope with permission to use a crown as part of their kringle guild symbol.
The guild in Denmark is now the only baker's guild in the world with official authority to display a royal crown as part of their baker's guild trade symbol that is often hung outside of bakery shops.<ref name=CopBG/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bkd.dk/Default.aspx?ID=761&M=News&PID=2406&NewsID=666|title=Med krone på [wearing a crown]|publisher=Bager og Konditormestre i Danmark|language=da|access-date=April 24, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Official homepage of the association of Bakers and Confectioners in Denmark.</ref>
==See also== * Danish cuisine * Estonian cuisine * King cake * Norwegian cuisine * {{portal-inline|Food}} * Kringle domain – An entangled feature found in some proteins, {{Citation needed span|named after the pastry|date=May 2026}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==Further reading== *{{Cite news |first=Drew |last=Dawson |title=How did kringle become so big in Wisconsin — and why is it nearly unique to our state? |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/food/2023/12/19/what-is-kringle-and-why-is-it-a-wisconsin-thing/71804254007/ |date=2023-12-19 |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US |url-access=subscription}}
== External links == *[https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-make-danish-kringle-recipe/ Racine Kringle Recipe] – ''Taste of Home'' *[https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/kringle-recipe0-1941189 Racine Kringle Recipe] – Food Network
{{commons category|Kringle}}
{{Ring and knot-shaped breads}} {{pastries}}
Category:Danish pastries Category:Estonian cuisine Category:Norwegian cuisine Category:Cuisine of Wisconsin Category:Cuisine of the Midwestern United States Category:Pretzels