About Those Kringles-- Part 2: Racine Is the "U.S. Kringle Capital"

Racine, Wisconsin,  has the title of  U.S. Kringle Capital.  They have four local bakeries who make kringles.  At both Bendtsen's and Larsen's, pecan is the most popular flavor.  Every fall, O&H brigs out their pumpkin caramel kringle.  At Lehmann's, customers can special order one stuffed with peanut butter and jelly.

Bendtsen's opened in 1934 and can make up to 2,000 kringles a day.  Back when they opened, Laurits Bendtsen baked just two every morning.  A $9 to $11 kringle will serve 10-12 people.

At Larsen's, up the block, pecan, cherry and raspberry are probably the top flavors, followed by almond and apple.  They even have a bourbon and pecan kringle laced with Maker's Mark straight out of the bottle.  They bake batches for the Kentucky Derby each year.  Their peanut butter and jelly kringle weighs in at nearly four pounds, nearly twice the normal weight of a kringle.

--RoadDog