Racine Danish Kringles is a family run bakery located at 2529 Golf Avenue, on the North Side of Racine, Wisconsin, that specializes in Kringles. The bakery uses the tagline "It's not just a treat, it's a tradition." Kringles are made by hand and involve rolling butter between layers of Danish pastry dough in order to create a flaky crust. Originally shaped like a knotted pretzel, a typical Racine Kringle is formed into an oval. It can be filled with a variety of fruit, nut and candy flavor combinations before the pastry is baked.
Early history
The bakery opened in 1981 and primarily distributed Kringles through wholesale; supplying Kringles to grocery stores throughout the Midwest and DSD where fresh Kringles are delivered to nearby stores. Kringles were also available to local fundraising groups. In October 1988, Mike and Roylene Heyer officially purchased Racine Danish Kringles. At the time, the business was producing 400,000 Kringles annually and employed about eight people. An important step to growing the business was to build awareness of Kringles beyond Wisconsin borders. In 1994, Mike Heyer introduced his Kringles as a corporate gift at the Tomorrow's Products and Services Exhibit.
Today
Currently, the company continues with Direct Store Delivery to nearby grocery and specialty stores. Kringles are distributed wholesale throughout Wisconsin and nearby states including Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. The website kringle.com offers Kringles and Kringle Gift Packages to be purchased online. Racine Danish Kringles continues to offer Kringles as a fundraising product to any non-profit organizations as well as other items the bakery produces: Aunt Marie's Cheesecakes, Brownies, Cinnamon Buns, and Cookie Dough. Racine Danish Kringles is a Kosher certified bakery. Food Network Magazine's December 2013 Holiday Issue featured Racine Danish Kringles as the featured food gift from Wisconsin in their "50 States, 50 Food Gifts" article. The bakery accepts orders by mail, phone or fax. Kringles can be shipped anywhere in the United States within two days. Lawmakers designated Kringle as the official Wisconsin State Pastry on July 1, 2013. In keeping the kringle business as a family tradition, Mike Heyer passed the business over to his son Christopher Heyer who took over as President of Racine Danish Kringles in July 2012.
