Bendtsen's Bakery

Introduction / Overview

For generations of Wisconsin residents, particularly those in the Southeast region, **Bendtsen's Bakery** in Racine is synonymous with a singular, beloved pastry: the **Danish Kringle**. Declared Wisconsin's official State Pastry in 2013, Kringle is the heart of Racine's Danish heritage, and Bendtsen's is celebrated as one of the original and longest-running makers in the city. Since its founding in 1934 by Laurits Bendt Bendtsen, a Danish immigrant, this bakery has steadfastly maintained the tradition of crafting this flaky, buttery oval by hand.

Bendtsen’s commitment to quality is what distinguishes it in Kringle Country. While many competitors have scaled up production using machinery, this four-generation, family-owned bakery still **hand-rolls every one of the 36 layers** of their delicate Kringle dough. This labor of love, which can take up to three days per pastry, is what customers say gives their product an unparalleled taste and texture. They are so dedicated to this tradition that during the bustling holiday season, bakers start before midnight to produce up to 2,000 Kringles a day to meet the immense demand from local, national, and even international customers.

Beyond the famous Kringle, which comes in over 30 flavors ranging from the best-selling Pecan and Almond to seasonal specialties, Bendtsen's offers a full array of traditional bakery delights. The general consensus among locals is that the quality, the use of real butter, and the time-honored techniques truly make a difference in every bite, cementing its status as a must-visit local institution in Racine, WI.

Location and Accessibility

Bendtsen's Bakery is conveniently located in Racine, WI, making it an accessible stop for locals and a perfect destination for those traveling to experience Wisconsin's official State Pastry. The exact address is:

3200 Washington Ave, Racine, WI 53405, USA

Situated on Washington Avenue, a major road, the bakery is easy to find and built for a **Quick visit**. For the convenience and comfort of all Wisconsin patrons, the bakery offers strong accessibility and payment options:

• Accessibility: The location features a **Wheelchair accessible entrance** and a **Wheelchair accessible parking lot**, ensuring that everyone can easily come in and enjoy their handmade treats.
• Parking: Customers should note that parking is available via **Paid street parking** in the immediate vicinity.
• Payment Convenience: They accept modern payment methods, including **Credit cards**, **Debit cards**, and **NFC mobile payments**, facilitating a fast and efficient transaction.

Services Offered

Bendtsen's Bakery provides a specialized range of services centered around their flagship pastry and traditional baking:

• Authentic Hand-Rolled Kringle: The core offering, featuring the 36-layer, oval-shaped Danish pastry made with a four-generation family recipe. Available in over 30 flavors, including perennial favorites like Pecan, Almond, Raspberry, and Cherry.
• Comprehensive In-Store Baking: Daily production of a wide variety of baked goods beyond Kringle, including **cookies**, **cakes**, **muffins**, **donuts**, **sweet rolls**, **cinnamon rolls**, **bread**, **buns**, and specialty items like **Seven Sisters** and **Elephant Ears**.
• Convenient Purchase Options: Customers can choose from **In-store shopping** (where frosting is applied to Kringle), **In-store pickup**, **Curbside pickup**, and standard **Takeout** services for a fast, hassle-free transaction.
• Shipping and Membership: For patrons across Wisconsin or out-of-state, Bendtsen's offers a shipping service and a highly popular **Kringle of the Month Club**, allowing customers to receive a different flavor delivered right to their door year-round.
• Beverage Service: Offering **Coffee** to pair perfectly with the fresh pastries, enhancing the grab-and-go breakfast or mid-day treat experience.

Features / Highlights

Several distinctive features make Bendtsen's Bakery a celebrated institution in Racine and across Wisconsin:

• The Hand-Rolled Difference: Bendtsen's is recognized for being the only bakery that still **hand-rolls all 36 layers** of the Kringle dough, a labor-intensive process that preserves the traditional flaky texture and distinguishes their product’s quality.
• Decades of Heritage: Operating since **1934** and remaining in the same location, it is Racine's longest-running bakery, a true piece of local history and a testament to enduring quality.
• National Recognition: The bakery has been featured on national platforms like the Food Network and named one of America's 100 Best Bakeries by Food & Wine, bringing national prestige to this Wisconsin favorite.
• Use of Real Butter: Patrons consistently mention the superior taste and rich texture, which they attribute to the use of **real butter** and the absence of preservatives in their products.
• The Kringle of the Month Club: This innovative service allows Kringle lovers, whether in Wisconsin or far away, to maintain a continuous connection with the bakery and sample a wide variety of their monthly and seasonal flavors.

Contact Information

For local Wisconsin residents wishing to visit, place an order, or inquire about shipping their Kringle, here is the essential contact information for Bendtsen's Bakery:

Address: 3200 Washington Ave, Racine, WI 53405, USA

Phone: (262) 633-0365

Mobile Phone: +1 262-633-0365

Customers should feel free to call with questions regarding large orders, custom cakes, or to verify the availability of a specific daily baked good before making the trip to Washington Avenue.

What is Worth Choosing

For anyone in Wisconsin, choosing Bendtsen's Bakery is an opportunity to engage directly with the history and culinary heritage of the state. It is worth choosing Bendtsen’s for one compelling reason: to experience the **authentic, hand-rolled Danish Kringle** that defines Racine's role as the Kringle Capital of America. When you purchase a Kringle here, you are investing in a product that takes three days and four generations of expertise to craft, providing a flaky, buttery richness that is unmatched.

While some customers who are new to their shipping process may note differences compared to other competitors, the overwhelming local sentiment is that the in-store, hand-crafted quality—including the best-selling Pecan flavor—is superb. You are supporting a local, family business that has been a cornerstone of the community since 1934, maintaining traditional methods that are rapidly disappearing in the modern world.

From the convenience of **Curbside pickup** to the historical charm of its Washington Avenue location, Bendtsen's Bakery is more than a place to buy pastry; it is a Wisconsin institution where you can literally taste the tradition. It is the premier choice for a high-quality, authentic, and famous Wisconsin treat.

Bendtsen's Bakery

3200 Washington Ave, Racine, WI 53405, USA