O&H Danish Bakery

Introduction / Overview: Preserving a Four-Generation Danish Tradition in Racine

For over 75 years, O&H Danish Bakery has stood as a cornerstone of culinary excellence in Racine, Wisconsin—a city with deep Danish roots, often dubbed "The Kringle Capital of the World." This family-run establishment, now proudly in its fourth generation of the Olesen family, represents an unwavering commitment to time-honored Danish baking techniques and community service. Since Christian Olesen founded the bakery in 1949, O&H has been globally renowned, primarily for its signature creation: the Kringle, a flaky, oval-shaped pastry that was officially designated as the Official State Pastry of Wisconsin in 2013.

The Durand Avenue location is a popular hub, offering more than just award-winning pastries. It is a full-service experience where local residents can start their day with a delightful Breakfast, enjoy a cup of fresh Coffee, and sample an extensive array of scratch-made Danish desserts. The bakery's philosophy, passed down from generation to generation, is a commitment to quality that involves a meticulous, three-day preparation process for every Kringle to ensure its signature 36 layers of buttery, flaky perfection. This patience and dedication to using only the finest ingredients—from Madagascar vanilla to locally sourced Wisconsin cherries and cream cheese—is what elevates O&H's offerings above the rest.

While the Kringle is the star, O&H also excels in other traditional Danish delights, including their famous Danish Layer Cake, various Coffee Cakes, and specialty items like Chocolate Mousse Cream Puffs and Sinful Chocolate Eclairs. This location offers a welcoming atmosphere where visitors can truly experience "Hygge," the Danish concept of cozy contentment. It's a perfect destination for both a planned, significant order and a spontaneous quick visit to satisfy a sweet craving, all while celebrating the rich Danish-American heritage that defines this part of Wisconsin.

Location and Accessibility on Durand Avenue

The O&H Danish Bakery on Durand Avenue is one of the company's long-standing, full-service locations in Southeast Wisconsin. It is strategically placed to serve both the local Racine community and visitors drawn to the region for its famous Danish pastries.

The bakery is conveniently found at:

4006 Durand Ave, Racine, WI 53405, USA

A key advantage of this location is its exceptional commitment to accessibility, ensuring a comfortable experience for everyone in the community. The facilities feature a Wheelchair accessible entrance, making in-store access simple and effortless. For those driving, the location includes a Free parking lot with designated Wheelchair accessible parking lot spots. Inside, O&H ensures convenience is maintained with a Wheelchair accessible restroom and dedicated Wheelchair accessible seating areas, allowing for a relaxed Dine-in experience. This comprehensive approach to accessibility makes the Durand Avenue bakery an easy and stress-free stop for local customers looking for a quality Danish treat or a casual Breakfast spot.

Services Offered

O&H Danish Bakery provides a wide array of services designed for the convenience of its Wisconsin customer base:

• Multi-Channel Ordering: The bakery facilitates In-store pickup and standard Takeout, with the option for Dine-in service. They also offer Onsite services for events and a well-established global shipping program (FreshShip) for sending their products to family and friends far beyond Wisconsin.
• Custom and Celebration Cakes: O&H specializes in custom-decorated cakes for special occasions, including their signature Danish Layer Cake and rich chocolate cakes, which can be hand-decorated with personalized messages.
• Full Coffee & Beverage Service: Alongside their bakery items, they offer fresh, fair trade Coffee and other beverages, perfect for pairing with a pastry or enjoying during a Breakfast visit.
• All-Day Dining: Beyond desserts, the Durand Avenue location is known for its Breakfast offerings and also provides made-to-order sandwiches and deli items, establishing it as a complete food destination.
• Dietary Accommodation: They have a strong focus on inclusive options, offering a dedicated line of Gluten-Free products, including Coffee Cakes, Layer Cakes, and Brownies, prepared in a separate designated bakery to ensure integrity.
• Payment Flexibility: Customers can easily pay using various modern methods, including Credit cards and Debit cards.
• Comfort Amenities: The store provides a clean and accessible Restroom for the convenience of all dining and visiting customers.

Features / Highlights

The reputation of O&H Danish Bakery is built upon a foundation of history, quality, and distinctive products:

• The Kringle - Wisconsin's State Pastry: Their main product is the oval-shaped Kringle, celebrated for its 36 buttery, flaky layers painstakingly created over a three-day process. They offer a rotating selection of over 16 flavors, including the famous Cinnamon Kringle and the Wisconsin Kringle (featuring Door County cherries and local cranberries).
• Four Generations of Family Tradition: The Olesen family has been committed to authentic Danish recipes since 1949, ensuring the highest standards of scratch baking are maintained by the current fourth generation.
• Specialty Danish Layer Cake: A popular item for birthdays and celebrations, the traditional Danish Layer Cake features multiple layers of moist yellow cake alternating with homemade raspberry jam and creamy custard, all finished with smooth buttercream. While one customer noted a recent issue with overly thick frosting, the bakery's guarantee and commitment to service (offering rewards and a replacement tort) highlight their dedication to customer satisfaction.
• Gourmet Ingredient Sourcing: O&H searches globally and locally for the best ingredients, sourcing cinnamon from Indonesia, chocolate from Sweden, and premium local ingredients from across Wisconsin, ensuring a rich and authentic flavor.
• Extensive Non-Kringle Selection: The menu is vast, featuring items like the popular Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake (baked with Danish pastry inside), Seven Sisters Coffee Cake, various Muffins, Donuts, and specialty cakes like the Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Cake Roll.
• The Durand Avenue Flagship: This is noted as the largest O&H store, which uniquely includes a deli and a quaint gift shop, adding to the comprehensive shopping and dining experience.

Contact Information

For local Wisconsin users seeking to order a custom cake, arrange a large order of Kringles, or inquire about the daily breakfast specials at the Durand Ave location, please use the following contact details:

Address: 4006 Durand Ave, Racine, WI 53405, USA

Phone: (262) 554-1311

Mobile Phone: +1 262-554-1311

What is Worth Choosing: A Piece of Wisconsin History on Your Plate

Choosing O&H Danish Bakery is choosing to engage with a piece of Wisconsin's cultural and culinary history. For local users, particularly in the Southeast region, this bakery is not just a commercial enterprise but a trusted, four-generation institution that sets the standard for Danish pastries. The reason to choose O&H is fundamentally tied to the Kringle itself—a renowned, state-official pastry whose three-day baking process and 36 flaky layers cannot be truly replicated. Trying a flavor like the classic Cinnamon Kringle or the Wisconsin-proud Cherry Cheese Kringle is a local rite of passage, confirming the bakery's commitment to quality over speed.

Moreover, O&H on Durand Avenue offers practical convenience and comfort. The ability to grab a quick, fresh Breakfast or coffee in a fully accessible environment with free, dedicated parking is a major draw for the Racine community. While the bakery experienced a challenge with a specific Danish Layer Cake order (as noted in one review), the business's policy to offer a full guarantee and an attempt to "make it right" by compensating the customer with a tort and reward points demonstrates their long-standing focus on service and quality assurance. This dedication is a hallmark of family-run businesses that value their community reputation.

From the vast selection of Gluten-Free desserts to the option of shipping Kringles nationwide, O&H serves every need. When you want an authentic, scratch-made Danish delight with the heritage of Racine baked into every bite, O&H Danish Bakery is the premier and most reliable choice in Wisconsin.

O&H Danish Bakery

4006 Durand Ave, Racine, WI 53405, USA