Wisconsin Apple Kringle

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🍎 Wisconsin Apple Kringle

Makes: 1 large kringle (12–16 servings)
Time:

  • Dough: 10 min + chilling
  • Assembly & Bake: 35–40 min

⭐ INGREDIENTS

Kringle Dough (Danish-style, easy version)

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup sour cream

Apple Filling

  • 3 medium apples, peeled & diced (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Egg Wash

  • 1 egg + 1 tbsp water

Optional Topping Before Baking

  • 2 tbsp sliced almonds (traditional for some Wisconsin bakeries)

Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

🧑‍🍳 INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the Dough

  1. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt.
  2. Add the cold butter and cut in using a pastry cutter or your fingers until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
  3. Stir in the sour cream until a soft dough forms.
  4. Turn onto counter, knead just a few times, shape into a disk, wrap, and chill at least 1 hour (overnight is even better).

2. Make the Apple Filling

  1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; cook 5–7 minutes until apples soften.
  3. Mix cornstarch + water, add to apples, and cook 1 minute until thickened.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
  5. Let filling cool completely.
    • Warm filling will melt your dough.

3. Roll & Shape the Kringle

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment.
  3. Roll dough into a long rectangle: about 22–24 inches long and 6–8 inches wide.
  4. Spread the apple filling down the center third of the dough.
  5. Fold the long sides over the filling, overlapping slightly.
  6. Pinch the seam together and gently flip seam-side down.
  7. Curve the pastry into an oval (traditional shape) or leave it as a log.

4. Brush & Bake

  1. Brush the top with egg wash.
  2. Add sliced almonds if desired.
  3. Bake 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown.
  4. Cool at least 15 minutes before glazing.

5. Glaze

Whisk together:

  • powdered sugar
  • milk
  • vanilla

Drizzle over cooled (or slightly warm) kringle.

🍏 Tips for Authentic Wisconsin Results

  • Cold dough = flakiness
  • Long rectangle gives that signature kringle shape.
  • Cool filling is essential to avoid leaks.
  • Glaze lightly—kringle should not be heavily frosted.

🌟 Variations

  • Caramel Apple Kringle: Add 2 tbsp caramel sauce to cooled apple filling.
  • Apple-Cranberry: Add ¼ cup dried cranberries.
  • Maple Glaze: Replace milk in glaze with maple syrup.
  • Double Apple: Add 2 tbsp apple butter to the filling.

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