A Paczki Upon Thee: A Primer on Paczki and How to Enjoy It

The good news: today it is your job to eat Pączki.

The bad news: you don't know what Pączki is, and it sounds like something contagious.

Never fear! I am here to introduce you to this traditional Polish sweet. Really, it's far more delicious than it sounds  (pronounced--oh those crazy Europeans--"poonch-kee").

First off, what is it? Per Polish Heritage Cookery, "Pączek is a deep-fried piece of dough shaped into a flattened sphere and filled with confitureor other sweet filling. Pączki are usually covered with powdered sugar, icing or bits of driedorange zest. A small amount of grain alcohol (traditionally, Spiritus) is added to the dough before cooking; as it evaporates, it prevents the absorption of oil deep into the dough".

Or, to simplify it a bit, sort of but not quite a jelly doughnut--but possibly its European ancestor, with a richer, eggier dough. And not limited to just jelly for filling.

Why is it your job to eat them today? Well, as I learned from the internet,

In Poland, pączki are eaten especially on Fat Thursday (the last Thursday before Lent). Many Polish Americans celebrate Pączki Day on Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday). Traditionally, the reason for making pączki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because they were forbidden to be consumed due to Catholic fasting practices during Lent.

So, today through thursday is kind of like "Stop! Packzi Time" (insert "Hammer time" breakdown here).

How can you enjoy them? In a few ways. If you're in Seattle like me, lucky you: they have them at Metropolitan Market locations, and at Bakery Nouveau for sure. If you're in the midwest, they're probably at so many places that you can't even count (at least this is my fantasy). But if no bakeries in your area have these treats on offer, there is a solution: make them yourself. Here's a recipe--but, you know, there's also one in this great book called Doughnuts: Simple and Delicious Recipes to Make at Home by my bloggy BFF Lara Ferroni.

Comments

[notyet100]

ummm thnks for introducing this,,,

[JustinH]

I remember in Michigan where pretty much every dollar store with donuts had Pączkis today. Most of the time you had to order them in advance so that you could actually get them.

But I went to 3 different places today looking for them, and the only ones I found don't even rank as good donuts. So sad.

[Jenny]

This is something I look forward to most about moving back to Michigan! There, the paczkis are plentiful, AND we also eat potato pancakes with kielbasa and sour cream. No wandering around to specialty shops... you can by them by the box at stands in front of gas stations. Ahhhhhh I miss them!

[Deanna]

I <3 Fat Tuesday and I really want to try my first pączki!! Thanks for the very educational post :)

[KellyG in ATX]

Oh man, sounds tasty! And even more fun when you add in some parachute pants and breakdancing moves :o)

[sarida]

Here in Detroit the locals refer to Fat Tuesday as Paczki Day! While I don't care for them (or jelly doughnuts) it's a fun tradition. I took a dozen in to work today :-)

[Living The Sweet Life]

I noticed this weekend, that my local grocery store started selling these - - especially for today ( I suppose). I didn't buy them at that point, but when I saw my favourite bakery, took a batch out of the fryer and dusted it with sugar - - I almost hit the roof with excitement.

It
was
magical!!