Paczki - A Fat Tuesday Tradition

Paczki (pronounced poonch-key or punch-key) is a big Fat Tuesday* tradition. What? You say you never heard of it before? Well, neither did I until I moved here to Michigan…and I’m half Polish!

Paczki are little filled ‘donuts’ covered with a glaze, originating from Poland. They are very fattening, hence the tradition of eating them once a year on Fat Tuesday. But you don’t have to observe Lent or be Polish to enjoy these treats. Likewise, they can be enjoyed any day of the year. They are very tasty and addicting, that’s why it is such a big deal here. In fact, it is such a big deal that every bakery from the mom-and-pop type to the major grocery store sells them. Unfortunately, many of the larger stores’ Paczki are nothing more than filled donuts. That’s what led me to discover this old Polish recipe. If you desire to try the real thing as well, then this recipe is for you. This is also an excellent project to do with your children, and educate them at the same time on Polish culture and tradition, Lent, or Fat Tuesday.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 envelopes yeast
• 1 tsp. Salt
• ½ cup sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 whole egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ tsp. mace or ½ tsp. Nutmeg
• ½ cup butter or margarine
• 4 ½ cups flour

Procedure:

1. Scald milk and allow it to cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in milk.
2. Add sugar and butter and beat until fluffy. Add eggs, salt, and flavoring.
3. Add flour and milk gradually, mixing well.
4. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until double in size (about 2 ½ hours).
5. Punch down, knead, and let rise again for about 1 hour.
6. Place dough on lightly floured surface and knead.
7. Pinch off balls of dough about 1 ½” in diameter.
8. Deep fry in very hot oil, turning when needed. Fry until dark brown, or it won’t be cooked through.
9. Let cool and fill.

Filling:

You will need a pastry bag (bought cheaply at most stores…even dollar stores) with a long nozzle. Fill the bag with either jelly or the custard recipe below:

 Ingredients:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 ½ cup milk
• 6 large egg yolks
• 2 tsp. Vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Procedure:

1. In a saucepan, mix sugar and flour together.
2. Gradually whisk in milk, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt.
3. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil for one minute, whisking constantly.
4. Strain through a sieve into a bowl to get out the clumps.
5. Press plastic wrap on the surface to prevent a film from forming. Chill for 30 minutes.
6. When chilled, place in pastry bag and fill Paczki.

 Glaze:

Mix 2 ½ cups powdered sugar and 2 tblsp. honey. Add water until consistency is rather thick. Too much water and it will be runny. You want the glaze to stay on the Paczki as much as possible.  Spoon onto the Paczki and enjoy.

**Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, when the season of Lent begins (the 40-day period before Easter). The tradition is to indulge before committing to 40 days of prayer and of denying yourself certain pleasures.

If you do not see the table at the left, please click here.