Delicious, Authentic Polish Paczki recipe traditionally made for Fat Tuesday or Thursday in February to celebrate the last day before Lent fasting begins.
When it comes to Fat Tuesday, I’m all about the Polish tradition of Paczki! The Polish do it right, because these are definitely a worthy Fat Tuesday splurge!
What are Paczki?
Pączki are essentially donuts, made by frying dough, filling with a variety of fruit or custard fillings, and coated with sugar. Paczki are made from a rich dough containing eggs, fats, sugar, yeast and sometimes milk, so they tend to be a little more rich and dense than a typical donut. Packzi can have a variety of fruit or cream fillings. They can be glazed or covered with either granulated or powdered sugar. In Poland, a stewed plum jam or a wild rose hip jam are the most traditional fillings, but many others are used as well, including strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, apple, prune or custard.
When are Paczki eaten?
In Poland, Paczki are eaten on Fat Thursday, which is the last Thursday prior to Ash Wednesday (prior to lent). The traditional reason for making pączki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, in preparation for the fasting of Lent ahead.
In North America, Paczki Day typically occurs on Fat Tuesday, the last day before the beginning of Lent. In some communities with large Polish populations, Paczki day is celebrated on both Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesdy.
How do you pronounce Paczki?
While there are slight variations, the typical North American pronunciation of Paczki is POONCH-key. Some prefer more of a PAUNCH-key.
Paczki Fillings:
Like jelly donuts, Paczki can be filled with any number of fillings. Any fruit jam, such as raspberry, strawberry, blueberry or plum. Apple jam/compotes are also good. On the creamy side, Bavarian Cream or custard fillings would be nice.
Cook’s Notes for Polish Paczki
I like my Paczki rolled in granulated sugar. There’s just something about that sugar crunch! Traditionally though, paczki have a thin icing sugar and milk glaze, if you’d rather go that route. You could also dust them in icing sugar. Any way you eat them, they’re a really delicious treat and definitely a splurge.
Paczki are best eaten on the day they are made, although they do freeze well, if you have extras. You don’t need a deep fryer to make these, although that’s definitely the easiest route, as it keeps a constant temperature and is safer. If you don’t have a fryer, use a deep, heavy pot and a portable thermometer to monitor the temperature. Do be careful though and have a lid handy, just in case.
When deep frying, be sure to use a thermometer to keep the oil temperature constant. If the oil is too hot, it will cook the outside before the inside is cooked. If it is not hot enough, the dough will absorb oil, rather than just cooking the outside to seal the oil out. Also, avoid frying too many at once, as it will lower the oil temperature.
Be sure to coat your Paczki in granulated sugar while they are still warm, so the sugar will stick. If opting for powdered sugar, obviously you’d want to wait until the Paczki are cool before coating. As powdered sugar will dissolve over time, add powdered sugar just before serving.
I quickly got tired of trying to deep fry in a pot on the stove. Not only is it slightly dangerous, it’s messy and really hard to control the oil temperature in. I invested in a small deep fryer that doesn’t take up much room to store and doesn’t need a ton of oil to fill it – about 1 large container. When the oil is cooled, I return it to the container and store it in the fridge to use again. Here are some great small deep fryers you might like.
Polish Paczki
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 tsp dry active or instant yeast
- 1 cup whole milk scalded and cooled
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 Tbsp butter melted
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Oil for frying
- White Granulated Sugar for dusting
- Jam or custard for filling (suggested: Raspberry, Blueberry, Cherry or Strawberry Jam)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat milk until steaming with small bubbles forming around the edges. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve yeast in the lukewarm milk and let stand for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of the flour. Mix together and let stand for 20-30 minutes, until really bubbly.
- In the meantime, beat the yolks in a small bowl until they are light and fluffy.
- To the proofed yeast mixture, add the melted butter and sugar and mix. Add salt and vanilla. Add beaten egg yolks. Slowly add rest of the flour to bowl in 1/2 cup increments just until a very soft dough forms that is moist but not sticky.
- Grease a clean bowl and add dough. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled.
- Deflate dough and pat out onto floured cutting board. With a rolling pin, gently roll into a 1/2-inch thick circle. Gently cut out circles with 3-inch biscuit cutter. Place onto a parchment lined baking sheet, cover and let rise until doubled (about 30 minutes)
- Meanwhile, heat oil to 360° Fry paczki until golden on one side, flip and fry the other side. Don't try to cook too many at a time so you don't reduce the temperature of the oil by adding too many at once. Don't rush the frying, to be sure they are cooked through well. Fry until they are a deep golden colour. Remove paczki to a cooling rack for about 30 seconds, then immediately roll in granulated sugar. Let stand until completely cooled.
- Once cooled, using a sharp knife, poke a hole on the side. Use a pastry bag with a large plain tip to pipe the jam or custard filling inside.
- These are best when freshly made, but you can freeze any extras.
Oleksandra says
Hi! The recipe looks perfect but can I bake it instead of frying?
Jennifer says
I’m afraid not, at least if you want something that tastes anything like a donut. These are meant to be fried.
Liz Nowak says
These were quite tasty. The best recipe I have tried. Mine were not very puffy. After I cut the dough into circles, they really didn’t double in size. Any ideas what I might have done wrong?
Jennifer says
Hmmm. Sounds like your yeast might have given out on you. Did you use quick-rise yeast by any chance? Or maybe it was old?
Liz Nowak says
Yes, I did use the quick rise yeast! I am making another batch with regular yeast and have no doubt I will be rewarded with tasty, puffy paczki
Debi Sunshine says
I am dying to try these. They look fabulous! My question is, what is the best oil for frying??
Thank you!
Jennifer says
Hi Debi, I’ve heard that peanut oil is the best for frying, but it is quite a bit more expensive than other oils. I generally use vegetable oil, myself and it works out quite well.
Gina says
Delicious! My A/C was on a bit too high so my rise times were longer than usual. But I coated them in the granulated sugar, sliced them in half like sandwiches, and put a generous spoonful of home made rhubarb and berry jam inside. My first foray into deep fried desserts, and I am so happy with them! Can’t wait to take some to my Polish grandmother to try. :)
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Gina. Thanks so much :)
Milena says
Hello. Is there any way to make this dairy free?
Jennifer says
Hi Milena, you could replace the milk with water and the butter with vegetable oil. Of course, it will affect the end result in terms of texture and taste somewhat, but it will definitely work :)
ROSE ANN CAPALONG says
This is the best recipe for these doughnuts that I’ve found…..delicious…..
Jennifer says
Thanks so much :)