What are Paczki?
Well, not just another donut!
Paczki are traditionally made for the two weeks before Fat Tuesday. Pronounced Pooch-Key or Punch-Key or Poonch-Key. Any one of those is correct. Polish in origin, these round, sugar coated, fruit filled pastries were served up annually on the day before Lent.
Originally, they were made for practical reasons, to use up all the lard and eggs which were prohibited during Lent. Now, they're more of a last minute binge of sweets before the sacrifice.
The word Paczki means 'little package' in Polish.
The new world version, like the old, is an extra large doughball, rich in egg yolks and deep fried, just like a donut. 
It's overfilled with raspberry, strawberry, custard, lemon or even the traditional filling of prune. Then, it's topped with a smooth sugar glaze or rolled in fine granulated sugar. IT's 100% quality, or you can't call it Paczki! The one that I bought was stuffed full of the most delicious blueberry filling. I could have taken either this glazed one, or sugar dusted.
And don't ask about the calories, you just don't want to know.
Paczki are becoming what chocolate is to Valentines and pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving. Many folks share then with family and friends. In past years, bakeries claimed Halloween as the day that sold the most donuts, but now areas of the country show that Paczki sales surpass even their Christmas figures!
For two weeks of the year, I think I'll be Polish! Yum! Yum!
The Paczki pictured here was purchased at:
The Courtland Bakery Ltd. Owners: John and Mary Peazel
519-688-2023
10 comments:
We have a bakery here that makes those delicious treats too and if I get out at lunch time I'm going to make sure and pick some up. Oh my they are good!
yum... I have my morning coffee... wish I had one of those yummy looking things....
These are the sorts of things that send me to the hospital if I eat them! Rich in everything that causes my blood sugar to go wild. But that doesn't mean they don't look really tasty!
Every Tuesday is fat at my house! lol
That definitely is a yummy-looking treat!
Good thing I have had breakfast or I would lick the screen. Well maybe just a little taste.
Never heard of any such, and I don't like donuts, but, um,...
Excuse me while I make a run up to Dunkin Donuts...
Never been to Marti Gra or heard of these. Guess I been missing out. They look great. X
Ooooh, those look just like the doughnuts you get in Britain!
I'm gainging weight just visiting you!
Wow that looks really good. Never knew that bit of info about donuts.
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