These Homemade Polish Paczki are the perfect dessert to celebrate Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. You can use lemon, apple, raspberry, strawberry, custard or any filling you love then dunk them in powdered sugar or glaze.
This is one of my daughter's favourite recipes. She looks forward to making them every year. As Fat Tuesday approaches we both get super excited to carry on our tradition of making these tasty treats.
You can prep the dough the day before since it needs to rise. Or make them early in the morning. Just really keep in mind that you have to allow for two or more hours for the dough to rise. Just keeping it real, folks!
If you have never made these I'll warn you they are a tad step heavy. You need to make dough with yeast, allow it to rise, punch it down, allow it to rise again, then roll it out, cut it into spheres, then allow those to rise.
By the time you get to the filling stage it's been hours of prep. Most of that is inactive though so it's not difficult, it's just a lot of steps to get from point A to point B, C, D and E.
It's totally worth it though. If you think store-bought Polish Paczki are phenomenal wait till you try homemade. These bad boys are going to blow your mind.
What are Paczki or Polish Doughnuts?
Paczki are filled rich pastries that are similar to doughnuts. You can fill them with jams, preserves, pie fillings, custard, lemon curd or even Nutella.
They are often coated with powdered sugar or icing (glaze). While not traditional, we make a batch with a cinnamon sugar blend every year.
When do you eat Paczki aka Polish Doughnuts?
In Canada and the states, Paczki are meant to be eaten on Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday. It's a time honoured tradition where we live in Canada.
In Poland they are typically eaten on Fat Thursday, which is the Thursday before Ash Wednesday.
How do you pronounce Paczki?
In our area they pronounced "pownch-key". Lots of folks pronounce the name incorrectly. I figure as long as you're doing your best to say it right, you're doing okay.
Other great desserts as good as these Polish Paczki:
- Baked Fudge
- Chocolate Tacos
- The Best Brownies in the World
- Homemade Snickers Cheesecake Bars
- Strawberry Shortcake No Bake Mini Cheesecakes
Places to stalk Cravings of a Lunatic!
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram
Polish Paczki
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 1 ½ cups warm milk (110 degrees is ideal)
- 2 packages active dry yeast (Each package of yeast is 7 grams. If using jarred yeast you will need 14 grams total)
- 1 tablespoon sugar (for proofing the yeast)
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 3 large egg yolks room temperature
- 1 teaspoon rum extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 ½ all-purpose flour
For the Toppings:
- Granulated Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
- Cinnamon Sugar Mix (one part granulated sugar, one part brown sugar, then a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg)
Instructions
For proofing the yeast:
- Warm the milk in a saucepan using a thermometer to watch the temperature. Do not go over 110 degrees. Remove from heat. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and 2 packages of active dry yeast. Stir briefly. Then set aside to allow it to proof. This will take about 5 to 8 minutes, just let it sit and if your yeast is good it will start to foam.
For the Dough:
- In a stand mixer combine the ½ cup sugar and ½ cup butter, cream that with a paddle attachment.You want it fluffy before adding anything else. Once it is you can add the egg, egg yolks, rum extract and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.
- Now alternately add the flour and yeast mixture to stand mixer bowl. I alternated 3 times and mixed slowly in while adding. Then turn the speed up to a medium speed for a minute or two, until the dough becomes blistered. Every time we make these we end up using the full 5 cups of flour. But I also start out with 4 and ½ cups to be sure if I need more or not.
- The dough is going to be very sticky, it's okay, don't let that freak you out. Spray a glass bowl with non-stick spray and then set the dough inside. I spray a piece of parchment with non-stick spray then lay that over the top of the dough, then I tightly cover the bowl with tinfoil, sealing the edges. Set the bowl somewhere warm and allow to rise for about 1 to 2 and ½ hours, it should double in size.
- Now punch it down, then wrap it back up and allow it to rise again for 1 to 2 and ½ hours.
- Now lightly flour your work surface. Turn your dough out onto the work surface. Roll out so the dough is ½ inch thickness. Use a biscuit cutter or glass to cut rounds. Place them on lightly floured pans, cover with a lint free cloth, and allow them to rise for another 30 to 60 minutes.
- Heat your oil to 350 degrees F.
- Drop pacski in the oil, flat side down, cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, then flip over and cook other side for 1 to 2 minutes. You want them to be golden brown.
- Scoop out of the fryer and lay on a paper towel, then dunk in desired topping. Place on a rack to dry.
- Repeat with 3 or 4 at a time so you don't over-crowd your oil. Continue until all the pacski are cooked.
- Serve with a big old sugary smile!
Notes
Nutrition
Be sure to peek around my Recipe Index for more recipe inspiration. You can peek through other desserts or go for broke and look at ice cream recipes.
You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram to keep up with what I'm whipping up in the kitchen.
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Cathy
worth every bit of the effort I'll bet and amazingly delicious looking too!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Cathy. We love these things.
Katie
Oooooh...I think I drooled just a little bit. Is there anything better than a sweet treat warm from the fryer? These look so special!
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, high praise. We love making these every year.
Susan P
These look delicious. Do you switch to the hook attachment when adding the flour?
Kim Beaulieu
You could, I didn't. I just left the paddle on it and it worked beautifully. It's a pretty wet dough until you work it later with some bench flour. I'm a lazy girl, if I can get away with not swapping attachments I will. Just don't use the whisk, it wouldn't work, but the paddle is perfection. On slow speed. Hope that helps. Let me know if you make them. I'm noshing on one (or three) right now.
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
Gaaaaah - these are so gorgeous, Kim, I can't stand it. I love fried dough so much. This may be a step-heavy recipe but I'm sure totally worth it at the end to take a giant bite out of these crispy, soft, sugar crusted beauties. I'm visiting your house next year for Fat Tuesday.
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Nancy. You totally need to come visit. Not as pretty here as BC but I can make up for that with food. Ha.
Abbe@This is How I Cook
I can see why this is one of her favorite recipes. These would be dangerous in my house. I'd have to auction them to the highest bidder and I bet no one would bid higher than me!
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, that's basically what happens here over the last one. We all make deals to see who wants it the most.
Cindys Recipes and Writings
I couldn't resist a few of these today! Diet be damned!
Kim Beaulieu
Exactly. Once a year, who cares right. So worth the indulgence. xx
Angie
These look so good! I see why it's your daughter's favorite 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Angie. She is crazy for these things.
Paula - bell'alimento
Yum. Yum. Gimme Some. Sorry I couldn't think straight after seeing those photos. Want. Stat.
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, that actually cracked me right the heck up. Thanks Paula. xx
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
These would be a favorite at my house too!
Kim Beaulieu
They are just too darn good. xx
Diana Cote
I don't have any rum or rum extract, i do have real whiskey and vanilla & lemon extract also almond. is there anything i could substitute it for? Thanks! 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
I'd just use straight up vanilla extract if you don't have rum. I do that a lot. Almond would be nice too. Hope that helps. xx
Ramona W
Wow... I could seriously a whole tray of these. 🙂 Looks like a perfect treat.
Kim Beaulieu
Pretty much what I did. lol
Rebecca {foodie with family}
There's a HUGE Polish community near me in Buffalo, and they actually call Shrove Tuesday "Paczki Tuesday"! I love these things and I'm not even usually a doughnut person!
Kim Beaulieu
They are huge here too, they sell them everywhere. I love making them and eating them. I'm like you, I'm not a big donut girl but I make exceptions for these.
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom
These look amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks so much Marjory. xx
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious
I love paczi! It never even occurred to me to make my own... I bet these are a billion times better than what I get at the grocery store.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
This Polish girl really has to make these sometime!
Simone
Well heavy or not and many steps or not... I'm pretty sure I would looove to make these! They look gorgeous and love your photos!
Sarah
These look exactly like the ones they sell in Toronto's Polish district... SO good!
Renee
I've never had packai however I know my life won't be complete until I've had one after seeing yours. Wow.
Kate@Diethood
These just made me drool. For reals. They're gorgeous!!
heather @french press
fat tuesday just wouldn't be the same without a delicious doughnut or two. I usually make my grandmothers fastnachts, but this year we went with beignets. either way fried dough is the way to go!