Fat Tuesday is right around the corner, and for Wisconsinites, that means Paczki Day! Seen as a last indulgence before Lent, Paczki (pronounced like “poonch-key”) are a Polish specialty pastry reserved for the final day before the 40-day Lenten season begins. Mardi Gras 2023 falls on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
What are Paczki?
Paczki are fried, glazed, or sugar-coated donuts that are traditionally filled with cream or jellied fruits like raspberry, apricot, apple, or prune, but modern twists have found their way into these sweet treats with fillings like peanut butter and chocolate. While paczki may look like a regular jelly donut, they are made with an especially rich dough, making them a melt-in-your-mouth treat.
What is Paczki Day?
Dating back to the middle ages, the Paczki Day tradition followed Polish immigrants as they emigrated to the Midwest. Many settled in the Milwaukee area in the 1850s and expanded into the rest of Wisconsin over the next several decades. The rich dough was born from the need to use up the last of any sugar, lard, eggs, and fruit in the house since those food items were forbidden during the Catholic fasting period before Easter, known as Lent.
Now that you’re a paczki expert (by the way- paczki is the plural form of the word, paczek (“Pawn-chek”) is the singular form), it’s time to go scoop up a dozen of these delectable delights to share with your family—or not, we won’t tell. We’ve compiled a list of places you can find fresh-fried paczki, from Oshkosh to Pulaski. Since these are not made year-round at most bakeries, it’s advisable to check ahead to ensure they have paczki available (and show up early; they can clear out quickly!). Many bakeries also allow for pre-orders.
Where to find Paczki in the Fox Valley!
- Simple Simon Bakery, 218 E Wisconsin Ave, Appleton, 920-733-4351
- Traditional flavors available
- Get there early- they sell out fairly quickly or place a pre-order
- Manderfield’s Home Bakery, three locations: Appleton East, Menasha, and Appleton West, see website for addresses and phone numbers
- Mom & Pop’s Bakery, 710 W. Kimberly Ave., Kimberly, 920-380-0800
- Paczki are only available on March 1st by pre-order only
- Hill Top Bakery, 100 E 7th St. Kaukauna, 920-766-1771
- Paczki are only available on March 1st by pre-order only
- Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe, three locations: DePere, Green Bay, and Suamico, see website for addresses and phone numbers. If you know Uncle Mike’s Kringle, you know these are good paczki!
- Try an “extreme” paczki (cut in half and overfilled), or the Ultimate, filled with custard, fresh strawberries, and bananas
- Non-traditional flavors include peanut butter cup, maple bacon, turtle, and cookies and cream
- Smurawa’s Country Bakery, 204 East Pulaski St, Pulaski, 920-822-8655
- This old-fashioned bakery offers other Polish specialties as well.
- See their Facebook page for information on placing custom and pre-orders
- Tamara’s The Cake Guru, locations in Appleton and Oshkosh
- Standard and loaded varieties based on their cupcakes available through Fat Tuesday.
- Vande Walle’s Candies, 400 Mall Drive, Appleton, 800-738-1020
- Go Valley Kids reader recommendation, Stacie says: “Omg, VandeWalle’s Candies has the absolute best!!!!“
Of course, if you’re looking for more of a Mardi Gras experience (which still literally means Fat Tuesday), most of these above bakeries also offer king cakes, another rich, seasonal treat. Tracing its US roots to the French emigrating to New Orleans, this fruit- or cream-filled puff pastry cake has been served during the pre-Lenten season since the middle ages.
Make a day of your paczki indulgence. Grab a hot chocolate from one of these top spots and head out for a winter adventure!
