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Home » Course » Breakfast » Paczki

February 16, 2010

Paczki

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A recipe for traditional deep-fried Polish doughnut called Paczki.

A recipe for traditional deep-fried Polish doughnut called Paczki.

Happy Fat Tuesday!

Paczki are a traditional deep-fried Polish doughnut, typically topped with powdered sugar or icing and filled with fruit preserves or a custard.  Here in the Midwest, paczki are consumed heavily the day before Lent to celebrate the traditional attempt to use up any eggs, lard, sugar and fruit which are forbidden during the Catholic fasting season.

Every year on Fat Tuesday, my coworker brings us paczki from a local bakery.  Since I'm on maternity leave this year and will not be at work to consume one of these delectable delights, I decided to try my hand at making my own.  After searching the Internet for a tried and true paczki recipe, I found that they are very scarce.  I finally found one on a forum at Epicurious that came from someone's Polish grandmother.

This really wasn't all that labor intensive as others had warned.  I used my brand new cast iron skillet that Ben bought me for Valentine's Day (yes, I DO think that's romantic!) 🙂 for frying the dough.  The only negative thing that comes to mind when making these is that you really can't keep rolling out the dough and cutting more doughnuts after your first batch.  I found it affects the texture of the paczki.  Just throw away the scraps instead of trying to roll it back out.  Yes, it will seem like a lot of dough is going to waste, but it won't fry well anyway.  You will get about a dozen good doughnuts.

It's difficult to find these in other places.  My friend who recently moved from Detroit to Nashville expressed she is having a hard time finding them, so this also motivated me to post a good recipe.  Go ahead and give these a try.  You'll definitely have them perfected by next year's Fat Tuesday and will be able to WOW all your friends.  And, if you live anywhere but the Midwest, learn to make these and you will become great friends with your native Midwest neighbors who probably miss the luxury of buying these locally. 🙂

A recipe for traditional deep-fried Polish doughnut called Paczki.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Paczki

A recipe for traditional deep-fried Polish doughnut called Paczki.
Prep Time3 hrs
Cook Time5 mins
Total Time3 hrs 5 mins
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: Polish
Keyword: Paczki
Servings: 1 dozen doughnuts

Ingredients

  • 1 package (1/4 oz) yeast
  • 2 cups warm whole milk (110?-115?F)
  • 5 egg yolks plus one whole egg
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter , melted
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 6 – 7 cups all-purpose flour
  • vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, stir yeast in the warm milk. Add 2 cups of the flour. Mix and let stand about 1/2 hour, until very bubbly.
  • In the meantime, beat the egg yolks and whole egg until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
  • To the proofed yeast, add the melted butter, sugar, salt and vanilla one at a time. Add beaten eggs and mix until well blended. Switch to the dough hook and slowly add the rest of the flour to the bowl and knead on low speed until a very soft dough forms. You may not use all of the flour.
  • Cover the bowl and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 2 hours).
  • When the dough has doubled, uncover and punch down. Pat dough onto a floured work surface, down to 1/2 inch.
  • Using a cookie cutter, glass, or doughnut cutter, gently cut circles and place on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Wax paper may also be used. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes.
  • Heat oil in cast iron skillet, deep fryer, or dutch oven to 350?F. Working with 3 to 4 at a time, drop doughnuts into the oil and fry on one side until golden brown. Turn over and fry the other side until golden brown. Using tongs, remove the fried doughnuts and drain on paper towels. Let cool completely, then sprinkle with powdered sugar or desired icing. You may also cut them in half and fill with your choice of custard or fruit preserves before topping with the powdered sugar.
  • Source: Adapted from Epicurious forum user cynthy123
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Thanks for visiting! We’re the Gladd family! We love donuts, Disney, LEGO and Jesus. Not in that order, of course. 🙂 Ben shares DIY wood-working projects and Nikki shares delicious recipes. You’ll also find a sprinkling of travel adventures and other family fun ideas!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    July 21, 2020 at 9:50 am

    5 stars
    It's very good. I just wish your app had video examples for us to watch.

    Reply
  2. Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen says

    February 18, 2012 at 8:39 am

    These look amazing! I have never heard of paczki before, but now I feel the need to make them! 😉

    Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    March 01, 2011 at 9:31 am

    Do you think these would work if baked on a doughnut pan in the oven?

    Reply
    • Nikki says

      March 01, 2011 at 10:58 am

      Jennifer - I've never heard of anyone baking them, but you can definitely give it a try. If you do, I would suggest doing a Google search for baked doughnuts to help guide you, as paczki is really just like a doughnut. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    February 19, 2010 at 1:32 am

    Yummy

    Reply
  5. Kiara says

    February 18, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Okay, those look amazing. Doughnuts and I have a love hate relationship, however... 🙁

    Reply
  6. agata says

    February 18, 2010 at 3:55 am

    Traditionally Cruschiki (Chruściki) are baked at the same time as the Paczki- in the carnival 🙂

    Reply
  7. Ania says

    February 17, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    Your doughnuts look beautiful!!! My grandmother was making the best doughnuts in the whole world 🙂 Greetings from Poland 🙂

    Reply
  8. mangiodasola says

    February 17, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    I've never heard of these, but I sure would like them out!! YUM!

    Reply
  9. Marty says

    February 17, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    I'm so excited to try this. Do you also make Cruschiki (sp?). That's what I remember most about Polish food on Easter.

    Reply
    • Pennies on a Platter says

      February 17, 2010 at 4:13 pm

      Hi Marty,

      I'm not Polish, so not sure what that is. Paczki was something I knew about from having Polish friends and coworkers. I'll have to ask them about that! 🙂

      -Nikki

      Reply
    • Sandy says

      March 04, 2014 at 3:29 am

      I will try your recipe as my family recipe makes a whole lot! We fill our fruit fillings before frying. Put a teaspoon on the dough, fold over, seal well and cut. Ours is more oval than round. you can also fry the scraps and put cinnamon sugar on them.....delicious.

      Kruschiki ... look on Martha Stewarts website. Her recipe is pretty good.

      Kruschiki ( my family recipe)

      Ingredients

      4 egg yolks
      1 whole egg
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      1/3 cup confectioners sugar
      2 tablespoon rum or brandy
      1 teaspoon vanilla extract
      1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
      Crisco for deep frying
      Confectioners sugar for topping

      1 Combine egg yolks, egg and salt in a small bowl. Beat a highest speed for 7-10 minutes, until mixture is thick and piles softly. Beat in sugar, a little at a time. Then beat in rum/brandy and vanilla extract.
      2 By hand fold in flour.
      3 Turn onto generously floured surface. Knead for 10 minutes.
      4 Divide dough in half. Cover half to prevent drying.
      5 Roll as thin a possible. Cut into 2 inch by 1 inch strips. Slit middle. Pull ends through slit.
      6 Fry. Drain on paper towels.
      7 Sprinkle with sugar.

      Reply
  10. agata says

    February 17, 2010 at 10:56 am

    I'm Polish and I have to say that your Paczki are just amazing ! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Marija says

    February 17, 2010 at 9:25 am

    Too cute! 🙂

    Reply
  12. A Bowl Of Mush says

    February 17, 2010 at 8:09 am

    This is the most delicious looking thing I've ever seen! Yum!!!!

    Reply
  13. Nada says

    February 17, 2010 at 3:50 am

    Wow how good they looks..perfect..I just dont have words!
    Greetings, Nada!

    Reply
  14. Sue Gladd says

    February 16, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    Cast iron skillets are great gifts! Wow recipe!

    Reply
  15. Amanda says

    February 16, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    Nikki, you are just too talented! I personally cannot wait for you to get back from leave if it means you bring any leftovers in =)

    Reply
  16. manizor says

    February 16, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    that is so funny. i think things like cast iron skillets are romantic too. i have finally convinced my hubby that he need not wrack his brain trying to think of gifts that will wow me - simple fun stuff I can use in the kitchen is all it takes. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Pink Panda says

    February 16, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    Wow, these look gorgeous. I've never had Paczki before, but the ingredient list looks cheap and small enough so I'll have to give these a try.

    Reply
  18. Kira says

    February 16, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    Between these and a King's Cake, my sweet tooth will certainly be fulfilled and my eggs and butter and oil all gone!

    Reply
  19. Kim-Erin says

    February 16, 2010 at 10:27 am

    You go girl! These are absolutely beautiful! I know many people that have been searching for a paczki recipe and I will be sure to pass yours along to them....

    Reply

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