Anybody getting paczkis for Paczki Day this week?

[Gary M]

Our local Meijer has had them in stock for at least two weeks. They do get fresh ones in every few days. DW and I like the cherry filled ones best.

 

[BrianL]

I had gotten excited on Saturday when I saw a box marked with big letters "Pazcki" at Walmart of all places, I have never seen them around here, so I bought them. Unfortunately, I don't think these were the real deal, but rather "Bismarks" which it seems are similar but not Pazckis. They were basically cake donuts with raspberry jelly in them and a glaze. The cake wasn't that sweet either. Oh well, they were only 3 bucks.

 

[princesspiglet]

Oh my, I love Paczkis!! Especially the custard filled ones. In our area (Central PA), we have Fastnachts and only one store carries paczkis...but I will be stopping in there tonight to pick up my dozen order!

 

[Prose]

Can someone please educate on the difference between a paczki, a fasnicht, and a plain old filled doughtnut? Other than the time of year, of course....

 

[Heidict]

I have only ever seen them at the grocery stores here (stop and shop, shoprite and Bigy), but haven't really done any research as to whether or not they are available at any bakeries in the area.

The raspberry filled ones from Big Y are amazing though. I don't care for stop and shop or shoprite ones. I remember hearing that prune is the traditional ones, and Big y carries them, but I just can't bring myself to try those. Not when they have so many other yummy fruit filled ones.

 

[aprilchem]

Yes! We celebrate every year - DH is Polish and I try to keep the family traditions. We don't have the good ones here, though - I'd rather have regular donuts.

 

[Kitty 34]

I'm not a fan of paczkis but then I'm not a huge sweet eater but you guys all enjoy your treats now and especially tomorrow!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

So, now that the big day has arrived, it should be okay to ask this question. I went to Publix to get some paczkis to see what the hype is about. What am I missing? You can get the same thing all the time, but they're normally called jelly doughnuts. Are ours not really paczkis?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I'm not a fan of paczkis but then I'm not a huge sweet eater but you guys all enjoy your treats now and especially tomorrow!

I so wish I wasn't a sweet eater. I wouldn't have to worry about my diet at all. Lucky you.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Bought a 4-pack of raspberry ones at Shop Rite. They're from some bakery in Indiana, and I'm guessing they were shipped frozen. Pretty good, but not spectacular.

 

[RedAngie]

So, now that the big day has arrived, it should be okay to ask this question. I went to Publix to get some paczkis to see what the hype is about. What am I missing? You can get the same thing all the time, but they're normally called jelly doughnuts. Are ours not really paczkis?

Can someone please educate on the difference between a paczki, a fasnicht, and a plain old filled doughtnut? Other than the time of year, of course....

No real difference. Practically any donut without a center hole can be considered a paczki. Most have a filling, but even plain ones exist. Donuts labeled "paczki" are sold year in plenty of Polish neighborhoods.

Paczki Day is a invented occasion because traditionally they were not supposed to be eaten during Lent.

 

[Kewz1]

So, now that the big day has arrived, it should be okay to ask this question. I went to Publix to get some paczkis to see what the hype is about. What am I missing? You can get the same thing all the time, but they're normally called jelly doughnuts. Are ours not really paczkis?

We got ours from Publix as well. I think the dough consistency is a little different from the jelly doughnuts I get from DD. Other than that they are quite similar. But delicious.

 

[BrianL]

So, now that the big day has arrived, it should be okay to ask this question. I went to Publix to get some paczkis to see what the hype is about. What am I missing? You can get the same thing all the time, but they're normally called jelly doughnuts. Are ours not really paczkis?

That's how I felt about those ones I got at Walmart. I though the dough should have been sweeter. I knew they wouldn't be like a prime example of the item, being from Walmart and all, but I though it would be different from a jelly donut. The box even had "The Packzki Story" on the side of it. I dunno, I guess they had always been so hyped in my head. Ah, well, I don't give up donuts for Lent, so I'm covered.

 

[princesspiglet]

True Paczkis are different than traditional doughnuts. The recipe is similar to German, Jewish, and Italian filled doughnuts, but traditional paczki contain a splash of Polish vodka called Spiritus in addition to the flour, eggs, milk, sugar, yeast, and sometimes butter that make up the dough. If you don't get it with the vodka, then it's now a TRUE paczkis.

Also (from Wikipedia)- pączki are made from especially rich dough containing eggs, fats, sugar, yeast and sometimes milk. They feature a variety of fruit and creme fillings and can be glazed, or covered with granulated or powdered sugar. Powidl (stewed plum jam) and wild rose hip jam are traditional fillings, but many others are used as well, including strawberry, Bavarian cream, blueberry, custard, raspberry, and apple.

 

[RedAngie]

The thing is, there are dozens of different "authentic" paczki recipes.

Just like everybody's Italian grandmother made the only authentic minestrone soup.

 

[Dan Murphy]

So, now that the big day has arrived, it should be okay to ask this question. I went to Publix to get some paczkis to see what the hype is about. What am I missing? You can get the same thing all the time, but they're normally called jelly doughnuts. Are ours not really paczkis?

Bought a 4-pack of raspberry ones at Shop Rite. They're from some bakery in Indiana, and I'm guessing they were shipped frozen. Pretty good, but not spectacular.

We got ours from Publix as well. I think the dough consistency is a little different from the jelly doughnuts I get from DD. Other than that they are quite similar. But delicious.

That's how I felt about those ones I got at Walmart. I though the dough should have been sweeter. I knew they wouldn't be like a prime example of the item, being from Walmart and all, but I though it would be different from a jelly donut. The box even had "The Paczi Story" on the side of it. I dunno, I guess they had always been so hyped in my head. Ah, well, I don't give up donuts for Lent, so I'm covered.

Read down a bit on this link to the numbered items, gives some good insight into what makes them different. I'm not in Detroit, but this is a pretty good explanation.

http://www.freep.com/story/life/food/recipes/2017/02/28/paczki-day-fat-tuesday/98504370/

Here are some favorite locations in Chicago.

http://chicago.eater.com/maps/paczki-map-classics-week

A video of some good looking paczkis from the Scafuri Bakery here in Chicago.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BREXnU0jWtA/

And a few others from the same bakery.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ8B5PPj346/?taken-by=scafuribakery

I don't think you would generally find excellent, old-world type paczkis in big box stores like Walmart, Publix or here in Chicago, Jewel. Small, neighborhood bakeries are generally the places to go to get unique items such a paczkis for this special day, or similar for zeppoles for the upcoming St. Joseph's Day in a couple weeks.

http://chicago.eater.com/maps/zeppole-saint-josephs-day-bakery-map

 

[BrianL]

I don't think you would generally find excellent, old-world type paczkis in big box stores like Walmart, Publix or here in Chicago, Jewel. Small, neighborhood bakeries are generally the places to go to get unique items such a paczkis for this special day, or similar for zeppoles for the upcoming St. Joseph's Day in a couple weeks.

Yeah, I didn't figure I'd be getting super authentic ones form Walmart, but I thought they'd at least be different than the other donuts. They really weren't. Unfortunately, local bakeries around here don't do them.

 

[antmaril]

I just want to report back that the cannoli cream filled paczki was worth every fat gram and calorie! Absolutely delicious!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

True Paczkis are different than traditional doughnuts. The recipe is similar to German, Jewish, and Italian filled doughnuts, but traditional paczki contain a splash of Polish vodka called Spiritus in addition to the flour, eggs, milk, sugar, yeast, and sometimes butter that make up the dough. If you don't get it with the vodka, then it's now a TRUE paczkis.

Also (from Wikipedia)- pączki are made from especially rich dough containing eggs, fats, sugar, yeast and sometimes milk. They feature a variety of fruit and creme fillings and can be glazed, or covered with granulated or powdered sugar. Powidl (stewed plum jam) and wild rose hip jam are traditional fillings, but many others are used as well, including strawberry, Bavarian cream, blueberry, custard, raspberry, and apple.

Ours definitely didn't appear to have any vodka in them. Maybe, we'll try them again next year & dip them in vodka.

Read down a bit on this link to the numbered items, gives some good insight into what makes them different. I'm not in Detroit, but this is a pretty good explanation.

http://www.freep.com/story/life/food/recipes/2017/02/28/paczki-day-fat-tuesday/98504370/

Here are some favorite locations in Chicago.

http://chicago.eater.com/maps/paczki-map-classics-week

A video of some good looking paczkis from the Scafuri Bakery here in Chicago.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BREXnU0jWtA/

And a few others from the same bakery.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ8B5PPj346/?taken-by=scafuribakery

I don't think you would generally find excellent, old-world type paczkis in big box stores like Walmart, Publix or here in Chicago, Jewel. Small, neighborhood bakeries are generally the places to go to get unique items such a paczkis for this special day, or similar for zeppoles for the upcoming St. Joseph's Day in a couple weeks.

http://chicago.eater.com/maps/zeppole-saint-josephs-day-bakery-map

Thanks for the info. If we're ever in an area with a large polish population, we'll definitely be on the lookout for something more authentic.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Yeah, I didn't figure I'd be getting super authentic ones form Walmart, but I thought they'd at least be different than the other donuts. They really weren't. Unfortunately, local bakeries around here don't do them.

Our thoughts exactly. We couldn't tell any difference.