Paczki, a deep-fried yeast-based stuffed doughnut, originated in Poland as a way to use up butter, eggs and other ingredients that were off limits during Lenten fasting. Polish immigrants brought the tradition to Chicago, and bakeries offer prodigious amounts of the decadent treat around Fat Tuesday or Paczki Day, which falls on Feb. 17 this year. Paczki are also eaten on Fat Thursday in Poland, so celebrations will kick off at many places on Feb. 12 or even earlier.
At the city’s most popular and longest-running bakeries, preorders often sell out and walk-ins can involve waiting in lines that snake around the block. It’s best to pick your paczki well in advance, choosing from classic flavors like plum and custard and novel varieties packed with Dubai chocolate or yuzu curd. In the gloom of February winter, these indulgences will make your day so much sweeter.
The Loop and Near North Side
Bandol Brasserie & Raw Bar
Place an order by Feb. 15 to pick up a half dozen ($20) or dozen ($36) raspberry, custard or chocolate paczki from 7 a.m. to noon on Tuesday. (100 W. Monroe St., 312-877-5713, bandolrestaurant.com)
North Side & Northwest Side
Au Levain
The North Center bakery offers four-packs containing chocolate-glazed Boston cream, salted pistachio, strawberry jam and coconut cream paczki ($24). (4301 N. Lincoln Ave., exploretock.com/au-levain)
Daisies
Pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky offers vanilla cream and raspberry paczki by the half dozen for $24. (2375 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-697-9443, exploretock.com/daisieschicago)
Smack Dab
Order a trio of passionfruit lemon curd, red berry jam or hazelnut chocolate pastry cream paczki ($12) from the Rogers Park breakfast spot or get two of each for $23. (6730 N. Clark St., 872-241-9111, exploretock.com/smackdabchicago)
Somethin’ Sweet Donuts
The family-owned bakery offers nine varieties of paczki by the half dozen ($24) and dozen ($46), including cheese, apricot, raspberry and apple. (4456 N. Kedzie Ave., 773-754-0014, somethinsweetdonuts.com)
West Side & Near West Side
Alliance Bakery
The West Town bakery offers eight varieties of paczki Jan. 30 to Feb. 17 including mango tajin ($6.95), vanilla bean ganache ($4.95), blueberry lemon ($4.95) and raspberry rose ($4.95). (1837 W. Grand Ave., 773-278-0366, alliancebakery.com)
Heritage Restaurant
Pick up eight varieties of paczki including yuzu curd with sea salt, red velvet with cream cheese frosting, and pimento cheese by the half dozen ($42) or dozen ($80) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Beetle Bar & Grill. (2532 W. Chicago Ave, 773-384-0701, heritage-chicago.com)
Scafuri Bakery
The Little Italy bakery offers eight varieties of paczki including Bavarian cream with chocolate fudge, apple with cinnamon sugar and lemon glazed raspberry ($4-$4.50 or $48 for a dozen). (1337 W. Taylor St., 312-733-8881, scafuribakery.com)
South Side & Near South Side
Marz Community Brewing Co.
The brewery celebrates its Polish heritage with the annual release of a paczki double milk stout made with lactose and cocoa nibs. This year, they’re also celebrating Filipino flavors with an ube version. The Paczki Fest kicking off at 10 a.m. Sunday features paczki from Racine Bakery, paczki sandwiches from Taco Sublime, and performances from the Wici Song and Dance Theater and the Environmental Encroachment marching band. Pick up a variety pack featuring a raspberry, blueberry, custard with chocolate and rosehip paczki for $15. (3630 S. Iron St., 773-579-1935, marz.beer)
Weber’s Bakery
Lines often reach around the block for Weber’s paczki, which come in various flavors, including custard topped with powdered sugar or chocolate, strawberry buttercream and apple cinnamon for $1.85 or $22 for a dozen. (7055 W. Archer Ave., 773-586-1234, webersbakery.coml)
Suburban and multiple locations
Beatrix
Stop by the coffee and pastry counter for raspberry, salted caramel, Boston cream and lemon toasted coconut paczki ($5.50) from Do-Rite Donuts. (Multiple locations, beatrixrestaurants.com)
Bennison’s Bakery
Expect long lines at this staple, which offers 11 varieties of paczki through Feb. 20 including apple, cream cheese and sliced pastry stuffed with banana cream. Stuff your face at the annual paczki eating contest Saturday. (1000 Davis St., Evanston, 847-328-9434, bennisonscakes.com)
Buck Russell’s Bakery & Sandwich Shop
Snack on strawberry and cream or chocolate paczki ($4.50). (1137 Greenleaf Ave., Wilmette, 847-920-4222, buckrussells.com)
Deerfields Bakery
Deerfields is usually closed on Mondays, but it’ll be open on Feb. 16 to give you more time to get your fix of 20 flavors including raspberry, caramel apple and pistachio cream ($2.99-$3.99). If you’re treating a big group, order a dozen assorted paczki for $36. (201 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, and 813 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-520-0068; deerfieldsbakery.com)
Do-Rite Donuts
The chain offers raspberry, salted caramel, Boston cream and lemon toasted coconut paczki ($5.50) Feb. 12-17. (Multiple locations, doritedonuts.com)
Hewn
Hewn’s version of paczki are baked instead of fried and stuffed with lemon or mixed berries. Four-packs ($20) are available fresh or as take-and-bake kits. (Multiple locations, hewnbread.com)
Jarosch Bakery
The recently relocated bakery offers traditional paczki stuffed with raspberry, strawberry, custard, lemon or plum. (111 E. Higgins Road, Elk Grove Village, 847-437-1234, jaroschbakery.com)
KD Market
The Polish grocery store opens at 4 a.m. Fat Thursday and 6 a.m. Fat Tuesday to offer traditional handmade paczki stuffed with custard, plum butter, black currant or apricot for $14 for a half dozen. (Multiple locations, mykdmarket.com)
Morkes Chocolates
The family-owned chocolatier serves seven varieties of paczki ($3.95), including chocolate banana cream drizzled with chocolate fudge, key lime cream cheese with graham cracker sprinkles, and strawberry mousse. (1890 N. Rand Road, Palatine, 847-359-3454, morkeschocolates.com)
Oak Mill Bakery
Choose from several variety packs such as a gourmet assortment featuring six halved paczki filled with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, sour cherry and cream cheese, or chocolate with raspberry preserves ($30), or a box of 12 of the bakery’s most popular flavors such as custard with dark chocolate frosting, rose and prune ($48). Individual paczki are $4-$7. Orders can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. (Multiple locations, oakmillbakery.com)
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
Raspberry, strawberry, chocolate pastry cream, pastry cream and cannoli paczki are available through Fat Tuesday for $3.75 each, $11 for a three-pack or $39 for a dozen. (Multiple locations, stansdonuts.com)
West Town Bakery
Dubai chocolate, banana Nutella and raspberry paczki are available for $30 for six or $59 for a dozen, with single servings sold at the Chicago Avenue location on Fat Tuesday. (1916 W. Chicago Ave. and 15 E. Ohio St., westtownbakery.com)
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
