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. 21 this year. Paczki are also eaten on Fat Thursday in Poland, so celebrations will kick off at many places on Feb. 16 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 tiramisu or peanut butter.
Many spots also combine Fat Tuesday traditions, offering French galette de rois or its showier New Orleans cousin, king cake, as well as other Mardi Gras-themed sweets. In the gloom of February winter, these indulgences will make your day so much sweeter.
Alliance Bakery
The Wicker Park bakery offers six varieties of paczki Feb. 16-22, including vanilla bean ganache ($4.75) and blueberry lemon ($4.25). You can also get a 10-inch king cake for $38. 1736 W. Division St., 773-278-0366, alliancebakery.com
Beatrix
Grab a vanilla custard paczki with dark chocolate icing or a raspberry version coated with powdered sugar for $4.95 at the bakery counter on Paczki Day. Multiple locations, beatrixrestaurants.com
Bennison’s Bakery
Expect long lines at the North Shore staple, which offers 10 varieties of paczki through Feb. 24 including apple sprinkled with cinnamon, cream cheese with powdered sugar and sliced pastry stuffed with banana cream. You’ll also find galette de rois and five types of king cake. 1000 Davis St., Evanston; 847-328-9434; bennisonscakes.com
Beverly Bakery & Cafe
Eleven varieties of paczki are available for $2.99 each or $32 for a dozen including apricot, pineapple and prune. Fresh strawberry paczki are $3.50 each or $20 for a half dozen and king cake is available for $20. Orders can be picked up from 3-6 p.m. Feb. 20 and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 21. 10528 S. Western Ave., 773-238-5580, beverlycoffeeroasters.com
Bittersweet Pastry Shop
Order a $26 box of six brioche paczki filled with vanilla cream or berry jam for pickup or delivery on Feb. 21. The Lakeview bakery also offers mini- ($6) and full-size king cake ($36). 1114 W. Belmont Ave., 773-929-1100, bittersweetpastry.com
Bridgeport Bakery 2.0
Walk-in service hasn’t been available at Bridgeport Bakery due to remodeling, but it’ll be an option from Feb. 19-21 so you can grab 20 varieties of the pastry, including fresh-cut strawberries with powdered sugar, apple, poppy seed and chocolate buttercream ($2.25-$3.79). 2907 S. Archer Ave., 773-523-1121, bridgeportbakerychicago.com
Cafe Selmarie
Place an order by Feb. 17 to pick up paczki from the cafe on Feb. 21. The eight flavors include lemon curd ($3.25) and praline chocolate mousse ($4.40) and you can get an assorted box of a dozen for $38. Get your orders in soon because they regularly sell out. A limited number will be available for walk-ins. 4729 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-989-5595, cafeselmarie.com
Deerfields Bakery
Deerfields is usually closed on Monday, but they’ll be open the day before Paczki Day to give you more time to get your fix of more than 20 flavors, including raspberry ($2.49), salted caramel ($2.99) and peanut butter ($3.99). If you’re treating a big group, order a dozen assorted paczki for $32. Chocolate- and almond-filled king cake is available for $22 along with Mardi Gras-themed cookies ($3.50-$3.95). 201 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove; 813 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield; 847-520-0068; deerfieldsbakery.com
Delightful Pastries
Try the new dulce de leche flavor this year, which adds to the Jefferson Park bakery’s large assortment, including plum butter, passion fruit jelly and vodka with vanilla bean custard. Walk in or place an order by Feb. 17 for a dozen or more. The bakery is normally closed on Sundays, but they’ll be open Feb. 19 for pickups. 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., 773-545-7215, delightfulpastries.com
Do-Rite Donuts
The chain offers raspberry vanilla bean, blackberry lemon sugar and salted caramel custard paczki for pickup at all of its stores Feb. 17-21. Multiple locations, doritedonuts.com
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Familiar Bakery
Visit From Here On or Revival Food Hall Feb. 20-21 to pick up a $27 box of six milk bread paczki in complex flavors, including chili cinnamon chocolate cream and blueberry chamomile. The bakery also serves raspberry and sweet cheese king cake ($40) and galette de rois, the more traditional French version of the pastry, made with pistachio, dark chocolate and green chartreuse ($50). 433 W. Van Buren St.; 125 S. Clark St., familiarbakery.com
Firecakes
Preorders open Feb. 15 for chocolate hazelnut, strawberry mascarpone, blueberry and blood orange paczki available for pickup Feb. 17-21. Multiple locations, firecakesdonuts.com
Hewn
Hewn’s version of paczki is baked instead of fried and stuffed with chocolate pastry cream. Place an order by 8 p.m. Feb. 16 to pick up an $18 four-pack on Feb. 19. King cake is available for $20. 1733 Central St., Evanston; 847-869-4396; hewnbread.com
Ideal Bakery
The Portage Park bakery offers paczki year-round, but you should be sure to order ahead if you want to get some Feb. 20-21. New flavors this year include tiramisu mousse, hazelnut and Oreo cookie ($3.99), though you can also opt for a classic like plum ($1.99) or cream cheese ($2.49). 4765 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-631-6897, idealbakery.net
Kolatek’s Bakery & Deli
The Polish market offers paczki for Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday in a dozen classic and premium flavors, including rose, plum butter, limoncello and tiramisu. 2445 N. Harlem Ave., 773-637-3772; 1916 N. Rand Road, Palatine; 847-221-8271; kolateksbakery.com
Liberation Kitchen
A $26 box available on Fat Tuesday offers six cherry-stuffed vegan versions of the pastry, three glazed and three dusted with powdered sugar. 2054 W. Grand Ave., 312-872-7838, uptonsnaturals.com/restaurants
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. Running from noon to 8 p.m. Feb. 19, the Paczki Fest features boxes of paczki from Bridgeport Bakery and music from the Environmental Encroachment marching band at 4 p.m. 3630 S. Iron St., 773-579-1935, marz.beer
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 traditional Polish flavors such as custard, rose and prune ($47). Orders must be placed by Feb. 16 for pickup on Paczki Day. Multiple locations, oakmillbakery.com
Pticek & Son Bakery
Orders must be placed by Feb. 15 if you want to pick up one of their many types of paczki on Feb. 21, including cheese, peach, buttercream and lemon. 5523 S. Narragansett Ave., 773-585-5500
Racine Bakery
Specializing in Polish and Lithuanian fare, Racine Bakery offers 11 flavors of paczki, including raspberry, apricot and poppy seed, with some versions available in small or large sizes. Orders must be placed by Feb. 14 or Feb. 18 to pick up on Fat Thursday or Fat Tuesday, respectively. 6216 S. Archer Ave., 773-581-8500, racinebakery.com
Roeser’s Bakery
Open at the same location since 1911, Roeser’s offers two dozen types of paczki for Fat Thursday and Paczki Day, including peach ($2.49), caramel custard ($2.05), prune ($2.25) and Nutella ($2.75). King cake is also available for $19. 3216 W. North Ave., 773-489-6900, roeserscakes.com
Smack Dab
Preorders are required if you want to pick up three raspberry lemon curd, chocolate or vanilla pastry cream paczki ($8.25) or two of each of the flavors ($16) on Feb. 21. The Rogers Park breakfast spot also offers a taste of New Orleans with mini king cakes ($10), jambalaya ($13) and red beans and rice ($18). 6730 N. Clark St., 872-241-9111, smackdabchicago.com
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
Start celebrating early with cherry, chocolate cream, pastry cream and cannoli paczki available through Feb. 21. Multiple locations, stansdonuts.com
Sweet Ali’s
The gluten-free bakery offers custard, chocolate custard, raspberry and apple cinnamon paczki, and you can get a $13 four-pack with all fruit, all custard or one of each type to pick up Feb. 17-21. You can also buy a mini king cake that serves four ($14) or a version that’s big enough for eight ($28). 13 W. 1st St., Hinsdale; 630-908-7175; sweetalis.com
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Weber’s Bakery
Lines often reach around the block for Weber’s paczki, which are offered Feb. 16-21. Flavors include custard topped with powdered sugar or chocolate, strawberry buttercream and lemon custard. 7055 W. Archer Ave., 773-586-1234, webersbakery.com
West Town Bakery
Blueberry streusel, coffee cream, chocolate and raspberry paczki are all available for $4 each. Preorders must be placed 72 hours in advance. Multiple locations, westtownbakery.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.