Move over, Mardi Gras. Chicago celebrates Fat Tuesday with some serious deep-fried deliciousness. Enter paczki. These round, powder sugar-coated or glazed Polish pastries have traditionally been filled with fruit fillings, custard or mousse.
On Feb. 13, the day before Lent begins, they are a special binge-worthy sweet before the sacrifice. This “little package” of sin has Chicagoans lining up around bakeries all over town. For Paczki Day this year, many bakeries are offering pre-order options. Here are our favorite bakeries to pick up some delicious paczki.
Alliance Bakery
- Address: 1736 W. Division St., Chicago
- Pre-order options: Fill out the Fat Tuesday Order Form (Allow 48 hours for a response)
The flavors are chocolate salted caramel, blueberry lemon, raspberry rose, strawberry and vanilla bean ganache. All paczkis and King Cakes will be available in-store on a first come, first serve basis Feb. 8-13, 2024.
Bennison’s Bakery
- Address: 1000 Davis St., Evanston
- Pre-order options: Order online; A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required for all orders
A North Shore institution since 1938, this bakery is offering plenty of paczki flavors like apple, apricot, banana cream, chocolate custard, chocolate praline, cream cheese, German chocolate, lemon, raspberry and strawberry & whip. They will also be holding their 13th annual paczki eating contest on Feb. 10, 2024.
Delightful Pastries
- Address: 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago
- Pre-order options: Order online
In Jefferson Park, Delightful Pastries provides the famous Polish pastries on their main menu all year. But for Paczki Day, you can enjoy even more flavors! Order their assortment pack, which includes custard topped with chocolate fudge, apricot preserves, plum butter, raspberry preserves and rose petal jelly. Their gourmet flavors are passion fruit jelly, German chocolate, fresh strawberry, espresso chocolate custard topped with Belgian chocolate ganache. Try their Drunken Paczki with flavors such as vodka & vanilla bean custard, whiskey with chocolate custard and Moonshine & lemon. Check out their Paczki Class on Feb. 10 to learn how to make your own.
Deerfields Bakery
- Addresses: 201 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove; 813 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield
- Pre-order options: Order online
Paczki flavors are fresh strawberry, peanut butter, cheery cheese, apple, custard, chocolate custard, apricot, banana cream, birthday cake, blueberry, cherry, cheese, mango, lemon, cookie ‘n cream, raspberry, Nutella, prune, strawberry and salted caramel.
Kolatek’s Bakery & Deli
- Addresses: 2445 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago; 1916 N. Rand Road, Palatine
- Pre-order options: Call or visit in-person to order
Try their regular flavors like apricot, raspberry, cherry, custard, rose, blueberry and plum butter. Their premium flavors are Nutella, tiramisu, rum, limoncello and fresh strawberry with whipped cream.
Oak Mill Bakery
- Addresses: Various locations in Chicagoland
- Pre-order options: Order online
Check out this family-owned European-style bakery for your paczki fix this year.
Orland Park Bakery
- Address: 14850 S. LaGrange Road, Orland Park
- Pre-order options: Order online
Check the bakery’s Instagram to see their Paczki flavor of the day. Good luck choosing just one paczki flavor. Some options that caught our eye in the past, include pineapple, strawberry cheese, and cookies and cream.
Roeser’s Bakery
- Address: 3216 W. North Ave., Chicago
- Pre-order options: Call to order
This Humboldt Park bakery sells all kind of flavors of paczkis each year. Flavors include apple, blueberry, chocolate custard, prune, lemon, caramel custard, Nutella, apricot and many more. Pre-pay for your order to avoid the line.
Smack Dab Chicago
- Address: 6730 N. Clark St., Chicago
- Pre-order options: Order online
This Rogers Park bakery will be serving up paczki on Feb. 12 and 13, 2024. You can suggest your favorite flavors on their Instagram. A portion of sales will benefit You may purchase coffee and other grab and go items that day as well.
Stan’s Donuts
- Address: Various locations in Chicagoland
- Pre-order options: Order online
Of course, Stan’s Donuts is not letting us down on Fat Tuesday. With delicious flavors cherry, pastry cream, chocolate cream and cannoli, we might have to try all of them!
Weber’s Bakery
- Address: 7055 W. Archer Ave., Chicago
- Pre-order options: Call or order online
The bakery’s paczki weekend is Feb. 8-11. They will also be open on Feb. 13 for Paczki Day. Flavors include apple cinnamon, apricot, blueberry, cheese, chocolate custard, custard, strawberry, lemon, Oreo, poppyseed, raspberry peanut butter and strawberry buttercream.
West Town Bakery
- Addresses: 1916 W Chicago Ave, Chicago; 15 E Ohio St., Chicago; 190 South LaSalle St. Lobby, Chicago and 781 N Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling
- Pre-order options: Check website or call to order
This popular bakery is providing customers with five delicious options — raspberry, blueberry streusel, coffee cream, vanilla and chocolate.
Witeks Bakery
- Addresses:8807 95th St., Palos Hills
- Pre-order options: Order online
Create your own custom paczki box and choose from traditional flavors like raspberry, strawberry, rose, prune, apricot, blueberry and custard. Plain pczki are also offered.
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