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. 21, 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.
Note: We’re updating our website as quickly as we can, but changes may occur due to COVID-19. Please double check before heading out for the most updated information on safety precautions, vaccine requirements and any last-minute cancellations.
Alliance Bakery
- Address: 1736 W. Division St., Chicago
- Phone: 773-278-0366
- 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. 16-22, 2023.
Bennison’s Bakery
- Address: 1000 Davis St., Evanston
- Phone: 847-328-9434
- 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 12th annual paczki eating contest on Feb. 18, 2023.
Bridgeport Bakery
- Address: 2907 S. Archer Ave., Chicago
- Phone: 773-523-1121
- Pre-order options: Order online; Must order at least by 8 p.m. the night before your pick-up date
Bridgeport Bakery has always been a Chicago staple and one of our favorite spots to pick up paczki. This year, it has 22 wonderful flavors ranging from apple and lemon to peanut butter jelly. Walk-in service is available Feb. 19-21, 2023.
Delightful Pastries
- Address: 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago
- Phone: 773-545-7215
- Pre-order options: Order online
In Portage 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 jelly, plum butter, raspberry jelly and rose petal jelly. Their gourmet flavors are passion fruit jelly, German chocolate, fresh strawberry, fresh strawberry & whipped cream and Dulce de Leche. Try their Drunken Paczki with flavors such as vodka & vanilla bean custard, Jameson whiskey with chocolate custard and Moonshine & lemon. Check out their Paczki Class on Feb. 18 to learn how to make your own.
Deerfields Bakery
- Addresses: 201 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove; 813 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield
- Phone: 847-520-0068
- 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.
Familiar Bakery – Revival Food Hall
- Address: 125 S. Clark St., Chicago
- Phone: 773-770-6241
- Pre-order options: Order pickup or delivery online
Their assorted paczki box comes with six flavors. They are blueberry chamomile, coconut cream & macadamia buttercrunch, raspberry rose, chili cinnamon chocolate cream, passionfruit black pepper and Persian spiced apple butter. Other Mardi Gras options are Galette Des Rois and King Cake.
Kolatek’s Bakery & Deli
- Addresses: 2445 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago; 1916 N. Rand Road, Palatine
- Phone: 773-637-3772
- Pre-order options: Call to order, order on Facebook or in-person
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
- Phone: 773-788-9800
- 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
- Phone: 708-349-8516
- Pre-order options: Order online
Check the bakery’s Instagram to see their Paczki flavor on 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
- Phone: 773-489-6900
- 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
- Phone: 872-241-9111
- Pre-order options: Order online
The bakery will be open 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, for pick up. You may purchase coffee and other grab and go items that day as well. Paczki flavors are vanilla pastry cream, chocolate, apricot jam, raspberry ham, black cherry jam and lemon curd. Also, offers Mardi Gras items.
Stan’s Donuts
- Address: Various locations in Chicagoland
- Pre-order options: Order online (Pre-orders start on Feb. 8)
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
- Phone: 773-586-1234
- Pre-order options: Call or order online
Pre-order for Paczki Day begins Feb. 16. The bakery will be open on Feb. 21 from 4 a.m.-3 p.m. Flavors include fresh strawberry with whipped cream, custard with chocolate top, strawberry buttercream, Oreo, peanut butter and jelly, chocolate custard and lemon custard.
West Town Bakery
- Addresses: Various locations in Chicagoland
- 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.
This post is updated annually.
Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.
