It’s that time of year when Pittsburgh is filling up on paczki (pronounced puhnch·kee) — a round, Polish pastry filled with cream, custard, or jelly. If you’re thinking of a jelly doughnut, think again; these traditional treats are much richer and thicker (like brioche), and they’re fried longer.
Paczki are beloved in Pittsburgh and across the Midwest, where a lot of Polish immigrants settled in the late 19th and 20th centuries, but their roots go back to the Middle Ages when pagan and Christian customs merged. Christians served them on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras), the day before Lenten fasting starts on Ash Wednesday. Fasting was really strict in Medieval times, and baking paczki was a way for families to use up their butter, sugar, lard, and eggs.
Most bakeries sell paczki up until Mardi Gras — so here’s your last minute guide to snagging these scrumptious treats.
📍Strip District
Paczki are first come, first serve at this deli on Penn Ave. — no preorders! In addition to the classics, dig into unique flavors like rosehip, apricot, and nutella. While you’re there, pick up some hot haluszki, kielbasa, or pierogi for dinner.
📍Dormont & Mt. Lebanon
This bakery has been family-owned and operated since 1927. Swing by for paczki filled with custard, lemon, apple, blueberry, and more. They’re only on the regular menu until Fat Tuesday, but you can put in a special order for them anytime.
📍Bethel Park
If you want to indulge beyond Fat Tuesday, Bethel Bakery is your spot; their paczki season runs until Easter! Try classics like French buttercream and Bavarian cream, or get in on special weekly flavors like caramel latte, Irish cream, and strawberry crunch. Can’t decide? Get the Mardi Gras variety pack.
Mardi Gras is Party Cake Shop’s busiest day of the year. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
📍Brookline
This spot on Brookline Blvd. has been dishing out the same recipe for over 60 years, with fillings like vanilla custard, lemon custard, vanilla and chocolate buttercream, peanut butter buttercream, strawberry buttercream, and raspberry jelly.
📍Beaver
It’s worth the 30-minute drive outside of the city for these goodies. Find classics like chocolate and vanilla, plus fruity flavors like cherry, strawberry, and apricot.
📍Oakmont
Head east down the Allegheny River to score some hard-to-find flavors like prune, maple bacon, cookie dough, and coconut. Like Bethel Bakery, they carry paczki through Easter.
📍Just about everywhere
Have a hankering while you’re grocery shopping? A bunch of Giant Eagles locations sell paczki at their bakery. Get a variety pack, or put it in a special order.
