Pączki
Pączki are the traditional Polish jam-filled doughnuts, with a history dating back to the Middle Ages, evolving over time from simple fried dough into a rich, yeasted treat reserved for celebrations. Historical recipes were often flavoured with rakia or alcohol in the dough, a technique used to prevent excessive oil absorption during frying. In Poland, Fat Thursday, the Thursday before Lent, is known as the unofficial pączki day, when bakery queues stretch down the streets and people consume, on average, more doughnuts than during the rest of the year combined. The traditional rose petal jam filling, made from candied rose petals, remains the most authentic version, though plum jam and, more recently, modern chocolate or vanilla creams have gained popularity in recent decades.
Fluffy dough
A rich, yeasted dough with egg and butter
Jam filling
A core of rose petal or plum jam
Deep fried
Fried for a light, golden crust
Sugar glaze
Topped with thin icing or powdered sugar
Ingredients 4 servings
- 500 g flour
- 25 g fresh yeast
- 150 ml warm milk
- 60 g sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 80 g soft butter
- 200 g rose petal or plum jam
- Oil for frying
- 100 g icing sugar for glaze
How to make it
- 1Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk with a teaspoon of sugar and let it foam for 10 minutes.
- 2Beat the egg yolks with the remaining sugar until pale, then add the dissolved yeast and flour, mixing together.
- 3Knead the dough, gradually adding the soft butter, for about 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth, elastic and slightly glossy.
- 4Cover and let rise in a warm place for an hour, until doubled in size.
- 5Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1.5 cm thickness and cut out circles with a glass or round cutter.
- 6Put a teaspoon of jam in the centre of half the circles, cover with the other half and seal the edges firmly, pressing well.
- 7Let the doughnuts rise again for 30 minutes on a floured tray, then fry in oil heated to 175°C, 2-3 minutes per side, until golden.
- 8Drain on paper towels, let cool slightly, then glaze with icing sugar mixed with a little water.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
