Quest for Pączki '25

I was reminded that Fat Tuesday approaches as I was grocery shopping last weekend at Woodman's when I saw pączki for sale.

They were from Clyde's Donuts which is in Addison, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.

Believe you me, I was sorely tempted to buy a box but didn't. I am unfamiliar with Clyde's and, though they may have been made by a Polish baker, I wasn't impressed by the flavor selection. Bavarian Cream? Really? And why do you need to add artificial flavor to a raspberry paczek? Besides, I am fan of the more traditional flavors: prune and rose hip.

The odds of me finding these flavors here in Madison are slim. Maybe prune.

I have heard various people from Poland lament the pączki in these parts as being "Americanized" and little more than a jelly doughnut instead of a proper paczek. Although some of these people have turned their noses up at some less than traditional fillings, I think these folks are referring to the dough. It's just not authentic. But I am unable to figure out what about the dough they're referring to.

Somebody at the Polish Heritage Club here in Madison must be able to explain this to me. Otherwise I'll just have to take a pre-Lent trip to Poland.

So, if you're not going to Poland for Fat Thursday, where can a Madisonian get something almost, but not quite entirely unlike pączki?

Bloom Bake Shop is offering strawberry and Bavarian cream for pickup on Fat Tuesday.

Festival Foods has carried them in the past, including prune, if I recall correctly, but a search at their website came up empty.

I've read that Greenbush Bakery has made them in the past but their website and Facebook page don't mention them.

Ditto for Rolling Pink Bake Shop.

Ditto for Metcalfe's.

The Ugly Apple Cafe makes them as well but they're not open on weekends. However, you can order a batch to pick up at Pasture and Plenty. Unfortunately, they mostly come in fancy flavors: Dark Chocolate Custard, Bourbon Vanilla Bean Custard, Raspberry Rosehip and Brandied Plum. Well, at least there's rose hip and plum, even if the latter is brandied.

Beyond Woodman's, I haven't actively sought any pączki out this year but perhaps I will stop by a bakery or two this weekend to seek out the elusive prune paczek.