Paczki Day Is February 21st, 2023: Your Guide To Paczki Day At Local Windsor Essex Bakeries

Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Pączki Day (anglicized: POAN-CHKEE), Pancake Tuesday or Fat Tuesday is on Tuesday, February 21st, 2023!

Paczki are deep-fried dough spheres, similar to a doughnuts, that are filled with a sweet filling and covered with powered sugar or icing. Paczki are made from heavy dough with fats, eggs, sugar and dairy.

According to Wikipedia:

In Poland, pączki are eaten especially on Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek), the last Thursday prior to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The traditional reason for making pączki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because their consumption was forbidden by Christian fasting practices during the season of Lent.

In North America, particularly the large Polish communities of Chicago, Detroit, and other large cities across the Midwest and Northeast, Paczki Day is celebrated annually by immigrants and locals alike. The date of this observance merges with that of pre-Lenten traditions of other immigrants (e.g., Pancake Day, Mardi Gras) on Fat Tuesday. With its sizable Polish population, Chicago celebrates the festival on both Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday. Pączki are also often eaten on Casimir Pulaski Day. In Buffalo, Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, South Bend, and Windsor, Pączki Day is celebrated on Fat Tuesday.

The Pączki Day celebrations in some areas are even larger than many celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day. In Hamtramck, Michigan, an enclave of Detroit, there is an annual Pączki Day (Shrove Tuesday) Parade, which has gained a devoted following. Throughout the Metro Detroit area, it is so widespread that many bakeries attract lines of customers for pączki on Pączki Day.

Here’s where to get the delicious Polish treats from local bakeries.

Blak’s Bakery

Address: 1022 Langlois Avenue
Phone: (519) 253-4344
Preordering: Call for more information.
Flavours: Lemon, Raspberry, Custard, Plum, Strawberry, Blueberry, Spiced Apple and Nutella Custard.
Price: $12 Half doz | $21.50 doz

Craftheads

In collaboration with Blak’s Bakery

Address: 89 University Avenue West, Windsor
Phone: (226) 246-3925
Preorders: Available online.
Unique: Limited Edition Chocolate Strawberry Sour Paczki Bottle for the Deluxe Packs.
Flavours: Paczki craft beer available for order with pastries, brewed with Blak’s Bakery Paczki and aged on Paczki filling; Raspberry, Custard, Nutella, Strawberry, Lemon, Spiced Apple, Blueberry, Plum

Demarco’s Fine Foods

Selling: Paczki from Lakeside Bakery
Address: 1349 Grand Marais Road West, Windsor
Phone:(519) 969-7887
Preorders: Recommended by phone; Pickup on the 21st.
Flavours: Lemon, Custard, Raspberry, Plum, Apple, Strawberry and Whipped cream.
Price: $16.99 half doz | $25.99 doz

European Market

Address: 6415 Tecumseh Road East, Windsor
Phone: (519) 915-4466
Preordering: Available by phone.
Flavours: Plum, Raspberry, Strawberry, Lemon, Rosehip and Custard.
Price: $11.00 half doz | $22.00 doz

Healthy Creations Inc.

Address: 333 Dougall Square, Windsor
Phone: (226) 773-7881
Preordering: Highly recommended and being accepted until February 17th.
Unique/Dietary: All Paczki are dairy free; the first 4 flavours listed are also vegan.
Flavours: Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Fudge, Lemon and Custard.
Price: $16.75 half doz | $30 doz

Lakeside Bakery

Address: 286 Erie Street South, Leamington
Phone: (519) 326-2626
Preordering: Available, but not necessary. Minimum three dozen order for custom boxes.
Flavours: Original Poonchkies available in lemon, custard, raspberry, plum, apple, strawberry and whipped cream.

Mancini’s Italia Bakery

Address: 571 Erie Street East, Windsor
Phone: (519) 255-7263
Preordering: Available online.
Flavours (regular): Bavarian Custard, Lemon, and Strawberry
Price (regular): $14.00 half doz | $25.00 doz
Flavours (specialty): Ricotta, Nutella, and Tiramisu
Price (specialty): $16.00 half doz | $30.00 doz

Nana’s Bakery

Address: 2936 Dominion Boulevard, Windsor
Phone: (519) 966-2434
Preordering: Call for more information.
Flavours: Tiramisu, Custard, Blueberry, Strawberry, Lemon
Price: $2.00 ea | $10.00 half doz | $20.00 doz

Plant Joy

Address: 5622 Wyandotte Street East, Windsor
Phone: (226) 246-7196
Preordering: Call for more information.
Unique/dietary: All products are vegan
Flavours: Raspberry, Lemon curd, Custard, Whipped cream, Chocolate whipped cream, Birthday cake, Salted Caramel espresso
Price: $6.00 ea

Stiemar Bakery

Address: 2640 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor
Phone: (519) 966-1625
Preordering: not available; first come first serve on February 20th and 21st.
Flavours: Cherry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Apple, Lemon, Custard, Prune and Chocolate
Price:  $10.50 half doz | $21.00 doz

The Pastry Place

Address: 3392 Dougall Avenue, Windsor
Phone: (519) 915-9939
Preordering: Not available; first come first served on February 20th and 21st.
Flavours: Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Chocolate, Custard, Lemon, Prune, Raspberry; assorted packs are available
Price: $12.00 half doz | $21.00 doz

Tony Blaks Union Bakery

Address: 4081 Tecumseh Road East, Windsor
Phone: (519) 944-4323
Preordering: Available online and via phone call.
Unique/dietary: Paczki are baked
Flavours: Raspberry, Lemon, Custard and Plum. (Plum are glazed, other flavours have powered sugar.)
Price: $2.00 ea | $11.00 half doz | $20.00 doz

Torus Donuts

Address: 3090 Dougall Avenue Unit 405, Windsor
Phone: (519) 969-3456
Preordering: sold out online.
Flavours: Lemon, Blueberry, Raspberry, Vanilla Custard, Chocolate Custard, Pistachio
Price: $18.00 half doz | $33.00 doz

We’ve made considerable effort to verify the accuracy of these flavours and prices but they may vary if stores make changes.  Do you work at a local bakery and have information to add to the guide?  Email us at [email protected].