Tuesday, February 25, 2020 is Paczki Day!



Don’t feel bad if you don’t know what Paczki Day is. Until a few years ago I was unaware of this confection day. In fact how I found out I was driving by a bakery and there was a line out the door. So of course I had to stop and find out. Response. It’s Paczki Day! It’s what?

“Paczki, pronounced PUNCH-key, are a Polish jelly-filled doughnut, traditionally served before the Lenten season begins.” Paczki are circular deep-fried doughnuts filled with various fillings such as apricot, lemon, custard, vanilla cream, blueberry, peach, cherry and more.

Since learning about paczki, I have made an effort to grab a bucket every year and share them with those who don’t know what a paczki is. I like to call them Ohio snowballs of flavor since they seem to make an appearance during the middle of winter.

Where can you find these donuts? After much research (sampling) and reader input, I have listed below the top places to find paczki in Northern Ohio. (Please note that we have made every attempt to include flavors and current pricing for each bakery. Prices and flavors may be subject to change.)

CUYAHOGA COUNTY

Colozza’s Bakery

Location: 5880 Ridge Road, Parma, OH 44129

440.885.0453 | website

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 7:00am – 5:30pm | Sunday & Monday: Closed

Flavors: marshmallow, raspberry, cannoli, chocolate mousse, pistachio, custard, apricot, peanut butter fudge, apple, blueberry, lemon and tiramisu.

2020 price: $1.75 | $10 1/2 doz. | $18 doz.

Becker’s Donuts

Location: 22088 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH 44126

440.734.9856 | website

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 530AM-4PM | Friday & Saturday 530AM-6PM

Sunday 530AM-3PM | Monday CLOSED

Flavors: white cream, chocolate cream, Bavarian cream, raspberry jelly, strawberry jelly and blueberry, poppy seed, prune, lemon, pineapple, and apricot.

2020 price: $2.25 | $25 a dozen

Rudy’s Bakey

Location: 5580 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio

440.886.4430 | website

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 8am -5pm |Friday closed Sunday & Monday (will be open for Mon. 3/4 for Paczki Eve – time TBA)

Flavors:

Sweet Paczki – apple, apricot, blueberry, butter cream, cherry, chocolate butter cream, chocolate custard, coconut, custard, hough, lemon, marshmallow, mocha, pina colada, pineapple, prune, poppyseed, raspberry, rose petal jelly, strawberry, and Sweet Moses hot chocolate.

Savory Paczki – Breakfast of Champions, Clevelander (sauerkraut & kielbasa), Parma (potato & cheese), Polish Village (potato & cheese, kraut & kielbasa), and Westparker (corned beef & cabbage).

2020 price:

Sweet Paczki $1.85 each ($2. for Sweet Moses), $11. half dozen, $21 full dozen

Savory Paczki – sold by the piece: $3.50

It is suggested that you pre-order in order to guarantee your favorite flavors. To pre-order click here.

Samosky’s Home Bakery

6379 Pearl Rd., Cleveland, OH 44130

440.845.3377 | Facebook

Hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Holiday hours vary.

Flavors: marshmallow, raspberry, cherry, chocolate cream, poppy seed, prune, pineapple, apricot, apple, blueberry, lemon, strawberry, vanilla cream, and custard.

2020 price: Filled: $1.35 each| $15. doz. Unfilled: $1.15 each | $12. doz.

(The unfilled can be rolled in cinnamon or sugar.)









LAKE COUNTY

Biagio’s Donut Shop

35475 Vine St., Eastlake, OH 44095

440.942.5541 | Facebook

Celebrating over 55 years in business.

Hours: M-SAT 4AM – Midnight | SUN 9AM-11PM

Flavors: Black raspberry, strawberry, lemon, apple, white cream, and chocolate cream.

2020 price: $1.25 each | $15 a dozen.

Gartman Model Bakery

30 N State St., Painesville, OH 44077

440.357.6883 | website

Hours: M-F 6:30AM-5:30PM | SAT 6:30AM-5PM | SUN – closed

Flavors: cinnamon buttercream, vanilla cream, chocolate cream, custard, marshmallow, raspberry, cherry, prune, strawberry, lemon, blueberry, apple, poppy seed, and apricot.

2020 price: $1.25 each | 4-pack $ 5. | $15 doz.

LORAIN COUNTY

Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery

2267 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst, OH 44001

440.282-2700 | website

The Kiedrowski Bakery has been selling Paczki’s for over 30 years. Their paczki’s are hand rolled on a Polish maple table.

Hours: Tues – Sat: 6 am – 6 pm |Sunday: 7 am – 3 pm | Mondays: Closed

Flavors: They offer 5 flavors. The traditional paczki, an apricot paczki, a poppy seed paczki, a rose paczki, which is filled with an Old World Rose Marmalade jelly, and the Lekvar paczki, a blended sweetened creamed prune.

2020 price: $1.25 each | $15 dozen.

On February 16, 2020, the 23rd Paczki Ball is held at German’s Villa, in Vermilion. A traditional Polish dinner and all you can eat Paczki’s are served. Reservations are required. For more information click here.

MAHONING COUNTY

Krakus Polish Deli & Bakery

7050 Market St., Suite 108

Boardman, Ohio 44512

330.758.8333 | Facebook

Hours: Tuesday – Friday 10am-6pm | Saturday 10am-3pm

Flavors: TBA



2020 price: TBA

SUMMIT COUNTY

Stan’s Northfield Bakery

9395 Olde 8 Rd., Northfield, OH

330.467.8655 | website

Hours: M-F 5AM-5PM | SAT 5AM-3PM

Flavors: Raspberry jelly, strawberry jelly, vanilla buttercream, chocolate buttercream, custard “Bavarian” cream, chocolate custard, coconut custard, apple, apricot, cream cheese, prune “Lekvar”, blueberry, lemon and plain. *Special flavors include marshmallow meringue, poppy seed, and nut.

The bakery suggests that you order ahead to guarantee the Paczki’s that you may want. Walk-ins are still welcome, but no guarantees.

Click here for order form.

2020 price: $1.75 each | $21 per dozen

(*Nut, poppy seed and marshmallow are an additional charge)

Even if you are not Polish, it is always a wonderful experience to enjoy one of northern Ohio’s ethnic foods while learning about their traditions. We do recommend you purchase your’s early as the Paczki’s move fast on Fat Tuesday.

Want to know more about how Paczki Day came to be? I found this wonderful article at PolAmJournal.com.

Article and photos: Diane Rock

Rocky Hill | MyOhioFun.com

Editor’s note: Part of this story ran in 2019. The donut pricing has been updated for the 2020 season. (Please note we called each bakery in January, 2020 for current prices. All prices are subject to change.) Any use of the above article or images without prior permission, will be in violation of copyright laws.

For more fun things to do in Northern Ohio visit NorthernOhioTourism.com.







