Paczki (Polish Doughnuts)
Celebrate Fat Thursday in style with a batch of homemade Paczki! It's said that eating a stack of paczki brings good luck for the coming year.
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 351kcal
Ingredients
For the Paczki
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast i.e. 1 packet
- ¼ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar divided
- 2 large egg yolks room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour divided
- vegetable oil or canola oil for frying
{optional} For Jam Filling
- 1 cup fruit jam
{Optional} For Custard Filling
- 3 large egg yolks
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup whole milk divided
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Paczki
- Using a microwave or small sauce pan, warm the milk. (Note: Do not overheat the milk as that will kill the yeast. The ideal temperature is 105-110°F, or milk that feels just warm to the touch.)
- Stir yeast into warm milk; let sit for 5 minutes.
- Using a stand mixer, cream together butter and ¼ cup of granulated sugar until light and fluffy (~2-3 minutes on medium speed). (Note: The remaining ½ cup of sugar will be used for coating the paczki after they are fried.)
- Add egg yolks, vanilla and salt; mix on low speed until well combined.
- Add 1½ cups of flour; mix on low speed until well combined.
- Add milk and yeast mixture; mix on low speed until well combined.
- Add remaining 1½ cups of flour; mix on low speed until well combined. (Note: The dough should be soft, but not sticky. If it is sticking to the sides of the bowl, add up to ¼ cup of additional flour.)
- Transfer dough into an oiled large bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. (Note: This will take at least 1 hour, but could take up to 2 hours.)
- Transfer dough to a lightly-floured work surface and fold several times. Return dough to oiled bowl, cover and let rise for 45 more minutes.
- Transfer dough to a lightly-floured surface and roll into a ~9”x9” square (½” thick).
- Using a 3” round biscuit cutter, cut rounds of dough and transfer to a parchment lined sheet pan. Reroll remaining dough and continue cutting 3” rounds until all of the dough has been used.
- Cover dough lightly and let rest in a warm location until doubled in size (~30-45 minutes).
- Using a Dutch oven or a deep fryer, heat oil to 350°F. (Note: A candy thermometer is an easy way to monitor oil temperature.)
- Working in batches of 3-4 at a time, carefully lower dough into hot oil. For 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown. Flip paczki over and continue frying for 1-2 more minutes, or until golden brown.
- Transfer cooked paczki to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool for 30 seconds. While still hot, roll fried paczki in remaining ½ cup of granulated sugar (from above). Let paczki cool completely.
- Repeat process until all paczki are fried. (Note: Wait several minutes in between rounds of flying so that the oil can return to 350°F.)
- {Optional} Once cooled, poke a hole in the side of the paczki. Using a pastry bag, fill with desired jam or custard. (Note: Paczki are best eaten the day they are made.)
For the Custard Filling
- Using a medium heatproof bowl, add egg yolks, flour and sugar; whisk until well combined.
- Add ¼ cup of milk; whisk until well combined. Set mixture aside.
- Pour remaining milk (¾ cup) into a small saucepan. Add vanilla extract; stir until well combined.
- Place saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer, stirring often.
- Once simmering, slowly pour the hot milk into the bowl with the egg yolks, whisking constantly while you pour.
- Return mixture to saucepan and place over low heat. Cook, stirring often, until mixture thickens and begins to boil. Continue cooking for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
- Pour/press mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl; press plastic wrap to the surface of the custard. Let custard cool to room temperature.
Nutrition
Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg
