I don’t know about you, but every time I type the word paczki, I have to look up the spelling and subsequently realize I had been spelling it wrong. These Polish pre-Lenten baked delicacies, pronounced “punch-key,” are one of Pittsburgh’s most popular baked goods. And once you eat one, you’ll be so keen to ask for more that you’ll never forget their spelling again.
Traditionally, Catholics eat them on Fat Tuesday and Fat Thursday, the sort of carbs and liquor free-for-alls before Lent starts, to get that one last taste of sugary delight before abstaining through Easter. (Also, on a more logistical level, it’s a way to use up all of those ingredients before they go bad for a month). Fat Tuesday falls on March 4 this year, and Fat Thursday on February 27. My partner once joked to me that “I stopped drinking, I stopped smoking – but the one thing I can indulge in is paczki.” So, even if you’re skipping the Mardi Gras celebrations, Paczki is the Ohio Valley’s vice. Treat yourself to one this spring from these Pittsburgh bakeries.
Where to Find Pittsburgh’s Best Paczki
Oakmont Bakery
1 Sweet Street
What other bakery in Pittsburgh has its own customized street address? You know Oakmont Bakery means business before you even walk in there. They start their paczki production on January 6 and serve them all the way through Easter, so if you’re being, shall we say, a bit loose in your observance of Lent, you can still get your paczki fix all winter.
Potomac Bakery
300 Mt. Lebanon Blvd
Potomac Bakery kicked off their paczki service on January 13 and has a variety of savory fruit fillings so you feel like you’re getting a little bit of health benefit in all that sugar and deep-fried dough.
Polska Laska
1100 N Canal Street
Though availability is limited, Pittsburgh’s newest Polish food hotspot also will be offering pacszki. Polska Laska in Sharpsburg has their take on this delicious treat on a first-come, first-serve basis. They open at 11AM, so get there early!
Kretchmar’s
664 Third Street
You might remember Kretchmar’s as a contestant in our Burnt Almond Torte tasting. But they don’t just do cakes—they also have some of Pittsburgh’s best paczki, making it well worth the drive out to Beaver to get them.
Party Cake Shop
706 Brookline Blvd
People who are serious about paczki swear by Party Cake in the South Hills for their authenticity and uniqueness. They started serving paczki in late January and will have them through Fat Tuesday, so go while you can and stock up!
S&D Polish Deli
2204 Penn Avenue
S&D is your one-stop shop for all things Polish, including paczki. They’re first-come-first-serve, so hurry up to the counter and get yours. Beyond the traditional plain, strawberry, and cream S&D is offering rose hip, lemon, apricot, raspberry, and even Nutella paczkis.
Story by Emma Riva
Photo courtesy of Oakmont Bakery
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