Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, marking the end of Carnival season. The holiday is celebrated in New Orleans and around the world, but what exactly is Fat Tuesday, and why is it also called Paczki day?

Discover local bakeries offering a wide range of paczki flavors, from the classics to unique options around West Michigan on Fat Tuesday.

Short answer: no. Think of the paczek as the jelly doughnut’s lavish cousin. While a good jelly doughnut is light and airy, a paczek is denser and more brioche-lik, thanks to more eggs in the dough.

Paczki Day, also known as Fat Tuesday, is being celebrated across Chicago March 4, 2025. Here are 25 bakeries to find the Polish treat.

Celebrate Fat Tuesday with Murphy's massive batch of paczki, featuring classic and new flavors for the Thumb area.

In Metro Detroit, the focus is on Polish paczki, and bakeries from all backgrounds roll out the lard and sugar for fruit- and custard-filled confections. Polish bakeries are well-stocked, of course, but even the area's many Italian bakeries get in on the fun with the now-popular and expected cannoli paczki.

The fried treats were born out of a melding of European Carnival and Catholic cultures that were brought to Milwaukee by Polish immigrants.

Bakeries across Metro Detroit are getting ready for a rush of paczki shoppers next week looking for a Fat Tuesday treat. Why it matters: Fat Tuesday is the day before Lent — 40 days of pre-Easter prayer and reflection when Christians traditionally forgo indulgences like sweets.

This semla recipe will provide you with lightly sweet buns filled with hidden almond marzipan below the mounds of gorgeous whipped cream! They are a delicious way to celebrate Fat Tuesday with a Swedish twist!

Fat Tuesday is a staple of every culinary calendar, but you may have a harder time getting your hands on a tasty paczki this year. (Feb. 28, 2025)