Polish Baked Paczki
Delicious baked Polish donuts filled with your choice of sweet filling, perfect for Mardi Gras or any day you crave something sweet.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup Warm milk Not hot
- 2 tsp Active dry yeast or instant yeast If using active dry yeast, allow to bloom.
- 1/4 cup Sugar For the dough
- 2 large Eggs Plus one egg yolk
- 4 Tbsp Butter Melted and cooled slightly
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Optional
- 3-4 cups All-purpose flour Gradually add to make a soft dough
Fillings
- 1 cup Raspberry or strawberry jam Thick
- 1 cup Lemon curd For a bright, tangy bite
- 1 cup Vanilla pastry cream Classic bakery vibe
- 1/2 cup Nutella Warmed slightly for easy piping
- 1 cup Thick apple butter Spiced filling
Finishing Touch
- 1 cup Powdered sugar For dusting or glazing
Instructions
Preparation
- If using active dry yeast, stir it into warm milk with a pinch of sugar and let it sit until foamy, about 5 to 10 minutes. If using instant yeast, you can mix it directly with the dry ingredients.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolk, sugar, salt, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir.
- Gradually add flour until the dough is soft and slightly sticky. Knead by hand or with a mixer for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth.
- Put the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise until doubled, about 60 to 90 minutes in a warm kitchen.
Shaping
- Gently punch down the dough, roll it out to 1/2 inch thick, and cut circles with a biscuit cutter.
- Place the cut circles on a parchment lined baking sheet with space between them.
- Cover and let them rise again for 30 to 45 minutes.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the paczki until lightly golden and cooked through, 10 to 14 minutes.
Finishing Steps
- Let them cool until just warm. Poke a hole in the side and pipe in your filling using a pastry or zip-top bag.
- Dust with powdered sugar or dip the tops in a simple glaze.
Notes
For extra coziness, brush the warm tops with melted butter before dusting with sugar. Bake a simple side dish like baked potatoes to complement the paczki.