Pączki

Pączki are a type of Polish doughnut, traditionally deep fried and filled with fruit jam or custard. They are usually eaten on Fat Thursday, the last Thursday before Lent.

Ingredients

• 250ml milk
• 50g fresh yeast or 2 tsp instant yeast
• 60g sugar
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp salt
• 650g plain flour
• 100g butter, softened
• vegetable oil, for frying
• jam or custard, for filling

Method

1. Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it is lukewarm. If using fresh yeast, dissolve in the milk. If using instant yeast, simply add to the milk.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the milk, yeast, sugar, egg and salt. Add the flour and mix until everything is well combined.
3. Knead the dough for 10 minutes by hand, or 5 minutes in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, until it is smooth and elastic. Add the softened butter and knead for a further 5 minutes.
4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, until it has doubled in size.
5. When the dough has risen, divide into 12-16 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place on a greased baking tray. Cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise for a further 30 minutes.
6. Heat the oil in a large saucepan or deep fryer. Carefully lower the doughnuts into the oil, a few at a time, and fry for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
7. Once all the doughnuts are cooked, make a small hole in the side of each one and fill with jam or custard. Serve immediately.

Potential changes & improvements

For a lighter pączki, you could try baking them instead of frying. Simply place them on a greased baking tray and bake at 200°C for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

What other food it works well with

Pączki are traditionally served with a hot drink such as coffee or tea.

Common Mistakes

One common mistake when making pączki is to over-fill them. Be sure to make a small hole and only fill them with a small amount of filling, otherwise they will be difficult to eat and the filling may leak out.

Nutritional Information

Each pączki contains approximately:

• 200 calories
• 10g fat
• 25g carbohydrates
• 3g protein

Allergens

Pączki contain the following allergens:

• Wheat
• Egg
• Milk