Fat Tuesday is here, and bakeries across West Michigan are busy filling paczki orders as customers rush to get their hands on the traditional Polish treat. ()

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.

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.

This Paczki Day or Fat Tuesday in metro Detroit will see prices up and some places opting out, but also plenty of unique takes on the Polish pastry.

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)

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.