[Last updated 2/8/23. Scroll down for 2023 updates for 2023!]
That final Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the traditional start of Lent, goes by many names: Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday, and… Paczki Day. For 2023, this falls on Tuesday, February 21.
Paczki (which is pronounced “PUNCH-key”) originated in eastern Europe, when observers of Lent needed to use up all the fun ingredients they would abstain from during the season, like butter, sugar, and lard. What better way to do that than mixing up balls of sugary dough and frying them?
Paczki are essentially giant, yeast-raised donuts, typically dusted with powdered sugar and filled with custard or jelly.
Although Columbus doesn’t have large eastern European roots (especially compared to, say, northeast Ohio), a few bakeries around town fry up paczki. Many grocery stores like Kroger, Meijer, Walmart, Giant Eagle, or Marc’s offer them, but I encourage you to support small businesses instead. Here’s where to find them from local bakeries and restaurants in 2023!
Resch’s Bakery
Resch’s, serving up the good stuff on Livingston Avenue since 1912, is already offering paczki for 2023! They suggest calling ahead or stopping in early, as they do sell out. They stuff their paczki with lemon, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, and chocolate.
Rose Dough Donuts
Rose Dough Donuts, operating out of 1400 Food Lab, will again be offering up paczki on Saturday, Feb. 18 and Tuesday, Feb. 21. They’ll be available for pre-order and pickup only; orders open on Monday, Feb. 13. Flavors will include raspberry jam, tiramisu, creme brulee, and fried ice cream.
Destination Donuts
Destination Donuts said they will be offering paczki this year (usually a vegan version), but as they’re closed Tuesdays, it won’t be on Fat Tuesday itself. Stay tuned for more info!
Kolache Republic
For the first time ever, Kolache Republic will be making paczki. They’ll be available the weekend before, February 17-19, in raspberry cream and blueberry cream.
Original Goodie Shop
The Goodie Shop in Upper Arlington is making paczki for Fat Tuesday and filling them with lemon, Bavarian cream, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, and apricot. Here’s the key: you can pre-order them any day of the year; they’re only available for walk-up purchases on Mardi Gras itself.
Buckeye Donuts (Campus)
The campus location will have paczki starting around noon on the Monday before and throughout the day of Mardi Gras! They fry up apple, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, lemon, and custard donuts.
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing
On Fat Tuesday this year, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing will be offering free paczki with purchase of a flight and on their a la carte menu.
My Old World Bakery
This Hilltop bakery confirmed they’ll be doing paczki as well. Typically they have raspberry and lemon, although they said they can do other flavors if you give them advance notice. To order, they suggest giving them a call: 614-278-8046.
Buckeye Donuts (South Side)
The Buckeye Donuts on the South Side confirmed by phone that they will have paczki this year on Fat Tuesday. Flavors are TBD, but give them a call to check availability: (614) 443-7470.
Sweet CLE-bus!
UPDATE 2023: Sweet CLE-bus said in her newsletter that she doesn’t plan on doing paczki this year. If she does, her newsletter subscribers would be the first to know. Sweet CLE-bus! is a newer storefront on Lazelle Road in Westerville, mainly operating as a purveyor of pierogi. But for Mardi Gras she’ll be serving paczki as well.
Pierogi Mountain
UPDATE 2023: Pierogi Mountain has confirmed they are NOT doing paczki. This Polish outpost downtown just announced they’ll be serving up vegan paczki to go with pierogis, goulash, and other delights today.
Whether you’re abstaining from sweets during Lent or you just need an excuse to get a donut, skip the grocery stores this Mardi Gras and visit a local bakery!
And if donuts aren’t your thing, order a king cake from a Columbus bakery!
