Fat Tuesday is here, which means that several Metro Detroiters are getting up early to pick up a dozen Paczki, a Polish pastry synonymous with this time of year.

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.

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.

Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, marks the final day of indulgence before the season of Lent begins in many Christian traditions. It is the day before Ash Wednesday, which kicks off a season of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter.

A food that many have come to know and love and consume once a year enjoys its time in the spotlight today. The paczek, plural paczki, is an ultra-rich pastry that is associated with Fat Tuesday at local bakeries.

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.

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)

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!

W hether or not you plan on observing the Christian season of Lent, celebrating Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) is a great excuse to chow down on some desserts. In the past, Lent mean