Fat Tuesday, recognized as the last day to indulge in sweets before Lent, is Feb. 17 this year. It’s also one of the busiest days for local bakeries as it’s also Pączki Day, a popular holiday in the state.
Pączki are Polish pastries traditionally filled with fruit fillings like prune, apricot, plum and poppy seed but also come in less traditional flavors like lemon, blueberry, chocolate and custard.
King cakes, also commonly purchased on Fat Tuesday, are usually ring shaped and are often filled with cream cheese and fruits and topped with icing and colorful sugar. Traditionally a small, plastic baby is baked inside the cake, which represents luck and good fortune to the person who finds it…