Polish doughnuts (Pączki) Recipe (Ready in 95 Min)

Yeast, double cream and jam come together in this Polish dessert — 95 minutes, 10 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 10 steps.

You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At involved difficulty across 10 steps, it's worth setting aside proper time for. As written, it's meat-free.

How to make it

To make the leaven, mix the yeast with the sugar and flour, and stir in the warm milk. Set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes.
For the dough, put egg yolks into a heatproof bowl and add the sugar and vanilla sugar. Set the bowl over a pan of simmering water and whisk until smooth and thick.
Sift the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer, add the beaten yolks and the warm cream, mix thoroughly, then add a pinch of salt and the leaven.
Bring together to make a dough and knead for 10 minutes (or 15-20 if doing this by hand).
When the dough stops sticking to your hands, pour in the cooled melted butter and knead for a few more minutes. Cover with a cloth and leave in a warm place to rise for at least 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins.
Mix the jam with the ground almonds and spoon into a piping bag or jam syringe. Divide the dough into 16 pieces and shape them into doughnuts. Cover and leave to rise for 30 mins.
Fill a deep pan or a deep fat fryer one third full of oil or melted lard and heat it until it is 180C – if you don’t have a thermometer, drop in a small chunk of bread.
The oil is ready when it browns in about 30 secs.
Add the doughnuts and fry, turning them once for about 1-2 mins on each side (a thin lighter ring should form in the middle).
After removing, drain the doughnuts of excess fat on some kitchen paper.

You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Saucepan · Whisk · Mixer

Tips & common questions

How long does Polish doughnuts (Pączki) take to make?

About 95 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 10 steps and 18 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.

What can I use instead of milk?

Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.

Can I scale this recipe up or down?

Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.

Is Polish doughnuts (Pączki) vegetarian?

Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.