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Pistachio Donuts Recipe – Pączki Pistacjowe

Name: Pistachio Donuts Recipe - Pączki Pistacjowe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: 20
Cuisine: Polish
Ingredients: 4 cups (500g) of all-purpose flour; 1 cup of milk; 5 egg yolks; 3 tbsps of instant yeast; 7 oz (100g) of sugar; 7 oz (100g) of butter; 1 tbsp of vodka, distillied spirit or rum; 10 oz (280g) of pistachio cream or unsalted pistachios; 7 oz (200g) of white chocolate; 1 ½ cup (400ml) of heavy cream; white chocolate glaze; chopped pistachio to decorate; 1 bottle of oil to fry pączki; big syringe to fill pączki

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In Poland, you’ll find a whole variety of donuts with many yummy fillings like rosehip jam, custard, blackcurrant jam, and of course, chocolate. But for those who like a nice nutty flavor, these homemade Polish pistachio pączki are a must-try!

While bakery pączki are delicious, there’s nothing quite like enjoying a warm, fresh-fried one that you made yourself at home. Yes, there’s a bit of work involved, but the end result makes it all worthwhile – I promise! You can serve these pączki on Fat Thursday, and all your guests will be impressed.

Here’s a video on how to make pistacchio pączki, step by step:

Poland’s Fat Thursday Tradition

Fat Thursday is a fun Polish tradition that happens on the Thursday right before Lent begins. On this special day, Poles treat themselves to as many pączki as they can have. Why? Because eating lots of donuts on Fat Thursday is a way to finish up all the sugar, fat, and fruit before Lent starts when people are not supposed to eat sweet treats.

So Fat Thursday is a chance to have one last celebration before the Lenten fasting begins. Bakeries in Poland are very busy on this day, making and selling thousands of pączki. Some even host pączki eating contests! The tradition has religious significance, but even those who are not religious often take part, simply because it’s a fun Polish custom. At schools, offices, and homes across the country, friends and families gather to share and enjoy pączki on Fat Thursday.

Tips For Cooking Pistachio Donuts

1. Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point like vegetable or rapeseed oil to fry your pączki. You can also use pork lard.

2. It’s best to keep the oil temperature between 350-375°F for the perfect perfect donuts.

3. Fry the donuts in small batches to prevent overcrowding and temperature drop of the oil.

Pistachio Donuts – Pączki Pistacjowe Recipe

Make The Pączki Dough

Melt butter.
Warm up the milk.
Knead the dough for about 5 minutes using all the ingredients. Do it by hand or use a food processor.
Place the dough in a big bowl. Cover it with a plastic wrap.
Place the bowl in the fridge and let it stay there overnight. Alternatively, place the bowl in a warm place and wait for about 60-90 minutes for the dough to double its size.

Make The Filling

If you are using pistachios, blend them to get the consistency of the butter or you can use ready made pistachio cream.
Melt white chocolate with heavy cream.
Add chocolate-cream mixture to pistachio butter and mix.

Form Pączki

When the dough has doubled its size, knead it briefly to remove excessive air bubbles.
Roll out the dough to about ½” (1,5 cm) thick.
Using a cookie cutter, cut out the circles from the dough. Remove scraps, reroll, and recut.
Cover pączki with a clean kitchen cloth and wait for about 30 minutes to let them grow a bit.

Fry Pączki

Pour the oil into the wok or big pot and start heating it up. How to check whether the oil is hot enough? Throw a small piece of the dough into the oil. If it stays on the bottom, the oil is still too cold. If the dough comes straight up to the surface, the oil is ready to fry.
Fry pączki for about 3-5 minutes on each side.
After frying, place the pączki on a plate lined with paper towels to remove the excessive fat.

Fill Pączki

When the donuts are still warm, fill them up with pistachio cream using a big syringe (like this). You will need about 30-50ml of filling per donut.

Decorate Pistachio Donuts

Using your hand, place pączki in a bowl with melted chocolate (only the upper side).
Sprinkle with chopped pistachios.

FAQ About Pistachio Donuts

Can I Make the Dough Ahead of Time?

Yes, the dough can be made a day ahead and refrigerated overnight.

Can I Use a Different Type of Nut Instead of Pistachios?

Yes, you can use other nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts for the filling.

How Do I Store Leftover Pączki?

Pączki are always best eaten fresh, but you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.