In New Orleans, Fat Tuesday means Mardi Gras and drinking, beads and an all out party before Lent begins. In Cleveland, and other parts of the Midwest, we do all of that. But we also eat paczkis, and we eat a ton of them. If you haven’t eaten one of these filled Polish donuts, what are you waiting for?

Colozza’s Bakery 5880 Ridge Rd., Parma When you’re located in Parma, even if you’re an Italian bakery, you still have to sell paczkis. Try the tiramisu paczki for that Italian/Polish fusion flavor that we’ve all been craving. They’ll open at 5 a.m. until 1 p.m. Photo via Colozza’s Bakery/Facebook
Rudy’s Strudel Shop and Bakery 5580 Ridge Rd., Parma Paczkis and pierogies are the name of the game at this European bakery in Parma’s Polish Village. And it’s been that way since 1948. They have a ton of paczki flavors available on Fat Tuesday. They’ll open at 5 a.m. and feature live polka music and other events throughout the day, including tea and coffee from Tea Lab and beer from Brick and Barrel. Photo via Rudy’s Strudel/Facebook
Michael Angelo’s 8035 Broadview Rd., Broadview Heights Known far and wide for their creative and delicious cakes, this Broadview Heights bakery surely isn’t missing out on the paczki party. Check out their unique flavors like marshmallow, peanut butter and Bavarian maple. They’ll be open the same as usual, at 7 a.m., until 6 p.m. They also have king cakes for those who celebrate Fat Tuesday New Orleans style! Photo via Michael Angelo’s Bakery/Facebook
Seven Roses Polish Deli 6301 Fleet Ave., Cleveland Paczki’s are served year-round at this Polish deli and bakery. But that doesn’t mean you should wait until another day to get them, and also to pick up some pierogies to fry up at home. They’re open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday. Photo via Seven Roses/Facebook
Becker’s Donuts and Bakery 22088 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park In Fairview Park, Becker’s is another donut shop that will be serving paczki’s on Fat Tuesday. Grab some of their regular donuts as well and you won’t be disappointed. They’re open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. They also have king cakes and fabulous hot cross buns. Photo via Becker’s Donuts/Facebook
Krakow Deli 5842 Ridge Rd., Parma Head to Parma’s Polish Village and Krakow Deli for some of the best paczki’s around. They’re open from 9 a.m to 7:30 p.m Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Satuday. Photo via @Jaromatorio/Instagram Credit: Krakow Deli
Dick’s Bakery 70 Front St., Berea Serving Berea since 1953, Dick’s maintains that old-school feel that has kept it open all these years. The kuchen, the cinnamon rolls and the chocolate chip cookies are three standouts in addition to the paczki. Hours are 6 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m to 5 p.m Saturday and closed on Sunday. Photo via @Cle_Ave/Instagram
Breads and Beyond 5578 State Rd., Parma Paczki Day is a pretty big deal at this Parma bakery, where they serve up to 12 flavors, including cherry, custard, prune, poppy seed, lemon and more. They also have delicious king cakes. They’ll be open their normal hours, which are Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundaty from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and closed on Monday.. Photo via Breads and Beyond/Facebook
Samosky’s Home Bakery 6379 Pearl Rd., Parma Heights Out in Parma Heights, Samosky’s has been baking pastries since 1910! Like many other bakeries in Cleveland, they’re known for their Central/Eastern European baked goods like paczki, kolachy and kuchen. They’re open on Paczki Day, Tuesday the 25th from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photo via Samosky’s Home Bakery/Facebook
Goldie’s Donuts and Bakery 5211 Mayfield Rd., Lyndhurst Goldie’s, one of the newest additions to the greater Cleveland donut scene, will be serving up these delicious Polish treats. So head to Mayfield Heights, and grab an apple fritter too. They open at 6 a.m daily, close at 6 p.m on Sunday, 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and stay open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Photo via @GoldiesDonuts/Instagram
Stan’s Northfield Bakery 9395 Olde 8 Rd., Northfield Founded in 1961, this place is the definition of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” In addition to the paczki, try their kolacky or their Lady Locks, a tender flakey horn filled with old-fashioned marshmallow meringue and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Try their strawberry cassata paczki. They’re open on Paczki Day from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. They have king cakes as well. Photo via @StansNorthfieldBakery/Instagram
Jack Frost Donuts 4960 Pearl Rd., Cleveland For one day only, this renowned donut shop will turn into a Polish bakery. This donut shop has been around 70 years so we think they know what they’re doing when it comes to baked goods – try the Buckeye paczki or the cinnamon caramel apple. Photo via Jack Frost Donuts/Facebook
Buettner’s Bakery 704 East 185th St., Cleveland While most bakeries are visited for their sweets, the pizza bagels are the stars of the show here. But the paczkis are just as good. Buettner’s is open from 7 a.m to 1 p.m Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 12:30 on Sunday and closed on Monday. Photo via Scene Archives
Kiedrowski’s Bakery 2267 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst Polish bakeries really are popular in Cleveland. And that’s the case with Amherst’s Kiedrowski’s Bakery, another place to get great paczkis. They’ll also be hosting the 22nd annual Paczki Ball from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m at German’s Villa (3330 Liberty Ave, Vermilion). The shop will open at 4 a.m. for Fat Tuesday. Photo via @KiedrowskisBakery/Instagram
Brewnuts 70 Front St., Cleveland The award-winning Gordon Square donut shop will be serving up paczki’s this year, along with beignets, frozen margaritas and king cake donuts for all your Mardi Gras needs. They open at 6:30 a.m. and will be open “throughout the day and into the night.” Photo via @Brewnuts/Instagram
Davis Bakery and Deli Multiple Locations With Wax and Mandel and Pincus bakeries closing in recent years, Davis Bakery is one of the only Jewish bakeries left in town. Davis, which opened in 1939, is known for their coconut bars, their russian tea biscuits and their chocolate chip cookies. But on Fat Tuesday, they get into the paczki game and they do it well and also have delicious king cakes. They’re open at 6 a.m. Photo via Davis Bakery/Facebook
DiBlasi’s Bakery 12375 Kinsman Rd., Newbury It’s paczki season out in Chesterland at this wonderful bakery that has been serving Geauga County residents since 1964. When any bakery has been in business for over 50 years, we’ll trust them to know a thing or two about treats and their 19 flavors of paczki shows they’re serious. They open at 7 a.m. Note: their Chesterland location is temporarily closed. Photo via DiBlasi’s Bakery/Facebook
K & K Portage Market 3364 Warren Rd., Cleveland This Cleveland bakery is a perfect place to get your paczki on. They’ll be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Fat Tuesday. Trust us, they’re some of the best around. Photo via K & K Portage Market/Facebook
Lucy’s Sweet Surrender 20314 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights This Shaker Heights bakery, which dates back to 1957, has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens and Gourmet Magazine. While they’ve updated with the times, their treats, like their chocolate kalacs and Russian tea cakes definitely have an old world flavor. Photo via Scene Archives
Raised and Glazed 17800 Chillicothe Rd., Chagrin Falls If you’re out in Geauga County, this donut shop and bakery is the place to get your paczki on. They’ll be open from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you don’t want to miss out on this deliciousness. Photo via Raised and Glazed/Facebook

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