SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Fat Tuesday is a time to indulge in king cakes and other sweet treats. Local bakeries in NEPA were busy icing cupcakes and filling paczkis.
It's Paczki Day!
"It's like a super donut. We fry them a little darker. It's a sweeter dough with a little bit of sugar in it and we also put a lot of filling in it," stated Bob Zakreski
Before entering the period of fasting, many use Fat Tuesday as a chance to indulge.
Minooka pastry shop owner Bob Zakreski says they turned out some 300 dozen paczkis with five different flavors this year.
The Polish tradition brings people to the bakery on Birney Avenue every year.
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"Everybody enjoys them, including myself. How can you not they're so great. That's about the best tradition for this time of the season for us, we look forward to it," said Tim Andrews, of Dunmore.
Dunmore resident Tim Andrews bought three dozen Paczkis Tuesday morning, to bring into the office. Plus, a few to keep for himself.
"This one's going home with me, they don't know it at walkers yet but this one's going home; my favorite is the cream-filled."
28/22 News even caught their retired photographer Joe Butash stopping in for some delectable treats.
Up the road, Lynn Sandys Bakery is busy selling all kinds of pastries for Mardi Gras and those skipping ahead to Valentine's Day.
"A lot of people are picking up the kingcakes today and especially the cinnamon buns. That's the biggest thing about cupcakes a lot of cupcakes," Melissa Kuchak, Lynn Sandy's Bakery front-end manager.
Make that 22 cupcake flavors to choose from. Deanne Loftus stopped in the bakery on Pittston Avenue, to pick up treats for her Galentines Day gathering.
"I'm getting the treats for Fat Tuesday and we're gonna have a ball 'cause I've gotten one of everything here."
Both bakeries are now busy preparing for Valentine’s Day orders tomorrow.
