9 bakeries for Königskuchen and Pazcki in Phoenix, Tempe

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday on February 16, is a popular time to have those with a sweet tooth before Lent.

In the United States, Pączki Day is celebrated on Fat Tuesday. Pączki are Polish donuts that are filled with jam, pudding, or some other sweet filling and are often dusted or glazed with sugar. There are several variations, including the Midwestern Bismarck donuts.

King cake is another popular carnival-related treat. Louisiana-style king cake is usually in the shape of a braided ring with purple, green, and gold sugar. Like pączki, there are also king cakes in different shapes, such as the Rosca de Reyes, which is sold on Epiphany in Phoenix panaderías.

Traditionally, a baby figure symbolizing Jesus is hidden in the cake, and whoever gets the piece with the baby has to host the next carnival party or buy the next king cake.

If you want to be in the spirit of Carnival, here are nine places on Metro Phoenix to find king cakes or pączki. To guarantee a cake, it is best to order in advance.

Europe pastries

Seven years after the family’s long-standing café closed, the couple Carl and Agnieszka Makowski reopened their retail business. They make both king cakes and pączki. People can expect a wider variety of pączki flavors than they usually offer all year round.

Details: 7575 N. 16th St., Suite 23, Phoenix. 602-368-7148, instagram.com/europapastry.

Jana’s bakery

Jozef Jana’s bakery, near the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, has a shop full of pączki with flavors from rose hip to strawberry and cheese. The bakery also offers other European pastries, including poppy seed rolls, babka, and Polish butter croissants.

Details: 13025 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix. 602-493-4077, janasbakery.com.

Karl’s quality bakery

In the Karl's Quality Bakery in the Sunnyslope region, large and individually large king cakes as well as the European varieties Galette des Rois and Dreikönigskuchen are made.

This bakery in the Sunnyslope region was founded by the German immigrant Karl Boerner and produces large and individual sizes of king cakes as well as two European varieties. There is Galette des Rois from France, a puff pastry cake filled with almond paste, and Epiphany cake, a crown-shaped sweet yeast bread with raisins and almonds.

Details: 111 E. Dunlap Ave., Suite 13, Phoenix. 602-997-7849, karlsqualitybakery.com.

New York West Sweet Shop & Bakery

This cozy bakery in Sun City offers pączki along with the usual selection of pastries, including cookies, cupcakes, muffins and bread. The bakery also specializes in custom cakes for weddings and other special occasions.

Details: 10101 W. Grand Ave., Sun City. 623-583-7620, newyorkwestbakery.com.

Polish goodies

This family deli started out in the Arizona farmers’ markets. Polish Goodies confirmed that there will be pączki on Fat Tuesday and advised potential customers to place an order in advance. The shop also sells pierogi, Polish sausages and other groceries.

Details: 8903 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-617-4095, polish-goodies.com.

Honey Moon Sweets Bakery & Dessert Bar

The O’Connor family’s bakery offers large king cakes that can be pre-ordered as well as small individual cakes. Individual cakes sold out quickly, so Honey Moon Sweets encourages people to pre-order if they want to pick up several.

Details: 606 W. Southern Ave., Suite 1, Tempe. 480-517-9520, honeymoonsweets.com.

Baker Wee

This family-run bakery in West Phoenix offers custom-made king cakes that can be pre-ordered. Baker Wee is known in the neighborhood for its specialty cakes, decorated cupcakes and cookies.

Details: 4263 W. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix. 602-843-0112, baker-wee.com.

Barbs Bakery

Barb’s Bakery has been around for decades and you can find both King Cake and Pączki here. The bakery asks people to place their orders at least two days in advance. In 2017 Barb’s Bakery was named the best king cake.

Details: 2929 N. 24th St., Phoenix. 602-957-4422, barbsbakery.com.

Bashas’

Bashas' donates 10% of pączki sales to St. Vincent de Paul on Fat Tuesday.

Bashas’ has more than 50 supermarkets across Arizona, making it a reliable place to find king cakes and pączki made with lemon, raspberry, or pudding filling. They also come for a charity: Bashas’ will donate 10% of all Paczki sales to St. Vincent de Paul on Fat Tuesday.

Details:bashas.com/locations.

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