Though it is cold and snowy out, there’s something delicious that can help you shake the doldrums of winter. Whether you observe the Lenten fast or not, everyone can agree that pączki are the season’s best sweet treat. Find your favorite flavor at your local Strack & Van Til bakery.

This year, Fat Tuesday falls on March 1, and it is the day that people in North America celebrate by eating pączki. These traditional Polish jelly doughnuts are fresh and made from scratch in-store by the Doughnut Crew at all Strack & Van Til locations. One bite of this fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth dough that envelopes sweet fruit jelly, luscious Bavarian Crème or cheese filling, will prove that you “donut” want to eat just one.

Treat your family to strawberry, cheese, Bavarian Crème, cherry, apple and raspberry-filled pączki (and make sure to get some for yourself for the ride home). Four-count packages are just $3.99, as shown in the weekly ad. They are also available individually, and you can find them in the bakery department at all Strack & Van Til locations.

Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans and Methodists will begin to observe the Lenten fast on Ash Wednesday, March 2. Fat Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, is a day of celebration before Ash Wednesday. It is said that on Fat Tuesday, people eat anything they want in preparation for fasting during Lent. During this fast time, it is also common to give up something enjoyable, so Fat Tuesday is the time to indulge. Pączki are a favorite way to satisfy that opportunity.

According to tradition, pączki were made to use up a household’s eggs, sugar, lard and fruit, because religious fasting practices did not allow the consumption of these items during Lent.

In Poland, pączki are typically eaten on Fat Thursday, which falls on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. In North America, pączki are enjoyed by the Polish community as well as others.

The Strack & Van Til bakery also offers a wide array of delectable doughnuts, plain and masterfully decorated. Stop in while they are baking, and the aroma will make your mouth water.

Pick up a few packs of pączki to enjoy now and on Fat Tuesday. You can trust that they’re the best and the freshest because they’re made by Strack & Van Til.