Fat Thursday is one of the favorite customs of Poles. How much will we pay for doughnuts?

Fat Thursday falls every year on the last Thursday before Lent, exactly 52 days before Easter, and begins the last week of carnival. This year, it is celebrated on February 27. According to statistics from previous years, Poles eat an average of 2.5 doughnuts per person on that day, which amounts to a total of almost 100 million doughnuts eaten.

Fat Thursday is a custom that dates back to pagan times. In ancient Rome, the arrival of spring was celebrated on this day, while saying goodbye to winter. An important element of the holiday was sumptuous feasts, during which large amounts of fatty foods were consumed, especially meat. There was also wine and doughnuts on the tables, but in a slightly different version. They were made from bread dough and stuffed with bacon, so they had nothing in common with the delicacies that reign on Fat Thursday today.

The custom of eating doughnuts on Fat Thursday came to us in the 15th century. At first, doughnuts were served in a savory version, also in the form of bread dough stuffed with bacon. The dough was fried in lard and served with meat, all washed down with vodka. In the old Polish tradition, Fat Thursday was celebrated very pompously and merrily. Royal tables were filled with so-called zapustne dishes, including game products, cabbage with cracklings and bacon. It was the last opportunity to taste such dishes before the approaching Lent.

A little later, sweet versions of pączki were served, although they looked different than the ones we know today. Some of them had a small almond or nut hidden inside. Such a pączki were supposed to bring luck to the person who found them. Today, pączki come in many versions. The most classic is the version with jam. Pączki with advocaat, with pistachios and with cheese are also very popular.

Fat Thursday is a day when, according to tradition, we can indulge ourselves and give up counting calories. There is also a superstition that a person who does not eat a single doughnut on this day will have bad luck for the next year. The rule is also supposed to work the other way around - the more doughnuts we eat, the luckier we will be.

What if we don't like doughnuts? Nothing is lost. On Fat Thursday, you can find many other sweet treats in shops and confectioneries, such as chrusty (faworki), cheese donuts, churros, cream puffs, eclairs and nests. It is also worth trying a traditional recipe for faworki, crumpets or blinis at home.

Homemade doughnuts are just as delicious as those from a pastry shop. What's more, when you make them yourself, you can be sure of the quality of the ingredients used. Traditional delicacies are made using yeast dough. The recipe is not difficult, but the secret lies in the proper kneading of the dough. Only then will it be light and fluffy. If you feel like having classic doughnuts, a filling made of marmalade or rose jam will work best. What ingredients will you need for 6 pieces?

We start by preparing the starter. To do this, thoroughly mix the yeast, half a tablespoon of flour, half a tablespoon of sugar and 2 tablespoons of warm milk. Set the mixture aside in a warm place for 15 minutes, covering the bowl with a cloth. In a separate bowl, combine the ingredients for the dough - flour, salt, egg yolks, melted butter, milk and sugar. Finally, add the starter and alcohol. The last ingredient makes the doughnuts absorb less fat when frying. Mix everything thoroughly and knead the dough until it is smooth, uniform and loose.

After kneading, leave them in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour. After this time, place them on a floured pastry board and knead for a while longer. Then roll them out to a thickness of about 2.5 cm and cut out circles with a cookie cutter. Cover the doughnuts with a cloth and leave for another half an hour. In the meantime, you can prepare a frying pot by pouring fat into it. It is best to heat it slowly, until it reaches 180 degrees Celsius. To check if the temperature is right, it is best to throw a piece of dough inside. If it floats up immediately, it is a sign that you can start frying.

Place the doughnuts in the fat so they can float freely and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. When they are ready, remove them with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel. After they have cooled slightly, fill them with marmalade, preferably using a syringe or a pastry bag. The last step is to prepare the icing. Simply mix lemon juice with powdered sugar and pour the mixture over the top of the doughnuts.

However, if we decide to buy ready-made doughnuts, we must reckon with the fact that prices vary greatly. It all depends on whether we buy them in a supermarket, bakery or confectionery. The type of filling also affects the price. How much will we pay for doughnuts in popular stores?

We will have to pay much more in confectioneries and for vegan or gluten-free doughnuts, especially in prestigious establishments. How much will the doughnuts at Magda Gessler's be? The classic version with rose costs PLN 23, while doughnuts with advocaat or plum and chocolate PLN 24.