The McHenry Co. Paczki List: Where to Get Your Fat Tuesday Treat?

For many area residents, Fat Tuesday — which falls on Feb. 28 this year — is not complete without the delectable Polish delicacy known as paczki.

Due to the Chicago area's large Polish population, the fried dough creation has become a staple of the pre-Lenten celebration and indulgence. Filling and icing varieties make the choices almost unending.

But you don't have to be Polish to enjoy the seasonal goody.

Here are some suggestions on a few places to get your paczki fix, both near and far. If we left off your favorite bakery, let your fellow Paczki lovers know about it in the comments section.

• Sugar Hills Bakery, 644 S. Main St. in Algonquin, (847) 658-8765 will have the following flavors available on Fat Tuesday: strawberry, raspberry, prune, rose, apricot and four different gourmet flavors. The store is taking large pre-orders. The Algonquin store will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
• Blue Cow Polish Deli, 2102 W. Algonquin Road in Lake in the Hills, (847) 854-4051. The deli opens at 6 a.m. Tuesday and the following flavors will be available: blueberry, raspberry, rose, apricot and custard.
• Country Donuts, 181 W. Virginia St. in Crystal Lake, serves paczki for the six days that fall before Ash Wednesday (March 1), including Packzi Day on Feb. 28. The store calls the span of time, which is the busiest days of the year for the business, “Packzi Days.” “We make a special dough extra rich with eggs and butter, shape it into huge shells, and fill them with a combination of real butter cream and fruit or custard filling made just for Pączki Days,” according to Country Donuts website. The Packzi flavors include: Buttercream and Custard, Buttercream and Black Raspberry and Buttercream and Strawberry Those hoping to get their hands on a Paczki at Country Donuts are encouraged to call ahead of time to make sure their favorite variety is still available. The donut shop is open 24 hours a day. Phone number: 815-455-2028.

• Konrad's Bakery, 9531 Ackman Road, will also have its own variation of Packzi Days and will be selling the delicious treat from Feb. 23 through Feb. 28. Flavor include raspberry, strawberry, rose, apricot, prune, lemon, custard, chocolate silk and fresh strawberry with whipped cream. The bakery will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. You can order by calling 815-526-3947.

• Jewel-Osco stores are also selling aczki.