This Tuesday is "Fat Tuesday" – the day before Ash Wednesday – but in Milwaukee, it’s better known as "Paczki Day."

The original purpose of the day was for people to use up their butter, eggs and other rich foods before the Lenten fast, but for many of us, it’s just an excuse to eat delicious jelly and cream filled doughnuts.

Paczki – pronounced "poonchky" – are fried doughnuts that are topped with icing or powdered sugar and filled with Bavarian cream, raspberry jam, prunes and more.

There are many Milwaukee bakeries that will start selling paczki in the wee morning hours on Tuesday, but OnMilwaukee.com couldn’t wait that long and stopped in early at six local bakeries.

Canfora Bakery
1100 E. Oklahoma Ave, (414) 486-7747
canforabakeryinc.com

The recently remodeled Canfora Bakery is serving paczki from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $1.10 each. Flavors include raspberry, custard, prune, raisin lemon and apple.

"We make them the old fashioned way," says owner Rosa Canfora.

Cranky Al’s Bakery & Pizza

6901 W. North Ave., (414) 258-5282

crankyals.com

Cranky Al’s will offer paczki from 6 a.m. to noon for $1.95 each. Fillings include butter cream, raspberry and more. "You know, the usual," says a Cranky Al’s employee.

National Bakery

3200 S. 16th St., (414) 672-1620

nationalbakery.com

National Bakery will sell about 40,000 paczki this Tuesday starting at 6 a.m. National has 10 different kinds and sells the Polish doughnuts for 99 cents each or $11.80 for a dozen. Last year, they ran out at 3 p.m. and had lines out the door most of the day.

Papas Bakery

6055 S. Howell Ave., (414) 483-9003

papasbakery.com

At 75 cents each, paczki from Papas might be the lowest-priced in the city. Papas is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers raspberry, prune, lemon and butter cream fillings.

Pick ’N Save

Various locations

Paczki at Pick ’N Save are sold in packs of six for $4.50 or $4 with a Roundy’s card. They are available in butter cream, raspberry, custard, vanilla and chocolate.

Whole Foods Market
2305 N. Prospect Ave., (414) 223-1500

wholefoodsmarket.com

Whole Foods opens at 8 a.m. and will have paczki for $1.99 each in a variety of flavors.

Regardless of where you choose to get your paczki this year, just remember this is not the time for moderation – quite the opposite – so make sure you get your fill. As Barbie says, "Have a very Paczki Day this Tuesday!"