9 Must Try Polish Pastries For Food Lovers

Food is a major part of the culture of any country. Behind every dish there is a story of how and why people began to make the recipe. The same goes for pastries. Very often this or that pastry was baked on certain holidays and carries a special meaning. Here is a list of delicious Polish pastries that you must try while traveling in Poland.

Pączki (Polish Donut)

Pączki is the most iconic Polish pastry. It is a Polish donut that is made of fried yeasted dough with plum jam (powidlo) and traditionally flavored with wild roses. 

Nowadays pączki have different flavors and different shapes. You can find pączki in pretty much any pastry store in Krakow, however if you want to try a traditional pączki, I recommend you to visit Cukiernia Pod Arkadami in Krakow – an old fashioned Polish bakery.

Kremówka (Polish Papal Cake)

Kremowka is a Polish cream cake that is made out of two layers of puff pastry and a thick layer of vanilla cream between them. The vanilla cream in the Polish kremowka is something similar to a custard cream. 

You won’t be able to eat too much Kremowka cake, but a piece with a cup of coffee is a perfect way to start your day. 

Szarlotka (Polish Apple Pie) “Charlotte Cake”

Szarlotka is a well-known Polish apple pie. It has a thick and dense bottom crust that is covered with a grated or sliced apple. At the top of the apple layer is pastry crumb and powdered sugar. Szarlotka is a well balanced Polish pastry that has a great flavor. 

Nowadays szarlotka can be cooked in various ways with many new ingredients like nuts, raisins, or different fruits all together. The traditional version, however, is still the best version that you must try in Poland.

Pierniki (Polish Gingerbread Cookies)

Pierniki or Polish gingerbread cookies are not just one of the most iconic pastries in Poland, but also one of the best souvenirs to bring back when visiting the old country. 

Poland has been making pierniki since the 14th century (first mention) or perhaps even longer. There are tons of various shapes and flavors of pierniki that you can try in Poland. 

In Krakow you can find a big selection of Polish gingerbread cookies in special souvenir stores all over the old town.

Babka (Traditional Easter Bundt Cake)

Babka is one of the pastries that I referenced before. It carries a special meaning in Poland and in Eastern Europe all together. 

Babka is traditionally made around Easter time. It is usually placed in the basket with some other food and taken to church on Easter night. 

But don’t be worried, you don’t need to wait until Easter day to try Polish babka. You can find this pastry in any traditional Polish bakery. 

There are many varieties of babka nowadays. They can be round or square shaped, covered with chocolate or sugar glaze, and the dough itself can be very different. There is marble, lemon, sand, and many other babkas that you can try in Poland. 

Krówki (Polish Fudge)     

Krowki is literally one of my favorite Polish desserts. Since I live in Ukraine, krowki is a well known and loved dessert there too. 

Krowki are soft milk toffee sweets that have a crusty delicious shell on the outside and a soft runny inside.

In Krakow you can find krowki sweets in the same souvenir stores as the gingerbread cookies. 

Poppy Seed Rolls 

A poppy seed roll is a great Polish pastry that is quite famous around Europe. Traditionally the poppy seed roll is quite big and  made out of yeasted dough with a poppy seed filling. 

Nowadays the poppy seed rolls are all different. They are still mostly made out of yeasted dough but they are all different shapes and sizes, and the filling can have lots of additional ingredients besides just poppy seeds.

Ziemniaczki (Polish Rum Balls)

Ziemniaczki is one of the most interesting Polish pastries. It is usually made at home from leftover pastries and sweets. 

All the sweet leftovers would be shredded (crumbled) into small pieces (almost a paste). After that you can add different nuts, raisins, chocolate, cocoa powder  and some essences, like rum for example. All that newly created dough is made into balls and covered with sprinkles, coconut flakes, or nuts. 

Of course, nowadays when you buy ziemniaczki at the store or a bakery they are not made out of leftovers. 

Drożdżówka (Yeast Cake or Buns)

Drożdżówka is another Polish pastry that comes in all shapes and sizes with all possible toppings you can imagine. Basically drożdżówka is just a yeast pastry that can be made into small individual pastries or in a big cake that you cut. 

The most popular drożdżówka type is an individual pastry with fruit toppings and royal icing (looks like a Ukrainian vatrushka). 

The drożdżówka pastry is almost always present on the breakfast table, that is why there is always a great variety of such pastry at any bakery, or cafe.

9 Must Try Polish Pastries For Food Lovers