Ingredients
1 1/2 cups warm milk (no warmer than 110 F)
2 (1/4-ounce) packages active dry yeast (remember to proof the yeast before you begin)
1/2 cup sugar
4 ounces (1 stick) room-temperature butter
1 large egg (room-temperature)
3 large egg yolks (room-temperature)
1 tablespoon brandy (or rum)
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Optional: granulated sugar, confectioners' sugar, and fruit paste or jam for filling
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, add yeast to warm milk, stir to dissolve, and set aside.
In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together sugar and butter until fluffy.
Beat in egg, egg yolks, brandy or rum, and salt until well incorporated.
Still using the paddle attachment, add 4 1/2 cups flour alternately with the milk-yeast mixture and beat for 5 or more minutes by machine and longer by hand until smooth. If you don't have a mixer, you can beat the dough with a wooden spoon until it blisters. The dough will be very slack. If much too soft or runny, add remaining 1/2 cup flour.
Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk, anywhere from 1 to 2 1/2 hours or follow this quick tip to cut the rise time.
Punch down the dough and let rise again.
Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Pat or roll to 1/2 to 3/4-inch thickness. Cut rounds with 3-inch cutter. Remove scraps, and re-roll and re-cut.
Transfer rounds to parchment-lined baking sheets, cover, and let rounds rise until doubled in bulk, 30 minutes or longer. Heat oven to 375 F.
Place pączki in the oven and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until toothpick tests clean.
Remove from oven and roll in granulated sugar while still hot or confectioners' sugar when cool.
To fill the pączki, let them cool completely and then cut a slit in the side and slip a teaspoon of fruit paste or jam inside. Then dust with confectioners' sugar or roll in granulated sugar.
Serve and enjoy!
