Once-a-year-treat paczki return to Venice shelves

VENICE (FOX 13) - It's a big day of celebration all over the world: Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras.

In Venice, Yummies Donuts & BBQ was busy cranking out paczki.  These are a rich donut-like pastry made with spices and filled with anything from custard to fruit flavored jelly.

It's a Polish tradition to eat these treats before lent -- an indulgence before Ash Wednesday. Owner Allen Tines says Yummies is the only bakery in Venice that produces them.

“It's like an explosion in your mouth,” Tines offered.  “It's full with fillings and then you get the spices and that dense taste, and then the sweetness. You're getting double sweet. You're getting the glaze and the powdered sugar. It’s just awesome.  It won’t get you through Lent, but it’ll get you close.”

This is the 29th year Yummies has sold paczki.  The owners estimate they've sold at least a million in their years of business.