At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic last May, Panaporn “Claire” Hamhunsa and her Polish boyfriend ventured into Bangkok's baked goods scene by offering pączki, or deep-fried Polish donuts, for delivery.
“We started out casually, making these for ourselves during our free time,” Claire recounts. “Then we made some more for our friends who loved them and later asked if they could order.” What started out as a kitchen hobby then turned into a serious business.
After almost a year of sending out pączki to people in Bangkok (mostly expats), Holy Donut Pączkarnia now has its own physical shop in Suanluang Square. It’s the sole spot in the city where guests and pastry lovers can get an authentic taste of these Polish treats.
“We use a recipe that has been passed down for generations within my boyfriend’s family,” Claire shares. “These donuts are actually culturally important to Christians in Poland, especially during Fat Thursday where people heavily feast on food before going on religious fasting. Pączki is especially popular during this time.”
Pączki also has certain characteristics and ingredients that differentiate it from the donut we are used to. “The dough, to begin with, is denser and chewier than American donuts,” Claire describes. “And the round shape has a ring around it from being deep-fried.”
Vodka is also added to the mixture. It “prevents the dough from absorbing the cooking oil”, but evaporates in the deep-frying process. Claire also points out that, commonly, pączki have only a small amount of filling, which could be any flavor from berry fruits to sweet creams. But Holy Donut Pączkarnia, as Claire assures, is generous when it comes to loading up their donuts.
The shop offers nine flavors in total, including the signature Krem Mleczny (B55), which is stuffed with luscious vanilla custard, Nutella (B75), Apple Pie (B75), and Lemon Poppy Seed (B65).
These delectable donuts are best paired with cold brew coffee (B50) or a milky foam option called Warsaw Fog (B60). You can also have them with one of their milkshakes (B99 each).
Holy Donut Pączkarnia is also planning to include savory fare in the menu, like zapiekanki or Polish pizzas (B130).
The café is located in Suanluang Square (Soi Chula 5, Ban Tad Thong) and is open daily (except Tuesday) from 09:00 to 19:00.
