Paczki Day 2023: Tinley Park Bakery Ready For 'Flurry' Of Orders

TINLEY PARK, IL — The orders have steadily been rolling in since early-January, but Creative Cakes Bakery owner Becky Palermo knows some people haven't quite been craving one particular sweet treat—yet.

With Paczki Day 2023 just around the corner on Feb. 21, Palermo expects they'll see a flurry of last-minute orders in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, and they're ready. They'll even give customers an extra day for picking up the sweet, doughy, delicious delicacy.

Located at 16649 Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, they'll forgo their usual schedule and open their doors on Monday, Feb. 20, from 12 to 4 p.m. You know—so people can sleep in before they indulge.

"We’re seeing a lot of people take advantage of that," Palermo said. "Right now, it's 50/50 picking up on Monday, so they don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn (on Tuesday). They'll also open at 6 a.m. Feb. 21—two hours earlier than usual.

Palermo has seen several flavors rise to the top, when it comes to customer favorites. Atomic, fresh strawberry, bananas foster, Dutch apple, cinnamon churro, Boston, coconut cream, and chocolate peanut butter take top spots, Palermo said. They offer several other flavors, including apricot, cannoli, cherry, (new) chocolate custard, custard, lemon, and raspberry. All orders can be placed online in advance of the big day; Palermo said they recently launched their online store and ordering system.

"It’s so much easier for people to order with this new system," she said. "We wanted to implement that before it really goes crazy."

They'll stop accepting online orders Friday, Feb. 17.

"Oh, Lordy," she said, when asked how many orders they've already taken, tallying 100-200 orders, she said—and she anticipates they'll "do that and then some that one day.

"I’m certain we’ll have a lot of last-minute orders." she said. "A flurry comes in the last week. Next week I would expect lots and lots of orders."

Get 'em while you can, she said, because she doesn't expect they'll sell them past that day.

"We usually try to end on Fat Tuesday," she said, "because you’re going in to Lent and people have given up things...

"The whole point is to indulge before Ash Wednesday."