Where To Find St. Joseph's Pastries On Long Island

LONG ISLAND, NY — It's the time of year again with Ash Wednesday behind us and Lent in full swing, as we move toward Easter, one of the holiest times in Christianity.

Despite persistent, almost nagging access to chocolate bunnies and the ubiquitous marshmallow Peeps and jelly beans, there is supposed to be some fasting going on. And Peeps aside, many find the room to indulge in special treats on the feast of St. Joseph, the patron saint of family protectors who and revered as the father of Jesus Christ.

St. Joseph's Pastries are Italian puff pastries or zeppoles, which can be filled with either creamy custard or cannoli filling, and topped with powdered sugar and a candied cherry.

Whether they are homemade or from a bakery, they are always best devoured fresh.

For those not up to the task of whipping them up for the fam yourself, here's a list of bakeries on Long Island that offer up the sweets. If ever you see a long line wending its way around a bakery during Lent, (and it's not a Sunday) it's likely St. Joseph's Day, March 19.

Call ahead to make sure they are in stock, or to see if you need to order them.

• Frank and Son Bakery, Mastic
• Reisterer's, West Hempstead
• Sapienza Bake Shop, Elmont
• Tilda's, Rocky Point
• Buttercooky Bakery, Floral Park
• Mario's Pasticceria, Babylon
• Dolci Momenti, Medford
• Dortoni Bakery, Port Jefferson, Commack, East Norwich, and Levittown
• Celeste Bakery, Riverhead