Move over, Mardi Gras—Pennsylvania has its own way of celebrating Fat Tuesday, and it’s covered in powdered sugar! Welcome to Fastnacht Day, a glorious occasion dedicated to deep-fried, golden-brown pillows of happiness. If you've never heard of fastnachts, then friend, you're in for a treat—literally.
What’s a Fastnacht, Anyway?
Fastnachts (pronounced foss-not or fos-nahkt, depending on how much Pennsylvania Dutch you have in your soul) are traditional German doughnuts made to use up all the lard, sugar, butter, and flour before Lent begins. Think of them as the more sensible, less flashy cousin of the beignet or the flashy, sugar-dusted aunt of the donut. Unlike their supermarket counterparts, these beauties are often denser, less sweet, and—if you’re lucky—handmade by someone’s Mennonite grandmother who’s been perfecting her recipe since the Eisenhower administration.
Where to Find the Best Fastnachts
If you live in Pennsylvania, you’re in luck. Fastnachts pop up in bakeries, churches, fire halls, and even grocery stores leading up to Fat Tuesday. But true fastnacht aficionados know that the best ones are sold in small-town fire halls where the grandmas still make them by hand at 4 AM.
How to Celebrate Fastnacht Day with Your Family
Want to join in on the doughy fun? Here are some ways to make Fastnacht Day a family tradition:
1. Go on a Fastnacht Hunt – Turn it into an adventure! Visit multiple bakeries or fire halls in search of the best fastnacht. Bonus points if your kids keep a scorecard for taste, texture, and mess factor.
2. DIY Fastnachts – Feeling ambitious? Make your own! Look up a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch recipe and get the whole family involved in the mixing, rolling, and frying. I thought about doing this but chickened out when I realized I'd need a special thermometer and had nonstop visions of my handsy three-year-old "helping" with the frying oil.
3. Blindfolded Fastnacht Taste Test – Buy different types (powdered, glazed, plain, filled) and do a blind taste test with the family. Just make sure no one cheats by peeking through their blindfolds… or mysteriously volunteering to be the taste tester twice.
4. Fastnacht Face-Off – Challenge your kids to a no-hands eating contest. Just place a fastnacht on a string and see who can take the biggest bite without using their hands. Be prepared for some hilarious slow-motion fails.
5. Give Back (with a Side of Doughnuts) – Some places sell fastnachts as fundraisers for local fire companies and churches. Buying a dozen (or two) helps a great cause.
One Final Rule
If you celebrate Fastnacht Day properly, you might end up covered in powdered sugar, slightly overstuffed, and questioning why you only do this once a year. And that, my friends, is exactly how it should be.
So go forth, find a fastnacht, and enjoy Pennsylvania’s most delicious tradition! (And if you find an extra, you know where to send it.)
