17 Authentic And Delicious Polish Dessert Recipes

Who doesn’t love dessert?

If you have a sweet tooth then try some of these authentic Polish desserts as they are bound to satisfy your sugar cravings. We have found 17 delicious and easy Polish dessert recipes for you to try. 

1. Kremówka Papieska 

Kremówka Papieska is a Polish cream cake that is made of a sweet-tasting pastry cream that is layered between crumbly and flaky puff pastry. Topped off with some powdered sugar, this is a delicious dessert that can be enjoyed by all.

Making the pastry cream is simple to do and you can use store-bought pastry to avoid any disasters or even just as a backup.

2. Easy Polish Fruit Cake 

Similar to a crumble, it’s up to you which fruits you use in this dish. Suggestions include apples, plums, cherries, rhubarb, and pears.

Why not use a mixture to make a tasty fruit cake?  Using seasonal fruits will always taste better as the fruits are more true to their natural tastes.

This tasty fruit cake is soft and moist and you’ll only need a bowl and spoon to make the batter. To make it extra delicious, serve with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream. 

3. Szarlotka

Apple pie is a warm and comforting dessert that is enjoyed in many different nations. Szarlotka is a Polish apple pie and is very much considered to be a staple, found in many cafés and bakeries across the country. 

It is not to be confused with an American apple pie, as szarlotka can contain raisins and almonds or be topped with a layer of meringue for a pop of color. This depends on the preference of the individual making it.

As with any apple pie, serve with some wary gooey custard or a dollop of ice cream. 

4. Polish Babka 

Babka is a traditional Easter bundt cake. If you’re not sure what a bundt cake is, it is simply a cake baked in a bundt pan that has a donut shape. This is usually served at breakfast or with afternoon tea.

The mixture contains juicy sultanas and a dash of rum to create the signature flavor. A simple icing made from icing sugar and lemon juice is drizzled over the top. 

5. Kolacz Weselny

This coffee wheel cake is similar in texture to babka which is mentioned above, however, it’s made in a closed pan so there’s no hole and with a sweet curd cheese filling. Dry curd cheese is more commonly known as cottage cheese. 

Wheel cakes are traditionally served at Polish weddings in the southern regions of the country but have decreased in popularity over time. Some versions of the dish create a lattice over the top of the cake but this version uses a crumb topping. 

6. Ciasto Z Rabarbarem 

Rhubarb is not for everyone, but this light and fluffy rhubarb cake recipe may change your mind. As rhubarb is found in abundance in the countryside, this traditional dessert is popular there and started off as a poorer person’s food.

Variations of the cake include a crumble topping or layer of crunchy and chewy meringue. 

7. Sernik

A traditional Polish cheesecake is known as ‘sernik’ and is one of the most popular desserts in Poland. Although there are many variations, this recipe creates a traditional cheesecake.

A Polish cheese called twaróg that resembles ricotta is used to get the typical creamy texture. 

Sernik can have a crust on the bottom, top, or both or even have no crust at all. As there are so many varieties you can find the perfect one for you. 

8. Wuzetka

Can you go wrong with chocolate cake? Wuzetka is a Polish chocolate sponge cake that is filled with fluffy whipped cream and a thin layer of fruit jam such as strawberry (see also ‘28 Of The Best Frozen Strawberry Recipes You Need To Try!‘).

This recipe uses prune jam but can be swapped for any jam of your choice. To decorate, add a simple spoonful of cream and cherries to finish off this dessert nicely. 

9. Makowiec

Makowiec is a Polish poppy seed roll that is served around the holidays such as Christmas and Easter. This long log-like roll is similar in appearance to a swiss roll, made with nuts, dried fruits, and poppy seeds. 

It is not an overly sweet dessert but is perfect to have with a cup of tea or coffee. Nearly every family in Poland will have their own version of this cake so there is no right or wrong way to make it. 

10. Kogel Mogel

A Polish egg-based dessert, a kogel mogel is a quick and easy dessert to whip up on a weekday. Simply using egg yolks and sugar, these ingredients are beaten with a hand beater to form a light, fluffy mixture.

Adding some cocoa powder creates a chocolate version of the dish. It must be noted that this food isn’t cooked and eating raw eggs can be dangerous. 

11. Paczki: Polish Donuts

These Polish donuts are made to celebrate Fat Thursday before lent in Polish culture. They are filled with sweet cream or jam and rolled in powdered sugar. There are no holes in paczki.

Traditionally, these donuts are made with lard but oil is used now as a more guilt-free option. Fill your paczki with anything you desire and enjoy!  

12. Andrut 

Andrut is made from layers of thin, crispy wafer sandwiched with delicious chocolate buttercream icing. You can alternate these flavors to create the perfect treat for you. This recipe uses a rich, dark chocolate and almond buttercream which is balanced with the light wafer. 

Melted chocolate is drizzled over the top before serving. It is round in shape, just like a cake, which makes it easy to cut and share with your friends and family.

13. Polish Honey Cake 

A light and fluffy sponge is flavored with buckwheat honey, which is highly nutritious but isn’t as sweet as traditional honey. You can use a more traditional and sweet honey if you find the buckwheat honey to be too strong. The topping is made from almond, honey, butter, and vanilla extract for a tasty and crunchy top. 

This type of cake is common and is served year-round. Slices of cakes are served with whipped cream if desired. 

14. Sekacz

Sekacz is also known as the Polish tree cake and is one of the most emblematic dishes of the Podlasie region of Poland. If you have a sweet tooth then this is the dessert for you!

The cake resembles the appearance of a spruce tree with little branches. Cutting into the tree you’ll find layers of dough that are the perfect blend of sweet and sour. 

This isn’t a dessert for the faint-hearted, as it can be tricky to make and uses a lot of ingredients (40 eggs!). You’ll also need to cook this over an open fire for three hours so you may want to reserve a whole afternoon to tackle this dessert.

Serve with a layer of sugar icing on the top or simply plain. 

15. Karpatka

Otherwise known as a Carpathian mountain cream cake, Karpatka consists of two layers of choux pastry with a pastry cream filling.

The uneven choux pastry represents the Carpathian mountain range that is found in Eastern Europe. This delicious cream cake is topped with powdered sugar for a little extra sweetness.  

16. Polish Pancake Dessert

Pancakes are such a crowd pleaser, you can top them with anything you like and they are cheap and quick to make. The pancakes are made using pantry staples such as flour, eggs, and milk.

These pancakes are cooked very thin and used to create layers that are filled with a cottage cheese type mixture. 

This mixture contains nuts, raisins, cottage cheese, a marmalade of your choice, and sugar. Simply spread this mixture over the pancakes and layer as instructed.

Finally, the dessert is baked with an extra layer of marmalade. A perfect blend of sweet and crunchy, this dessert looks and tastes impressive. 

17. Beginner’s Polish Berry Tart

To make a quick Polish tart, you can use this recipe which helps you eliminate wasting time making a complicated dough. Perfect for spring and summer, this dessert is made from delicious fruits in a crumbly pastry. 

Strawberries and raspberries are used for a true taste of summer, they are added to cinnamon, lemon zest, and sugar to create a sweet and tangy coating.

The dough is very easy to make using a mixer and only needs around 30 seconds of mixing until it’s done. A bottom crust is layered with the fruit mixture with leftover dough sprinkled on top. 

Closing Thoughts

Polish cuisine features a wide range of delicious desserts, with some made from fruit and others chocolate there is something for everyone. 

The majority of the recipes featured here are super easy to make, with a few expectations that you might just find enjoyable to read about. 

We hope you found learning about Polish desserts interesting and have found some fresh new inspiration to try in the kitchen.

Happy cooking! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Most Popular Dessert In Poland?

The most popular dessert in Poland is considered to be ‘Sernik’ or a Polish cheesecake.

Made from twaróg, fresh curd cheese, and pantry staples, sernik is enjoyed on all occasions and comes in many different varieties. 

What Are Polish Pastries Called?

There are many types of Polish pastries, the most common is called a Paczki which is similar to an English donut. Filled with sweet creams and jams they taste great.

These donuts are the largest of their type found in Europe and do not have a hole in the middle like typical American ring donuts.