Fastnachts are basically a doughnut, typically made with potatoes. Fastnachts can be squares, triangles, rectangles, and even round. Fastnacts do very from county to county in PA. The typical fastnachts are plain, and then you cut them in half like you would a bagel. You can put on Table Syrup such as
Golden Barrel Table Syrup.
Today's modern
fastnachts may have have glaze or could have granulated or powdered sugar on them.
Fastnacht Day is Shrove Tuesday the night before Ash Wednesday (the first day of lent). Fastnacht literally means " fast night". So what people would do is use up all the lard and fattening things before Lent when it would be given up.
Where to find Fastnachts:
York - Brown's Orchard , 8892 Susquehanna Trail South, Loganville, PA 17342 (717) 428-2036
Maple Donuts - 3455 East Market St. York, PA 17402 (717) 757-7826
Lancaster - Martin's Country Market 1717 W Main St Ephrata, Pennsylvania (717) 738-3754
Oregon Dairy Supermarket 2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz, PA 17543 Phone: (717) 656-2856
Lehigh Valley -
http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/dining/mc-fastnachts-lehigh-valley-
20150210-story.html
Dauphin County - Pennsylvania Bakery, 1713 Market St., Camp Hill: 717-763-7755
Recipe:
Fastnachts with potatoes and yeast
2 1/2 c. hot mashed potatoes 1 cup milk 3 beaten eggs 2 Tablespoons melted butter 2 cup sugar 2 Tablespoons Baking powder 5 cup all purpose flour
In a large bowl combine all ingredients, but add flour slowly. Divide dough in half and roll to 1/2" thickness. Cut with doughnut cutter. Fry in deep fat or oil, turning when brown. Drain on paper towels and let cool.
Fasnacht Dates:
February 17, 2015
February 9, 2016
February 28, 2017
February 13, 2018
March 5, 2019
February 25, 2020
February 16, 2021
March 1, 2022
February 21, 2023
