It’s Paczki Day, a way to celebrate Polish heritage with a tasty, sugary treat before the solemn Lenten season.

Ever wonder what goes into making the seasonal donut? Each year, Chrusciki Bakery makes more than 15,000 of the jelly-filled delights and they’ve offered a behind-the-scenes peek at how it all comes together.

"It's a time that only comes once a year," said Austin Klink, the bakery’s marketing and business developer.

It’s a great day for business. The more than 1,200 dozen paczki equates very long days for the about 10 people frying, icing, filling and rolling. Before all that though, they have to get all the ingredients into the kitchen.

For the glaze alone, they use 1,000 pounds of sugar. About another 1,000 pounds of jelly is used, too.

Imagine mixing up the 1,100 pounds of dough needed for all those treats!

"When your boss — my mom Ania — gives us the numbers it's like, ‘whoa, that's big number,’ but it's just about getting it done," Klink smiled.

Getting it done is what they do. Prep starts well in advance and bakers are in at 10 p.m.

"It's a whole process you know," Klink said.

It’s a time-tested process that began back in the middle ages in Poland.

And there is a difference between the jelly doughnuts.

"It's not like that crumbly cake, it's moist, it's light, it pulls apart,” Klink explained. “It's about that simple indulgence right before the Lenten season."

Not to mention, it takes folks back to the good old days.

"We come to this bakery every year and get the pazcki for our residents," said Steve Mercurio, president of the McGuire Group.

That is 130 dozen going to five nursing homes in the McGuire Group. They've brought the Polish donut to residents for about six years now.

"It brings back memories of kettles at home with lard and they’re floating in them," Mercurio said. "You'll hear all sorts of memories."

Back at the Lancaster bakery, this is just the beginning of baking bonanza for the Chrusciki Bakery. After this, they have to start preparing for Easter and Dyngus Day, which are in just about six weeks.