Historical Background
Particularly popular in Madeira and Azores as a Carnival tradition to use up lard and sugar before Lent
Introduced to Hawaii in the 1870s by Portuguese laborers
these egg-rich, sugar-coated treats became a cultural staple known there as a "Malasada Day" delicacy
Ingredients:
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the bowl
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 package active dry yeast, (2 1/4 teaspoons or 1/4 ounce)
1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons warm water, 110Β°F (43Β°C)
3 large eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface
Nonstick cooking spray
Vegetable oil, for frying
For the cinnamon sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Recipe:
Heat the milk, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until it just begins to steam and form bubbles around the edges, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool until lukewarm.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in the warm water. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the remaining 1/3 cup sugar and the eggs on medium-high until thick and luscious looking, about 5 minutes.
Switch to the dough hook, add the milk mixture, the yeast mixture, and the flour, and mix on low speed until a soft dough forms, about 7 minutes, adding more flour if needed. The dough should be just slightly tacky but not sticky.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface, shape into a ball, and place in a lightly buttered large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot until double in size, about 2 hours.
Lightly coat a 13-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and turn the dough onto the pan. Press and poke it with your fingers, much like making focaccia, to help stretch it until it's about 1/2 inch thick. Lightly coat the top of the dough with cooking spray, loosely cover the pan with plastic wrap, and let the dough rest at room temperature until double in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Make the cinnamon sugar
Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
Fry the doughnuts | malassadas
Fill a medium saucepan with 3 inches of oil and heat over medium-high heat until it reaches 350Β°F (177Β°C) on a deep-fry or candy or instant-read thermometer. Monitor the heat to keep a steady temperature.
Using scissors or your hands, cut or pull a 2-to-3-inch piece of dough from the baking sheet and stretch it into a 4-to-5-inch circle, then lower it into the oil and fry, turning frequently, just until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, 45 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes, depending on the size. Drain the doughnut on paper towels for 30 seconds and then toss in the cinnamon sugar. Repeat with the remaining dough. Devour warm.
Personal Connection - Saidee Avila
β Malasadas are my absolute favorite! Their sweetness and warmth just melts in your mouth. There's a Portuguese store in San Jose that has the best malasadas, and I always beg my parents to get some when we're close by. I can't wait to go to Portugal and taste authentic food there while visiting my family! β