Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Easy Hawaiian style malasadas are deep fried and rolled in sugar creating a light and fluffy donut. Perfect for Malasada day here in Hawai’i or anytime of year.

Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (1)

Whether you call it Malasada Day, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, or something else, one thing’s for sure, delicious food will be a part of your day.

Here in Hawai’i it’s most often called Malasada Day or Fat Tuesday. This is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of lent.

A popular treat made for enjoyment on Fat Tuesday is malasadas. Malasada is a Portuguese dessert that was brought to the islands by immigrants that traveled to Hawai’i to work on the plantations.

Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (2)

Malasadas have quickly become the favorite Hawaiian island donuts. Malasadas are small yeast balls of dough, deep fried, and coated in granulated sugar. Traditional malasadas are not not filled, however in Hawai’i you can find both traditional malasadas as well as stuffed ones.

Popular filings used to stuff malasadas include:

  • Haupia
  • Guava
  • Lilikoi
  • Custard
  • Chocolate
Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (3)

If you’re looking for other popular desserts here in Hawai’i, try kulolo, sweet potato haupia bars, or haole brownies.

Home Maid Bakery on Maui and Leonard’s Bakery on O’ahu are popular for their yummy version of the malasada.

What do I need to make malasadas:

Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (4)

What’s the difference between bread flour and all purpose flour?

Bread flour contains a higher protein content than that of all purpose flour. Proteins create gluten. Gluten creates stringy strands that allow bread to have its characteristic elasticity and stretch.

Do I have to let the malasadas rise?

Letting the dough rise allows the yeast time to use up the sugars and break down the starches. This allows air to form within the dough creating light and fluffy dough. I would not recommend skipping this step. It’ll be well worth your wait.

What other toppings can you use on malasadas?

The classic topping is granulated sugar. You can also use cinnamon sugar, plain, or with a side of ice cream. Drizzle on some chocolate or strawberry sauce. The possibilities are endless.

Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (5)

How to store malasadas?

Hawai’i malasadas are best eaten fresh. If you somehow have leftovers you can store these in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. You can reheat the malasadas in a microwave when ready to eat.

Can you freeze malasada dough?

You sure can. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container. This will keep for a few months. Allow to defrost at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight.

How to make malasadas?

In a small mixing bowl add yeast, warm water heated to 115F, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Set aside and allow to sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment add eggs. Mix until light and fluffy.

Add milk, evaporated milk, butter, sugar, and yeast mixture. Mix until well combined.

With the motor running slowly add flour mixture and salt. Mix dough until well combined and smooth.

Transfer to a lightly greased mixing bowl and cover with a towel. Place in a warm, dark area and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Remove dough on to a floured surface. Roll dough to about 1 inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter, cup, or any round shape to cut dough. Place dough rounds on to a greased cookie sheet. Cover with a towel and allow to rest.

Place sugar in a large bowl and set aside. Heat oil of choice in a medium sauce pan over medium high heat until oil is heated to 375F. Place malasadas on oil to fry. Do not crowd the malasadas. Fry until golden brown or about 3-5 minutes on each side.

Remove malasada from oil and place on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet. Once malasada has slightly cooled, place in the bowl with sugar. Toss to coat.

ENJOY!

Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (6)

Easy Hawaiian Style Malasada Recipe

Relle Lum

Easy Hawaiian style malasadas are deep fried and rolled in sugar creating a light and fluffy donut. Perfect for Malasada day here in Hawai’i or anytime of year.

4.54 from 290 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Desserts

Cuisine Hawaiian

Servings 2 dozen

Calories 234 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small mixing bowl add yeast, warm water heated to 115F, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Set aside and allow to sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment add eggs. Mix until light and fluffy.

  • Add milk, evaporated milk, butter, sugar, and yeast mixture. Mix until well combined.

  • With the motor running slowly add flour mixture and salt. Mix dough until well combined and smooth.

  • Transfer to a lightly greased mixing bowl and cover with a towel. Place in a warm, dark area and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

  • Remove dough on to a floured surface. Roll dough to about 1 inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter, cup, or any round shape to cut dough. Place dough rounds on to a greased cookie sheet. Cover with a towel and allow to rest.

  • Place sugar in a large bowl and set aside. Heat oil of choice in a medium sauce pan over medium high heat until oil is heated to 375F. Place malasadas on oil to fry. Do not crowd the malasadas. Fry until golden brown or about 3-5 minutes on each side.

  • Remove malasada from oil and place on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet. Once malasada has slightly cooled, place in the bowl with sugar. Toss to combine.

  • ENJOY!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 9gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 80mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g

Keyword baked goods, dessert, doughnut, hawaiian donut, home made, keeping it relle, malasada, malasadas, portuguese dessert

Did you make this recipe?Share a photo and tag @keeping.it.relle on Instagram so I can see all your delicious creations and Let me know how it was!

© Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!

Tried this recipe? Tag me on social. I’d love to see and share it.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeping.it.relle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepingitrelle

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/keepingitrelle

Tried and love this recipe? Please give it a rating.

Pin for later.

Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (7)

***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases***

Easy Hawaiian Style Malasadas Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between malasada and donut? ›

The difference with the Malasada is the amount of eggs in them. Malasadas have more eggs and a bit more butter which makes them distinctly yellow inside and like a brioche. They are impossibly light and delicious and out of all of these types, malasadas are probably my favourite donut.

What does malasada mean in Hawaiian? ›

Malasadas are said to be a speciality of the island of São Miguel, an island in the Azores that was first settled by the Portuguese in 1427. The name, sometimes spelled malassadas means "poorly cooked," a reference to the almost crisp, sugary exterior contrasted by a soft, doughy crumb.

Should malasadas be refrigerated? ›

Hawaiian Malasadas taste best the day they are made. You can extend the shelf-life by storing the malasada in an airtight container, either at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you fill your Hawaiian Malasada, they will require refrigeration.

What is malasadas made of? ›

Malassada
Malassadas being made in Rhode Island by the United Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit
Alternative namesFilhós, malasada
Main ingredientsWheat flour, sugar, eggs, milk, yeast
Ingredients generally usedCinnamon, molasses
Similar dishesBola de Berlim, farturas, filhós, sonho, fried dough, cascoréis da Guarda
3 more rows

Why are malasadas purple? ›

Poi is a starchy paste made from boiled and pounded taro root, regularly served as a side dish on the islands. A powdered version added into the batter (as well as the glaze) is the key to these deep-fried treats' tender texture and pretty purple hue.

What is a honeymooners donut? ›

Our honeymooners are made from our donut dough and topped with a generous spoonful of our fruity pie fillings and surrounded by vanilla icing. CHERRY.

How long do malasadas last? ›

Like sushi, it is just one of those foods that were meant to be eaten right away. Don't toss your excess, though. They should keep in the fridge for about a week or so.

When to eat malasadas? ›

Malasada Day or Fat Tuesday started way back in the 1800s and is a tradition in Hawaii that now equates to long lines and satisfied stomaches. On the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, Catholics typically eat a fatty meal to prepare for fasting during Lent.

What does Ko Olau mean in Hawaiian? ›

Ko'olauloa is the northeastern district of O'ahu, from Waimea Bay on the North Shore to Ka'a'awa on the windward coast. ("Ko'olau" means "windward"; "loa" means "long")The valleys from La'ie to Kahana are well-watered and fertile.

Can you eat malasadas the next day? ›

For filled malasadas, you can refrigerate them overnight and microwave for 10 sec/donut. If you want to eat them within the day, you can keep them at room temperature.

Can I freeze malasadas? ›

MALASADA Faq

You can freeze them if you want to keep them longer. What type of oil do you fry malasadas in?

In which state are malasadas a popular dessert? ›

HAWAII: Malasadas

Though originally Portuguese, malasadas are popular throughout Hawaii. In 1878, Portuguese immigrants moving to Hawaii for labor work brought the traditional food over to the island. Today, there are many Hawaiian bakeries specializing in the fluffy powdered donuts.

What are some fun facts about malasadas? ›

The malasada, a small, deep fried dough confection, has become integrated into the broad spectrum of “local food.” The Portuguese sweet treat was first brought to Hawaii by Portuguese laborers from the Azores and Madeira Islands who came to work in the sugar plantations.

Why do people eat malasadas on Fat Tuesday? ›

In Portugal, Fat Tuesday is called Terça-feira Gorda. And that also marks the last day of the Carnival of Madeira. In order to use up all of the lard and sugar in the house ahead of Lent the tradition was to make malasadas with all of the butter and sugar they had.

Why are malasadas so popular in Hawaii? ›

It's an understatement to call malasadas part of Hawaii's culinary gifts. Ever since an influx of Portuguese farmers brought the recipe to the region at the end of the 19th century, these fried donuts have become a staple of Hawaiian pastry shops.

Are malasadas like beignets? ›

Beignets are commonly made of pâte à choux (the type of dough used to make eclairs) that is cut into squares and fried. Malasadas, with their eggy, yeasted dough, are more similar to the German doughnuts known as Berliners, save for the fact that Berliners are filled with jelly.

What's the difference between a beignet and a donut? ›

The texture of donuts and beignets is different due to the ingredients used. While both of these pastries fall on the side of light and fluffy, donuts are typically more dense than beignets. This is in part because of the difference in the dough; donuts aren't made with choux pastry like beignets.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 6303

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.