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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast » Donuts

    Cinnamon Sugar Malasadas (Hawaiian Donuts)

    Published by Melissa on October 17, 2016 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 32 Comments

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    Featured Image for post Cinnamon Sugar Malasadas (Hawaiian Donuts)

    Easy, fun-to-make Cinnamon Sugar Malasadas. Hawaiian donuts made with a rich buttery dough, served hot from the fryer rolled in cinnamon sugar. 

    Today’s post is sponsored by Red Star Yeast. I love the challenge of creating fun, new recipes to share with you using Red Star Yeast. Today’s recipe is inspired by my recent trip to Maui.

    In May, my husband and I spent a week vacationing on Maui. Before leaving I researched things to do and places to eat. One of the things people said not to miss was the malasadas, a Portuguese donut that’s become super popular in Hawaii. 

    Collage of Sugar Beach Bake Shop, the Home Maid Cafe, Cinnamon Sugar Malsadas and the Saturday morning swap meet

    I researched where to find the best malasadsa on Maui and we did a bakery crawl to taste test the favorites. We visited the Sugar Beach Bake Shop, the Home Maid Cafe, and the Saturday morning swap meet.

    Leonard’s Bakery on Oahu is believe to be the first bakery to begin selling malasadas in Hawaii. Originally malasadas were just rolled in sugar, then Leonard’s began filling them with jelly and custard. My favorite on Maui were the filled malasadas.

    Collage of Clark's Island Donuts food truck

    After I returned home, I discovered there’s a popular food truck in Salt Lake City that sells malasadas. Of course, I couldn’t resist a visit to the Clark’s Island Donuts food truck.

    While I was waiting for the filled malasadas I ordered, a customer said her favorite were the cinnamon sugar malasadas. So I added a cinnamon sugar malasada to my order, and she was so right. The cinnamon sugar malasadas were my favorite too.

    Red Star Quick Rise or Platinum Yeast to speed up the process.

    I decided I should make cinnamon sugar malasadas at home for my family. I wanted to serve them for breakfast Sunday morning, so I created a recipe using Red Star Quick Rise Yeast to speed up the process.

    Instant Yeast was developed to be added directly to dry ingredients. That allows you to skip the step of blooming the yeast in water before adding it to the flour. Making the dough in a stand mixer speeds up the process even more.

    Easy, fun-to-make Cinnamon Sugar Malasadas. Hawaiian donuts made with a rich buttery dough, served hot from the fryer rolled in cinnamon sugar.

    My husband helped me make the donuts. Rolling the dough into balls is quick and easy, and if you have little kids at home, they’d have fun helping make the donuts. They could also help roll the donuts in cinnamon and sugar.

    Malasadas are best eaten hot from the fryer. My family devoured them. I’m sure your family will as well.

    Featured Image for post Cinnamon Sugar Malasadas (Hawaiian Donuts)
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    4.46 from 24 votes

    Cinnamon Sugar Malasadas

    Cook Time8 minutes mins
    Total Time8 minutes mins
    Course: Donuts
    Keyword: Breakfast, yeast bread
    Servings: 24 donuts
    Author: Barbara Schieving
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    Ingredients

    • 5 cups bread flour
    • ⅓ cup sugar
    • 4 ½ teaspoons 2 packages Red Star Quick Rise or Platinum Yeast
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 12-oz. can evaporated milk
    • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
    • 4 large eggs room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Vegetable oil for frying
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Instructions

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, combine 4 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Add evaporated milk, butter, eggs and vanilla to flour mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
    • Switch to the dough hook and mix in the remaining flour a little at a time, to make a soft, slightly sticky dough. Add more or less flour as needed.
    • Place dough in lightly oiled bowl and turn to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place until double about 60 minutes. Punch down dough.
    • With floured hands, pinch off a 2 ounce piece of dough and shape it into a smooth ball. Place the balls 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets or lined with parchment or a silpat. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise until double, about 30 minutes.
    • While donuts are rising, add oil to a deep fryer or large deep pot until it is 2 inches deep. Heat oil to 350°. Carefully drop 6 malasadas in oil and fry until puffed and deep golden brown, about 8 minutes, flipping frequently.*
    • Remove to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Repeat with remaining malasadas. Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Coating: Add sugar and cinnamon to a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Add warm malasadas and roll in the cinnamon sugar to coat. Serve warm.

    Notes

    * Cook to an internal temperature of 195°.

    Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Red Star Yeast, but all opinions expressed are always my own.  You can also find Red Star Yeast on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Patsy Marceau

      April 21, 2020 at 2:56 pm

      Hi Barbara we make the same donuts in Canada but we call them Bismarck’s or jelly filled or cream filled my sister & I make them all the time can’ t get enough of the we love the cinnamon one the best .our husbands love the other ones .Now you’ve done it I have to make some right away By By .

      Reply
    2. Marie Coleman

      April 19, 2020 at 11:05 am

      These malasadas taste even better the next day microwaved for 15 seconds! Delish!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        April 19, 2020 at 3:57 pm

        That’s nice to learn – I’ll have to try that. Glad you loved them Marie!

        Reply
    3. KaiLee

      December 15, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      Do you think I could make these for my class? I need to bring a finger food, and I decided on malasadas. Do they have to be served warm, or is it a preference?

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        December 15, 2019 at 4:31 pm

        Hi KaiLee – you could make them ahead of time, they do not have to be served warm. Can you fry them the day you serve them?

        Reply
    4. Tracy

      December 02, 2019 at 9:28 am

      Will it be possible to make these without the stand mixer?

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        December 02, 2019 at 9:32 am

        Hi Tracy – yes, Red Star Yeast has a good post on hand kneading https://redstaryeast.com/yeast-baking-lessons/baking-steps-guide/kneading/

        Reply
    5. Sarah Hutchison

      August 03, 2019 at 6:06 pm

      Oh my! I have had Leonard’s, Tex’s, and a few others. These are so good! Had tried other recipes but this one is very good, Added a little lemon paste and it brought the flavor out. Thank you for sharing! 

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        August 03, 2019 at 10:19 pm

        Lemon paste sounds like an awesome addition. So nice to hear you loved them! Thanks Sarah 🙂

        Reply
    6. Lizz

      April 10, 2018 at 9:16 pm

      Hi! Went to Hawaii last week and these malasadas are the bomb! I wanna make some here at home. Would it be the same texture if I use all-purpose flour instead of Bread flour? TIA!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        April 11, 2018 at 6:55 am

        How fun that you were in Hawaii last week! You can use all purpose flour. The donuts may not be quite as light and fluffy but they should be great.

        Reply
      • Fineen ODriscoll

        September 30, 2018 at 8:31 pm

        Sorry to break this to everyone they are not Hawaiian they are Portuguese. The Portuguese people on the island is why they are there. You can get them in California, New York, and all of New England. Its a Portuguese donut made using choix style batter.

        Reply
        • Barbara Schieving

          September 30, 2018 at 9:09 pm

          Hi Fineen – I did mention that they’re a Portuguese donut in the post. I hope you’ll give the recipe a try and let me know what you think.

          Reply
    7. GAIL ROBBINS

      January 22, 2018 at 1:26 pm

      Please correct this….Malasadas is not a Hawaiian donut. It is Portuguese!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        January 22, 2018 at 1:43 pm

        Hi Gail – I did mention that they’re a Portuguese donut in the post. I hope you’ll give the recipe a try and let me know what you think.

        Reply
    8. Jill Roberts

      August 01, 2017 at 11:36 am

      I had never tried cinnamon sugar malasadas. But after reading your blog and seeing the snap of the majestic food, I tried. Oh my..! It was great. Thx for sharing recipe!

      Reply
    9. Martha Young

      December 15, 2016 at 1:49 pm

      I was introduced to these donuts while on the Big Island. They ARE delicious!

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        December 15, 2016 at 8:18 pm

        Thanks Martha – I need to make it to the Big Island one day 🙂

        Reply
    10. Platt College

      October 25, 2016 at 9:11 pm

      I love donuts. Never tried hawaiian donuts but sound good!

      Reply
    11. Sapana

      October 24, 2016 at 5:55 am

      These donuts look so adorable 😀 Mouthwatering!!!

      Reply
    12. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

      October 23, 2016 at 3:43 pm

      Ooh mum as soon as I saw the title I thought of Leonard’s!! And here you go making one of my favourite treats. Donuts are currently hugely popular in Australia.

      Reply
    13. Karen @ The Food Charlatan

      October 18, 2016 at 11:51 pm

      How did I go all the way to Hawaii and not try any of these!! Bummer. Guess I’ll have to try them at home 🙂 With cream filling please!

      Reply
    14. Erin@WellPlated

      October 18, 2016 at 3:13 pm

      Holy moly! These look amazing Barbara!

      Reply
    15. leslie

      October 18, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      Ive been looking for this yeast and can’t seem to find it in my area. boohoo. But these Hawaiian donuts sound amazing!

      Reply
    16. Traci

      October 17, 2016 at 9:44 pm

      These were my absolute favorite donuts when I went to Hawaii! So good, can’t wait to try to make them now. My mouth is seriously watering.

      Reply
    17. Melissa

      October 17, 2016 at 4:53 pm

      These sound delicious!
      The pictures look so good!

      Reply
    18. shelly (cookies and cups)

      October 17, 2016 at 9:38 am

      Ok, besides needing to get to Hawaii these are the next best thing!

      Reply
    19. Carol

      October 17, 2016 at 7:58 am

      Oh my stars….wouldn’t one of those taste wonderful with my last few sips of coffee? I can understand why your family devoured them….mine would too!

      What a fun-and tasty-quest to find the best Malasadas on Maui you had. It’s all about the research-a tough job but somebody’s gotta do it! And a mighty fine job you both did….and to find them in Salt Lake City too…how about that?! Filled, unfilled, they all look delicious……..

      Reply
    20. Rachel @ Rachel Cooks

      October 17, 2016 at 6:31 am

      These look so amazing!

      Reply
      • Alena Cantelo

        October 24, 2016 at 1:10 am

        These look lovely, I am going to make them for my family to, thanks Barbara!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

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