Sweets and desserts

Malassadas madeirenses

Sweet yeast-leavened fritters, sprinkled with sugar.

RegionMadeira
DifficultyMedium
Total time1 hour 40 minutes
Yield24 units
Photo of Malassadas madeirenses - traditional Portuguese sweet
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Malassadas madeirenses are festive fritters, soft on the inside and golden on the outside.

The fermented dough gains lightness with rest and must be fried carefully so as not to become heavy.

Ingredients

  • 500 g flour
  • 10 g dried yeast
  • 250 ml warm milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 70 g of sugar
  • Lemon zest
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • Oil for frying
  • Sugar to finish

Method

  1. Mix yeast, milk and sugar.
  2. Add flour, eggs, zest and salt.
  3. Knead until you get a soft dough.
  4. Leave the dough to rise.
  5. Fry portions in oil over medium heat.
  6. Coat in sugar while still warm.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • Fermentation gives lightness.
  • Oil at a moderate temperature helps them cook through evenly.
  • Best eaten on the day they are made.

Possible substitutions in Brazil

  • Milk can be replaced with warm water.
  • Orange zest also goes well.

Pairing

Coffee or black tea. No alcoholic drink is required.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is part of the editorial curation of Empório Portugal, developed from Portuguese culinary tradition. Like every traditional recipe, it may vary by region, family and cook.

Do you have a Portuguese family recipe?

Send it to the Empório Portugal community. Submitted recipes are reviewed before any publication.

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Quick facts

Prep
1 hour 15 minutes
Cooking
25 min
Total time
1 hour 40 minutes
Yield
24 units
Difficulty
Medium
Occasion
Popular festivals, Carnival, snack

Pairing

Coffee or black tea. No alcoholic drink is required.

Empório tip

Fermentation gives lightness.

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