Guest Blog Written By: Ashley from The Mutts Kitchen
A few months ago, my hubby asked me nicely what it was that I wanted for Mothers Day. Aside from a weeks vacation on a beach, in the sun and a fresh alcoholic beverage served in a pineapple shell (ahhh how great would that be)…I settled for a new stove, pressure cooker, and bread machine. What was I thinking, none of these things are actually gifts considering they are household appliances, but what the heck.
My goodness have I been putting these great “gifts” to use. I am so ecstatic with my bread machine. For a woping $60 we definitely got our money’s worth. Not only does this fella do all the hard work (mixing and kneading), but it rises my dough perfectly, and of course bakes bread! Yes, I still put my big boy (Kitchenaid stand mixer) to work as it kneads dough as well, but what I love about my bread machine is that all I need to do is throw in the ingredients, set it and voilà! It does everything a stand mixer would do, but it also rises at a perfect temperature effortlessly, and beeps when ready to make your masterpiece.
A few weeks back, my boys were breakin’ them for some Malasadas. Malasadas are Portuguese doughnuts tossed in sugar. I find them comparable to Beaver Tails. Growing up, we loved them for breakfast…but it depended on whether or not mama bear or vavo was up to ALL THE WORK. Mom and vavo never had a stand mixer or bread machine. Doughs were/are made by hand. Although, I admire them for their strength…realistically it is a pain in the butt, especially with three kids! This is why my appliances make my life sooo much easier, and we can enjoy our favourites more often…yes I know, I could live without the extra pounds. 🙂
The recipe I will be sharing with you today is for my Malasadas. You can make these with a bread machine, stand mixer, or the good ol’ fashion way using your hands. Whichever you choose, you will not regret it! Try having fun with them by adding your favourite toppings like Nutella, fresh fruit, nuts, candy, drizzled chocolate/caramel, etc…your options are endless.
MALASADAS
Recipe by: Ashley
Yields: 16-18
Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 25 min (excluding inactive time)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast, or bread machine yeast
2 tbsp warm water (110 degrees)
4 cups flour
Small pinch salt
1 cup homo milk, or whole milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
3 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 cups for tossing
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 lemon zested
2.5 litres vegetable or canola oil, for frying
Directions:
(Using a 3 lbs Bread Machine)
1. In a small cup, add water and sprinkle yeast. Set aside to activitate. *this step is optional for your bread machine. You can add the water and yeast directly to the pan according to manufacturers directions.
2. In a small saucepan, heat butter in milk until melted. Set aside to cool.
3. Add the ingredients into your bread machine insert/pan as follows:
• yeast mixture
• flour and salt
• sugar
• butter and milk
• eggs and lemon zest
4. Set your bread machine to dough cycle.
5. When finished, remove dough from machine pan and knead lightly on floured surface.
6. Divide into 16-18 small balls. Set aside, covered with a towel to rest (30-60 min). *You could also refrigerate covered overnight and fry in the morning.
7. Heat oil in a deep pan to 350-360 degrees.
8. Flatten the dough balls into circles, making the middle thinner than the sides (dough usually “tents” in the middle when fried, my grandmother would make a hole in the middle to avoid this).
9. Add the flattened dough circles to the pan carefully and fry for approximately 2-3 minutes on each side. Do not over crowd the pan.
10. In a large deep tray, add 2 cups of sugar and the cinnamon.
11. Toss the Malasadas in the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
(Using a Stand Mixer)
Follow the steps above, but use active dry yeast only.
To complete the initial mix, use a stand mixer paddle attachment followed by the dough hook.
Let the dough rise covered for approximately 1 hr.
Note: you may use salted butter, but do not add the pinch of salt that the recipe calls for.
Serve immediately and enjoy, but many enjoy these a day old!
Enjoy!
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