Malasadas

Malasadas are traditional Portuguese yeast-leavened doughnuts made from eggs, flour, sugar, and milk. They are sometimes coated with cinnamon or granulated sugar. The original Portuguese malasadas don't have any holes or fillings, but the variations prepared in Hawaii do.

The popularity of malasadas in Hawaii is not accidental – Portuguese laborers from the Azores came to Hawaii in the 19th century to work in the plantations. They brought their traditional foods with them, including the malasadas, which were originally prepared in order to use all the sugar and lard in one's home before Lent.

Nowadays, malasadas are especially popular on Fat Tuesday. The Hawaiian malasadas can be filled with various ingredients such as chocolate, guava, or coconut pudding (haupia). The name malasadas means poorly cooked, referring to the sugary exterior that's contrasted by a soft crumb.