Malasada Day | Leonard's Bakery (2024)

FAQs

What is malasada Day? ›

Malasada Day which dates back to the days of the sugar plantations of the 1800s. always falls on the day before Ash Wednesday and is also known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday. It refers to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods and desserts before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.

Leonard's Bakery garners praise for its fresh, made-to-order malasadas, regarded by many as delicious and available in a variety of flavors. Despite busy outlets and long lines, the efficient staff ensures that wait times remain reasonable, often deemed worthy by patrons eager for a taste.

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.

Leonard's Bakery is a Portuguese bakery in Honolulu, Hawaii, known for popularizing the malasada. The fried pastry, slightly crispier and chewier than a doughnut and with no hole, is known as a cuisine of Hawaii.

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.

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.

A malasada is a portugese donut. Deep fried without holes. Usually rolled in sugar. The malasada puffs are malasadas filled with a flavored custard.

Leonard's malasadas have become iconic in Oahu. Locals, tourists, and probably even those who haven't been to the island know about them. Because why not? These Portuguese donuts are made fresh to order so you can best enjoy them in all its light and fluffy splendor.

Malasadas and Sweet Bread

These baked goods have their origin in Portugal, and were brought by the many plantation laborers from the Madeira and Azores regions when they arrived to work in Hawaiʻi in the late 19th century.

In which state are malasadas a popular dessert? ›

Hawaii. In 1878, Portuguese laborers from Madeira and the Azores immigrated to Hawaii to work in the plantations. They brought with them their traditional foods, including malassadas―where it is now commonly spelled as malasadas.

My answer comes a bit late, I know, but anyway, FYI, malassada (plural: malassadas) does exist in Brazil, in the Northeast part of the country. It has nothing to do with the recipe you described. It's like an omelet, but made of manioc flour, eggs and salt.

You can store these malasadas on the counter in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To save them for a couple extra days, store them in the fridge and reheat them in a toaster oven.

Butter, milk, and half & half give these Portuguese-style donuts their distinctive richness and luscious texture.

Malasada doughnuts are a Portuguese treat, made famous in Hawaii. Served hot and fresh. Choose your sugar, filling and or drizzle. Create your own custom order of delicious Malasadas, or opt for the “Founder's Favorites” and we'll pick out a few of our favorites for you in a 6 or 12-pack.

The History of Paczki

Pączki are a specialty pastry reserved for once a year in honor of Fat Tuesday. It is a Catholic day of celebration as it is the precursor to the Lenten season, and the last day to indulge in foods before the traditional 40-day period of fasting before Easter.

While Carnival and Fat Tuesday are celebrated in many different ways across the world, one festivity, in particular, is especially delicious: Paczki Day. This day celebrates a pillowy, jam-filled Polish pastry, and people excitedly line bakery blocks for a box once every year.

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.