This put up could include affiliate hyperlinks. Please learn my disclosure policy.
For over 12 years, this Mandazi recipe has been a favourite on my weblog—and in my kitchen! These golden, fluffy East African donuts or fried bread are spiced with heat cardamom and cinnamon and fried to perfection. They’re so versatile, whether or not you’re serving them for breakfast, dessert, or simply as a snack, they usually by no means final lengthy as soon as they hit the desk.

Earlier than You Begin
- Use Heat Water for the Yeast: Make certain the water is heat, about 110°F, to activate the yeast correctly. Too sizzling, and it’ll kill the yeast; too chilly, and it received’t activate.
- Don’t Skip the Resting Time: Let the dough rise for about an hour. This step helps create the sunshine and fluffy texture Mandazi is understood for.
- Roll the Dough Evenly: Intention for about 1 cm (lower than ½ inch) thickness when rolling out the dough. This ensures the Mandazi will cook dinner evenly and puff up fantastically when fried.
- Maintain the Oil on the Proper Temperature: Warmth the oil to round 350°F. Use a thermometer in case you have one. If the oil is simply too sizzling, the surface will brown too shortly, leaving the within undercooked.
- Check One First: Fry one piece of dough first to examine the oil temperature and modify if mandatory. This additionally helps you time how lengthy both sides must cook dinner.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Fry a couple of items at a time to forestall the oil temperature from dropping. This retains the Mandazi crispy and golden.
- Serve Contemporary: Mandazi is greatest loved heat, proper after frying. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or depart them plain, relying in your desire.

Let’s begin by waking up the yeast. Stir it into some heat water—not too sizzling, not too chilly, goal for 110°F. Let it sit for about 5 minutes till it seems to be foamy. That’s how you understand the yeast is alive and able to work its magic on the dough. If it doesn’t foam, toss it and check out once more—it’s not value risking flat Mandazi.

In a big bowl or your stand mixer, mix the dry substances—flour, cardamom, cinnamon, and salt. Subsequent, pour within the coconut milk, sugar, egg, a bit oil, and the yeast combination. In case you’re utilizing a stand mixer, change to the dough hook and knead till the dough pulls away from the edges and feels comfortable however not sticky. If it’s sticking an excessive amount of, sprinkle in a bit additional flour, a tablespoon at a time, till it behaves. Don’t overdo the flour although, or your Mandazi will lose that mild and ethereal texture.

Coat a bowl flippantly with oil, plop the dough in, and canopy it with plastic wrap or a humid kitchen towel. Let it hang around for about an hour in a heat spot till it puffs up. This relaxation time is what makes the dough comfortable and simple to work with, so don’t rush it.

As soon as the dough has risen, divide it into manageable items—it’s simply simpler to roll out this manner. Roll every bit to about 1 cm thick (that’s rather less than ½ inch) and lower it into triangles or no matter enjoyable shapes you need. Attempt to maintain them roughly the identical dimension in order that they fry evenly.

Warmth your oil to round 350°F. In case you don’t have a thermometer, drop a small piece of dough in—if it sizzles and rises to the highest, you’re good to go. Fry a couple of items at a time, ensuring to not overcrowd the pan. Flip them as soon as they’re golden on one aspect, and watch them puff up fantastically! Every batch ought to take simply a few minutes. Drain them on paper towels as you go.

As soon as they’re cool sufficient to deal with, sprinkle the Mandazi with powdered sugar or depart them plain. Serve them heat with a cup of chai or espresso, or simply take pleasure in them as they’re. These are at their best possible contemporary, however belief me, leftovers received’t final lengthy!

Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Can I make the dough forward of time?
Sure! You’ll be able to put together the dough and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 24 hours earlier than frying. Let it come to room temperature and provides it a fast knead earlier than rolling it out.
How do I retailer leftover Mandazi?
Retailer leftover Mandazi in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 2 days. To maintain them contemporary longer, refrigerate them for as much as 4 days and reheat within the oven or air fryer to deliver again their crispiness.
Can I freeze Mandazi?
Completely! As soon as fried and cooled, freeze Mandazi in a single layer on a baking sheet. After they’re frozen, switch them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll maintain for as much as 3 months. To reheat, bake them within the oven at 350°F or pop them in an air fryer straight from the freezer.
How do I maintain the Mandazi from getting soggy after frying?
Allow them to drain on paper towels instantly after frying to absorb extra oil. Keep away from stacking them too tightly whereas they’re nonetheless heat to forestall trapping steam.

Extra Scrumptious Donuts Recipes
Earlier than You Start! In case you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us understand how you appreciated this recipe! This helps our enterprise thrive & proceed offering free recipes.

Mandazi Recipe – Spiced East African Donuts
Mandazi, African Donuts are mild, fluffy, and spiced with heat cardamom and cinnamon. Good for breakfast, dessert, or a snack, these fried treats pair splendidly with tea or espresso. Get pleasure from them plain or dusted with powdered sugar.
Stop your display screen from going darkish
Earlier than You Start! In case you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us understand how you appreciated this recipe! This helps our enterprise thrive & proceed offering free recipes.
Directions
-
In a small bowl combine the yeast and heat water and stir. Let sit for five minutes till yeast dissolves.
-
Within the bowl of your mixer, add the flour, salt, cardamom, cinnamon and blend. Add the vegetable oil, egg, coconut milk, sugar and yeast combination. Utilizing the hook attachment combine every little thing till the dough isn’t too sticky and it not follow the aspect of the bowl, add extra flour as wanted.
-
Place the dough in an oiled bowl and canopy with plastic wrap. Let it relaxation for about an hour till the dough rises a bit.
-
Warmth about 2-3 inches of oil in a deep frying pan to round 350°F. In case you don’t have a thermometer, drop a small piece of dough in—if it sizzles and rises to the highest, you’re good to go.
-
Lower the dough in about 6 items to make it simpler to roll and lower. Roll every bit in order that the dough is about 1 cm (lower than ½ inch) in thickness. Lower every bit into 6 triangles or every other enjoyable form you favor.
-
Fry the donuts in batches, ensuring to not overcrowd the pan, and cook dinner on each side till golden brown. As soon as accomplished, switch the Mandazi to a plate lined with paper towels to soak up any extra oil. Repeat with the remaining dough till all of the Mandazi are completely fried.
-
Sprinkle with powder sugar and revel in.
Notes
- Let the dough rise correctly—it’s key to reaching that comfortable, ethereal texture.
- Lower the dough into uniform items for even frying. Triangles are conventional, however you may experiment with enjoyable shapes!
- Maintain the oil at 350°F for the perfect outcomes; too sizzling, and the surface will burn earlier than the within cooks.
- These are greatest loved contemporary, however you may reheat them within the oven or air fryer to deliver again the crispiness.
Diet Data
Serving: 1donutEnergy: 74kcal (4%)Carbohydrates: 11g (4%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fats: 3g (5%)Saturated Fats: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 1gTrans Fats: 0.01gLdl cholesterol: 5mg (2%)Sodium: 35mg (2%)Potassium: 22mg (1%)Fiber: 0.3g (1%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 0.05mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg (6%)
Discover: Diet is auto-calculated on your comfort. The place related, we suggest utilizing your individual diet calculations.
Initially shared September 2012.