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4.7 from 177 votes

Mandazi Recipe – Spiced East African Donuts

Mandazi, African Donuts are light, fluffy, and spiced with warm cardamom and cinnamon. Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack, these fried treats pair wonderfully with tea or coffee. Enjoy them plain or dusted with powdered sugar.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Rising Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
Servings: 36
Calories: 74 kcal
Course: Dessert , Breakfast , Snacks
Cuisine: African

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • ½ cup warm water about 110°F
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • vegetable oil for frying donuts

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a small bowl mix the yeast and warm water and stir. Let sit for 5 minutes until yeast dissolves.
  2. In the bowl of your mixer, add the flour, salt, cardamom, cinnamon and mix. Add the vegetable oil, egg, coconut milk, sugar and yeast mixture. Using the hook attachment mix everything until the dough is not too sticky and it no longer stick to the side of the bowl, add additional flour as needed.
  3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rest for about an hour until the dough rises a bit.
  4. Heat about 2-3 inches of oil in a deep frying pan to around 350°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, drop a small piece of dough in—if it sizzles and rises to the top, you’re good to go.
  5. Cut the dough in about 6 pieces to make it easier to roll and cut. Roll each piece so that the dough is about 1 cm (less than ½ inch) in thickness. Cut each piece into 6 triangles or any other fun shape you prefer.
  6. Fry the donuts in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan, and cook on both sides until golden brown. Once done, transfer the Mandazi to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Repeat with the remaining dough until all the Mandazi are perfectly fried.
  7. Sprinkle with powder sugar and enjoy.

Notes

  • Let the dough rise properly—it’s key to achieving that soft, airy texture.
  • Cut the dough into uniform pieces for even frying. Triangles are traditional, but you can experiment with fun shapes!
  • Keep the oil at 350°F for the best results; too hot, and the outside will burn before the inside cooks.
  • These are best enjoyed fresh, but you can reheat them in the oven or air fryer to bring back the crispiness.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1donut Calories 74kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 3g (5%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 0.01g Cholesterol 5mg (2%) Sodium 35mg (1%) Potassium 22mg (1%) Fiber 0.3g (1%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 8IU (0%) Vitamin C 0.05mg (0%) Calcium 4mg (0%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 36Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 74

% Daily Value*

Serving 1donut
Calories 74kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 0.01g 1%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 35mg 1%
Potassium 22mg 0%
Fiber 0.3g 1%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 8IU 0%
Vitamin C 0.05mg 0%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.