At Carnival every treat counts! And these super soft and fragrant homemade donuts are definitely worth making! They are indeed the perfect sweets to enjoy in the morning at breakfast with a bit of powdered sugar on top, and with that citrus flavor, thanks to the mandarin pulp in the dough, able to give the right energy to face the daily routine! But they will also be great as end-of-meal treats, perhaps served with some more honey on top! With this recipe, I officially open the door to the most playful and crazy party of the year, and although I am not a fan of it unless perhaps during my younger years, there would be much to say about the unsurpassable gastronomic extravagances linked to it here in Sicily! As indeed throughout the entire national territory! However, my proposal is about small and discreet fragrant and light sweets, without overdoing with fried foods and calories, because the nice thing is that you can celebrate even with simplicity! Citrus treats with a portion of honey that makes them soft and moist! Truly irresistible believe me!
CURIOSITIES: Did you know that the word “carnival” derives from the Latin carnem levare meaning “remove meat“? In ancient times indeed, the banquet held on the last day of carnival (which is Shrove Tuesday) was the prelude to a period of abstinence and fasting dictated by Lent during which no one was allowed to eat meat! Another curiosity concerns the Carnival celebration, during which it was allowed to let oneself go, free oneself from obligations and commitments, to engage in prank and play. Moreover, wearing masks made everyone unrecognizable, both rich and poor, thus eliminating social differences. Once the festivities ended however, rigor and order had to return to rule.
The proverb associated with this festival remembers it: “once a year it is permissible to go crazy” !
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 14 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Carnival, Fall, Winter, and Spring
Ingredients
⚠ THIS RECIPE CONTAINS ONE OR MORE AFFILIATION LINKS. The products I recommend are the same ones I use in my recipes; purchasing them through my blog helps support me and my work, while it won’t cost you anything more!
- 9 oz mandarins (approx. 3)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4.3 oz brown sugar
- 1/2 cup yogurt (citrus-flavored)
- 3 eggs
- 3 tbsps acacia honey
- 1/3 cup peanut oil
- 1 lemon zest (untreated)
- 1/2 orange zest (untreated)
- 1 packet baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
Tools
- 1 Knife
- 1 Mixer
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- Electric Whisks
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Lemon Zester
- 1 Donut Mold
- 1 Sieve
- 1 Ice Cream Scoop
Preparation
First, peel the mandarins, carefully remove all the internal seeds. Also, remove the peel they are covered with to avoid it being felt in the dough when tasting.
Blend them in a mixer into a puree.
Then add the liquid ingredients: the eggs strictly at room temperature, the yogurt, the oil, and the honey.
Continue blending for a few moments until you get a fairly smooth and homogeneous mixture.
Pour the obtained mixture into a large mixing bowl, sieve it to remove any remaining peels, and with the help of electric whisks, start whisking while gradually adding alternately, the sugar, the flour with sieved baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
Finally, add the grated zest of the citrus fruits and lightly mix with a spatula.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour the donut molds. If you have silicone ones, they do not need to be buttered or floured, except for the first use. Pour the mixture into the molds with an ice cream scoop or ladle, reaching ½ inch from the edge, to avoid the dough spilling out excessively while baking.
Bake for about 15 minutes in static mode, trying not to exceed the time limits, so that the donuts don’t end up dry and stale. Still, perform the toothpick test before turning off the oven. Take them out and let them cool at room temperature before unmolding.
Once lukewarm, place them on a wire rack to cool completely and serve them by sprinkling with powdered sugar.
Garnish them if you like, even with untreated orange and mandarin peels.
And voilà… the honey and mandarin donuts are ready to be enjoyed!
Bon Appetit from La Cucina di FeFè!
Storage
👉 The honey and mandarin donuts keep at room temperature under a glass dome or an airtight container for about 2-3 days.
Advice, notes, variations, and suggestions
🟣 To fully savor the aroma of mandarins, I suggest consuming them once they are completely cooled.
🟣For an even more indulgent version: you can also decorate the donuts with water glaze or, for those with a sweet tooth, a dark chocolate glaze, which pairs wonderfully with the citrus flavor of the mandarins.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Is it possible to replace the mandarin pulp with orange pulp?
Sure, you can use orange pulp, in this case, about 1 large one will be enough.
