Sweet Potato Donuts
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Syrup coated donuts
DONUTS or DOUGHNUTS! At the mention of it, my daughter will immediately go, ‘Ooooooooh, I want some’. She loves Krispy Kreme so much that she is willing to trade her breakfast, lunch and dinner for it! I seriously wonder what is so special about it. I mean, it’s just a small piece of flour dough with a hole in it and costs more than £1 each! To me it’s like eating gold. Besides, how do they still stay soft for a few days? That begs the question, ‘What are the ingredients?’
The Donut Life
Well, I must say that this popular, simple donut speaks a lot about LIFE. The hole in the middle of the donut always speaks to me about the emptiness of life that many people face. Have we filled our hearts, or lives, with the wrong things, things that do not bring any fulfillment but emptiness in our lives? Are we busy pursuing things that don’t last but instead give us lots of heartaches, headaches and sleepless nights? Life can be very exciting and meaningful when we live out our lives with a purpose, intentionally filling our thoughts and heart with things that last.
A Fulfilled Life
Each time I eat a donut, I think about my life and also my children’s lives. I love my life and I really enjoy it. I have also consistently invested in my children’s lives, teaching them values and characters that have a lasting, postitive impact upon them, not only just to survive in the society but to live a happy, meaningful and fulfilled life. That’s what my parents, especially my dad did everyday in our growing years.
Several months ago, my daughter said, ‘Mom, you brought us up very well’. A few weeks ago, she said, ‘Mom, next time when I have my own kids, I want to teach them just like you have taught us’. Those words from her brought me tremendous comfort and joy, knowing that every effort and sacrifice for them is worth it. Life is not a bed of roses but it’s easy to get over gloomy days when our lives are filled with right thoughts, right activities and lived out purposefully.
Healthier Donuts
I love donuts very much too but if I can I’ll go for a healthier one. I have here one made from sweet potatoes which is a very popular Malaysian dessert, called Kueh Keria. I made the other day and my daughter said that they were really good. Here’s my recipe to share:
Ingredients
500g steamed sweet potatoes (about 4 medium ones)
250g flour (about)
1t baking powder
sugar (optional)
Mash the potatoes while hot and add in the rest of the other ingredients. Mix and knead to a soft dough. Adjust the flour. You may need more or maybe less depending on the potatoes.
Soft donut dough
Divide the dough into 12 pieces. Roll them into balls and then flatten. Make a hole in the centre. Flour your hands and dough as you do this because the dough is still a little wet and sticky.
Donuts ready to be fried
When all is done, deep fry them under medium fire until golden. Dish up and let them cool down before eating.
Deep frying the donuts
You can eat them plain just as they are. I actually love them this way. They have a natural sweetness of their own.
Plain sweet potato donuts
You can sprinkle icing sugar on them too to sweeten them up. My daughter loves it this way.
Sprinkled with icing sugar
You can also coat them in sugar syrup. I love it this way too.
Fabulous sweet potato donut
Well, I’m sure that there are many other ways to enjoy this lovely, healthy dessert. In Malaysia, it’s often coated with sugary syrup.
Do you like donuts? Do you love sweet potatoes? Have you tried this donut before? Do you think about your life when you see or eat a donut? Please share, add and comment in the comment box below.
Other Malaysian desserts that you may be interested in:
Easy Cooking With Bananas
Fabulous Bananas With Strawberry Coulis
Simple, Easy Banana Spring Rolls For Desserts
Sweet Potato Balls For Dessert
Best Coconut Rolls
Chewy Peanut Balls
Crunchy Sesame Candy Bars
Peanut Butter Mochi Balls
Keep Smiling Sesame Balls
Sweet Potato Tortoise-shaped Chinese Dessert (Angku)
Peanut Puffs
9 Layered Coffee Rice Pudding
Bubur Cha Cha
Quote of the day……
“We have a choice regarding the attitude we will embrace every day…life is 10% what happens to me & 90% how I react to it.”
Charles Swindoll
38 Comments
Shirley on November 10th, 2009
I never thought of sweet potato doughnuts!!! Good reflection of life Mary. Don’t you have a doughnut cutter? It makes it easier.
3hungrytummies on November 10th, 2009
oh ! these are the real doughnuts I grew up with. 20cents each from the kuih lady 
thanks for the recipe!
Mary on November 10th, 2009
@Divina - Thanks for your lovely compliment. I’ll surely make a lot of these healthier donuts for you. I’m still waiting for you to come
@Shirley - Thanks for your lovely comment. I have a doughnut cutter but can’t remember where I have misplaced it 
I think they look more like those made by little kids haha. Fun making them.
@3hungrytummies - Oh…you are very lucky. I only got to taste them when I was in uni!! They were not found in my place. Looks like we have healthier foods….hehe
The Nomadic Gourmet on November 10th, 2009
They look amazing. I love anything with sweet potatoes or pumpkin. When made in Malaysia, are they traditionally shaped like that with a hole in the middle? Or do they have a different shape?
Trissa on November 10th, 2009
Your doughnuts look delicious and great to see they are healthier too! But what I love about this post is your passion for your children! I can compliment you all the time about your food but I think they best compliment you can receive is something that your daughter said about bringing them up so well!
The Cooking Ninja on November 10th, 2009
I love this. Each time I’m back in S’pore, I buy them and stuff myself with it. lol! Thanks for sharing your recipe. I’ll cook it for my girl and other half.
Mary on November 10th, 2009
@The Nomadic Gourmet - It’s shaped like a donut in Malaysia and they are quite small. Mine are much bigger. I would be making them again soon. It’s great for children’s parties.
@Trissa - Thanks for your lovely comment. Yes, I’m very passionate about my children. I want them to live well. I have seen too many broken lives around. Our children need our time, teaching and training. Totally agree with you that the best ever compliments are those that came from my children. Parenting is real hard work but it is all worth it.
@The Cooking Ninja - I’m so glad they are easy to make. I don’t have to miss them now. I hope you will make these with your girl. I’m sure both of you will have lots of fun.
kristy on November 10th, 2009
You’re so right! Sometimes I think about my life too but not by looking at the doughnuts but the sky! Funny huh? I was wondering what will happen in the future.
TasteHongKong on November 10th, 2009
What i get from your daughter’s words is that you are a mother of good role model. How sweet!
TasteHongKong on November 10th, 2009
… So probably you don’t add any sugar for making the donuts.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake on November 10th, 2009
I am so badly in need of comfort food right now and I love sweet potato. Wish I had some!
Mary on November 10th, 2009
@Kristy - I wish I can always just lie down in the garden outside and look up into the sky like you…but….it’s so COLD. Looks like I have to look at the ceiling if I don’t have donuts…LOL
@TasteHongKong - Thanks for your compliment. I really hope that what I have taught and trained my children will help them through life victoriously.
I didn’t want to add sugar in the donut because I knew my children will love to sprinkle lots of icing on them. I always try every means to cut down sugar without compromising the taste.
@Sarah - If you have sweet potatoes, this is a very simple and easy recipe to go for. I really love them.
foodlovee on November 10th, 2009
Wow! I love this sweet potato donuts.But sadly it is so difficult to find a very good one nowadays.They just add too much flour and sugar.Thus the sweet potato’s taste does not exits.Yours looks yummy!
penny aka jeroxie on November 10th, 2009
I like very very much! I will have mine with chocolate sauce… not very healthy is it? 
Christine@Christine's Recipes on November 10th, 2009
My daughter loves Krispy Kreme very much. I don’t understand why it’s so attractive to her. I remember the day when the first shop of Krispy Kreme opened in Brisbane. My daughter suggested she bought a dozen of donuts back home and got me to try them. When she’s back, she told me there were a long queue lining up at the entrance.
I totally agree with you that the meaningful values we teach our kids are the most precious things in their life.
Alta on November 10th, 2009
What a wonderful thing to hear from your daughter. I don’t like Krispy Kreme at all…of course, I can’t eat it anymore anyways, but I could try to make these, substituting a gluten-free flour (maybe sweet rice flour?). This sounds so lovely.
Mary on November 10th, 2009
@foodlovee - Business is business…$$$ comes first. So…the best is till homecooked…clean, cheap, high quality and preservatives/additives free. Sometimes it frightens me to hear of the way food are prepared outside.
@Penny - I knew you would go with chocolate sauce…LOL. Well, it’s still healthier than the normal donut.
@Christine - Thanks for sharing. I’m sure our daughters are not the only ones so in love with Krispy Kreme. Well, as our daughters grow up, let’s continue to be mentors and coaches to them. Life is a long journey and they will always appreciate our support and encouragement.
@Alta - Ya, I was surprised to hear from her but really soothing and happy. I suppose you can always experiment with other flours. I think the texture will come out like the tortoise dessert that I made recently which uses sweet potatoes and glutinous flour (sweet rice flour).
joylicious on November 10th, 2009
These donuts look amazing, donuts have always been a comfort food to me. My best friend loves them too, she calls bagels “unhappy donuts” haha. Your children are lucky to have such a wonderful mother such as yourself, it is hard to be a good parent. Great post, this one really brought a smile on my face.
Sanjana on November 10th, 2009
OMG NO EGGS! 
:D I want!
Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe! I love sweet potatoes! And when I eat a doughnut I think about the ones filled with strawberry jam which I used to eat when I was little! I always stood there in the supermarket reading the ingredients of all the doughnuts just to check if they were eggless! And of course, some were Love this recipe, Mary! Definetly giving it a go!
pegasuslegend on November 10th, 2009
this sounds like out pizza fritte fried dough, have made with regular potato dough but never tried like this …looks fabulous and the pictures are wonderful glad you posted your site…got to see allot more that way thank you
Drick on November 10th, 2009
A 5 STAR TREAT - you know I would eat all of these….
Mathea on November 10th, 2009
Mary, you’ve done it again. An amazing concept: the healthy donut. It looks delicious, and guilt-free to boot!
Mary on November 10th, 2009
@Joylicious - Thanks for your lovely compliment and sharing. I’m trying to figure out why your friend calls bagel ‘unhappy donut’. Maybe it looks too plain without any icing…haha.
@Sanjana - Oh…I didn’t know you don’t take eggs. Hope I’ll have some other recipes that do not contain eggs for you. If you love sweet potatoes, you will love this one.
@pegasuslegend - Thanks for sharing and your compliment. I learn a new culinary term…sounds Italian.
@Drick - wow…every dish I cook, you seem to want to eat all…awesome appetite….LOL. Thanks for your lovely compliment.
@Mathea - At least it has higher nutritional value than the normal donut…higher in fiber too. An excuse to indulge…hehe
Jeannie on November 10th, 2009
Long time I have not eaten these. Must visit the night market to get these from the local kuih stall.
betty on November 10th, 2009
mm - they look much more healthier then kk
Cookin' Canuck on November 10th, 2009
What wonderful words to hear from your daughter! Parenting is such an important and difficult job, and it’s so rewarding when the lessons you teach make an impact. These donuts are so enticing!
Mary on November 11th, 2009
@Jeannie - Oh…how I miss the night market (pasar malam)…..so much to see, eat and shop. I would be in trouble if I go there….haha
@Betty - It is healthier then krispy kreme….higher in nutrition and fibre. I find the sweet potato donuts have a nicer flavour to.
@Cookin’ Canuck - Totally agree with you that parenting is an important and difficult job, but every effort is worth it at the end of the day. Hope you try out the donuts soon. They are very good.
Michael Chin on November 11th, 2009
Hi Mary, a great recipe and great writing on Donut Life. Thank you. I have forwarded this to many of my friends.
Mary on November 11th, 2009
@Michael - Thanks for your lovely compliment. Thanks too for forwarding it to your friends. Hope you try out this recipe soon.
Butterfly on November 17th, 2009
I will definitely try this. I love sweet potatoes and this will be my first time eating sweet potato donuts. I will do this weekend, Thanks girl.
Mary on November 18th, 2009
@Butterfly - If you love sweet potatoes, you will like this doughnuts. It has lovely flavour of sweet potatoes. It’s fun to make too.
The Kitchen Masochist on January 26th, 2010
I love this doughnut. It’s not too sweet nor rich. I first tasted this in KL Chinatown.
Mary on January 26th, 2010
@The Kitchen Masochist - Oh…now you make me miss home There’s so much good food in KL Chinatown…endless! I think I’ll dream of it tonight!
Cherryblosoms on November 23rd, 2010
I came across your blog by chance n think this is such a great recipe! I love sweet potatoes and those traditional kueh! Will try this recipe soon. Wish me success!
Cherryblosoms on November 24th, 2010
Hi my doughnuts turn out to be a bit tough. Is it because i did not put enough baking powder? Or i knead too long?
Mary on November 25th, 2010
@Cherryblosoms - Thanks very much for visiting. Glad to know you tried out the sweet potato donuts though so sorry to hear that they turned out a but tough. Yes, don’t knead too much cos it can build up gluten and make your donut tougher. Another reason could be the type of sweet potatoes used. Some sweet potatoes has more water while some are very dry. So I suggest you try again. The dough is quite soft. Add some water or more sweet potatoes if the dough is dry. These donuts are very delicious. I like them. I hope your next attempt turns out very well. Have fun making
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Divina on November 10th, 2009
That looks fantastic. You’re such a great mom and it’s flattering when your daughters tell you that. I know you are so proud of them. I have never tried a sweet potato doughnut so have to make this for me too.