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–+ servings
three fat cakes stacked
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Cinnamon sugar fat cakes (magwinya)

Deliciously fluffy and airy fat cakes (magwinya) that are soft on the inside and golden and crispy on the outside, accompanied by cinnamon sugar delight that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and taste buds.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Resting time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: African, South African
Diet: Vegan
Keyword: fat cakes, how to make magwenya, magwinya recipe, puff puff recipe, vetkoeks
Servings: 18
Calories: 818kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot for deep frying

Ingredients

  • 4½ cups self-raising flour
  • 2 tsp Instant yeast
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 ½ cups water warm
  • 1½ litre sunflower oil for deep frying

Toppings:

  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup sugar
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the self-raising flour, instant yeast, and pink Himalayan salt. Then, gradually add the warm water and mix the ingredients until a dough is formed.
  • Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, cover the bowl with a cling film or cloth and leave it in a warm place for about an hour, until the dough is doubled in size.
  • Once the batter has risen, mix it again and allow it to sit for another 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pan over high-medium heat until it sizzles, then reduce to low-medium heat to prevent the fat cakes from browning too quickly without fully cooking from the inside.
  • Scoop out some batter with a large spoon and drop it into the hot oil. Use a second spoon to push the dough into oil, if needed.
  • Deep-fry the magwinya until they are golden brown on both sides. Remove the fatcakes from the oil using a ladel draining spoon and place on paper towels.
  • In a shallow dish, mix together the sugar and cinnamon together.
  • While the magwinya are still warm, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat them evenly. Enjoy!

Notes

SERVING AND STORAGE 
Fat cakes are best enjoyed fresh, but they can also be stored and enjoyed over the course of days! However, you can still store and serve them for later. Simply microwave until warm. Please note that the outside will be less crispy than when originally fried.
Store vetkoeks in a plastic bag or airtight container. Preventing air and moisture will keep them fresh. Be sure to also keep them in a cool place to avoid extra moisture from building up. 
VEGAN FRIENDLY? 
They are completely vegan as no dairy products or eggs were used.
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 818kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 77g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 64g | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.3mg