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(CLOSED) Maha’s Turkish Delight donuts + win a copy of Flavours of Melbourne!

To celebrate my birthday, and yes, this one is a biggie, I am going to host a number of exciting giveaways during March. You only turn 30 once. But before I tell you more about this week’s giveaway (below the recipe for those of you slightly impatient), I must share a recipe for one of the best desserts I have had in a while: Turkish Delight donuts. That’s right!!!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of dining at Shane Delia‘s Maha Bar and Grill and frankly, while all of the tasting plates were delicious, I just had to leave room for these light and fluffy rosewater Turkish Delight donuts. I’m not big on desserts but boy, these were amazing. Drizzled with a rosewater honey syrup and sprinkled with pine nuts, they are what food lover’s dreams are made of.

And the best part? I got to take the recipe, complete with the essential ingredients, home. They sure know how to keep customers happy long after they’ve left the venue. I know, I was there.

Makes 8

Maha’s Turkish Delight donuts

I’ve changed the syrup recipe up a little, with no disrespect to Shane, but I felt there would be too much syrup based on the ingredients provided on the packet. The amount I made was just right. One other tip: wear single use latex gloves when forming the donuts by hand, easier to handle and clean up. And if you don’t have a set of scales accurate to 1g, then I suggest trippling the recipe – most dry yeast sachets have about 7g of yeast in them, so just don;t scrape every last bit out and you should get 6g.

{Printable recipe}

For the donuts:

  • 8 small (1cm) Turkish Delight cubes
  • 115g plain flour
  • 8g caster sugar
  • 2g dry yeast
  • pinch of salt
  • 115ml warm water
  • oil (vegetable or peanut) for frying

For the rosewater syrup:

  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp rosewater
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of cinnamon
  • 1/2 tbsp crushed nuts of any kind

To make the donut batter: combine warm water, flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a measuring jug. Mix until smooth, then stand in a warm place for about 15 minutes until the dough hs roughly doubled in size.

Heat cooking oil to 180C in a small saucepan – about 3cm deep for shallow frying, or double that amount for deep-frying the donuts. The first will be shaped more like patties, the second should be more round.

To cook the donuts: take a small handful of batter into your hand (latex gloves help), place a cube of Turkish Delight in the middle and scrape the batter onto your fingertips until it’s almost a ball. Lower your hand over the oil and gently drop the batter ball in. Cook for about 20 seconds on each side, or 30 in total if deep-frying – they should be puffed and golden brown. Remove from oil with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen towel.

To make the rosewater syrup: combine rosewater and vanilla extract in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add honey and crushed nuts. Set aside to cool down slightly.

To serve: you can dust the donuts with some icing sugar, and serve with a drizzling of the rosewater syrup. Best served warm.

Now, onto the giveaway… (closed)

First up is one of my favourite food-related books ever: Flavours of Melbourne (valued at A$69.95) with thanks to Smudge Publishing. It’s a must have for anyone as much in love with the Melbourne food, bar, art and laneway scene as I am, but even those of you new to it will find the photography and narrative inspiring to eat out and hang out more in and around the 3000 postcode. There are recipes too!

For your chance(s) to win a copy of this beautiful book, please do one or all of the following:

  1. Leave a comment on this post
  2. Follow @Wholesome_Cook on Twitter
  3. Like Wholesome Cook Page on Facebook
  4. Retweet this post (daily for BONUS entries)
  5. Share this post on Facebook
  6. Sign up to receive email updates from WholesomeCook – you’ll be the first to get new recipes and details of new giveaways.

Terms and conditions:

Giveaway open to Australian residents, or those with an Australian postal address only. Entries close midnight Sydney time on Thursday 8 March. Winner will be announced in a post on Friday 9 March and notified by email. If you are an Australian resident who leaves a comment and you are already following me on Twitter or Facebook, you will automatically receive extra entries.

35 comments

sarbear1987 March 2, 2012 at 12:30 pm

That sounds sooo good! I’ve never tried turkish delight, but I’ve always been curious.

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Miss Piggy March 2, 2012 at 1:05 pm

Oh man, these donughts took AMAZING but I don’t think I have the skills to cook them without buring the house down. AND great looking book…I’m totally 100% in love with Melbourne. One of my favourite cities in the world.

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Lizzy (Good Things) March 2, 2012 at 1:15 pm

Hi Marty, I grew up on doughnuts, made by my mother, who was a skilled artisan baker. I love them! I also happen to be fond of turkish delight. Win win with your recipe, this might be another of yours that I will try. Thanks for sharing xox

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Anna @ the shady pine March 2, 2012 at 2:11 pm

Wow what flavours! I am bookmarking this recipe as I have to make it given these have rose water in them. Did I mention how much I love donuts?!

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Wholesome Cook March 2, 2012 at 2:47 pm

I know, right? I made 8 and then went to pick the kids up from school and told them I had eaten 4 already. 4? Well, you know, I had to make sure they tasted right before I told the whole world! YUM!

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Justine March 2, 2012 at 3:37 pm

They look amazing, I was wondering if you could use chocolate pieces instead of the turkish delight ?

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Wholesome Cook March 2, 2012 at 4:44 pm

I’m sure you could, they take less than a minute to cook do I can’t see why not!

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Three-Cookies March 2, 2012 at 8:02 pm

Happy birthday. Yes 30 once only, I think all birthdays appear once only:)
This recipe is creative. I am guessing the turkish delights gets soft, gooey and delightful, and not chewy

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JJ @ 84thand3rd March 2, 2012 at 8:29 pm

Gorgeous pics and beautiful sounding recipe! Love the look of the book too :) Yum all around!

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Agnes March 2, 2012 at 11:00 pm

Wow, these sound so good. You can’t go wrong with fried dough. :D

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Sophie March 2, 2012 at 11:18 pm

I absolutely adore turkish delights and to have them with a donut? AMAZIIING! :p

“Liked” on Facebook. Have a wonderful birthday!

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sara (Belly Rumbles) March 3, 2012 at 2:38 am

Happy 30th this month :)

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rachelalt March 3, 2012 at 11:50 am

mmm doughnuts – these look to die for! love your photo styling too :)

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penny aka jeroxie March 3, 2012 at 11:53 am

yum yum yum! the donuts look so amazing. can’t stop at one right?

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Wholesome Cook March 3, 2012 at 12:38 pm

Nope, I had 4 before I was “forced” to leave the other 4 for others’ dessert!

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jeff March 3, 2012 at 12:07 pm

looks like a wonderful book

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DD March 3, 2012 at 1:29 pm

I can’t wait to try the donuts!!! I’m off to make a batch right now :)

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jasmine1485 March 3, 2012 at 6:04 pm

What a lovely idea! :) I’ve only made doughnuts a couple of times before, only once since i’ve gone gluten free. I think I could adapt these to make them gluten free though, yum!

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Nami | Just One Cookbook March 3, 2012 at 7:09 pm

Now this looks like perfect donuts! I’m in the US, so good luck to others! ;-)

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Jennifer B. March 3, 2012 at 7:34 pm

Gorgeous book AND donuts… Doubly delicious!

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Sissi March 4, 2012 at 4:28 am

Happy Birthday, Martyna! The doughnuts sound really incredibly good. I love especially the first photo.

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Alice Mitchell March 4, 2012 at 6:36 am

Have never ever craved doughnuts as much as i do since seeing these, they look delicious.

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rsmacaalay March 4, 2012 at 7:08 pm

This is something new! I never had donuts like this, surely that Turkish delight inside would blend well with the pastry.

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Erin@TheFoodMentalist March 4, 2012 at 8:10 pm

This recipe looks and sounds delightful. Also love the sound of this book, the cover is fantastic!

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aikchien March 5, 2012 at 4:08 am

I’d love to win this book! It sounds amazing!

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Stephanie March 5, 2012 at 8:02 am

I feel so lucky to live in Melbourne, Yum!

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john@heneedsfood March 5, 2012 at 8:10 am

Happy Birthday! This is such a beautiful recipe and one I know I’d enjoy. LOVE Turkish delight

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mykitchenstories March 5, 2012 at 8:31 am

The recipe you have chosen looks fantastic and I am sure the book is a gem, after all Melbourne is incredible

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Effie Bakkalis March 5, 2012 at 9:06 am

Happy Birthday to you! Thanks for the great giveaway – I am a Melbourne girl and this book looks devine!
(I also follow you on twitter and facebook)

Reply
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Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice March 6, 2012 at 1:05 pm

Wow the big 30! Happy birthday Martyna!!!

I just saw Shane Delia making these amazing doughnuts on television this weekend. I’m not a fan of Turkish delight and even I was drooling at the sight of them. Thinking I must make a trip to Maha to try them in person :)

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Chanel March 7, 2012 at 1:00 pm

Happy Birthday! My jaw dropped when I saw these. Honestly. Turkish delight donuts?! The awesomeness kills me.

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janeane March 8, 2012 at 4:17 am

my salad for lunch is looking so depressing compared to this!!

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Tara P March 8, 2012 at 10:25 am

Colours and flavours collide yum-I think I might indulge in a Turkish delight and chili hot chocolate tonight ohhh yum!

Reply
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