The recipe of the malakoffs dates back to the 19th century. Incidentally, the origin of this doughnut is a mystery because there are a couple of slightly different versions. For some, it is derived from the name of a Russian general, Malakoff, who, when travelling along the Riviera of the Lake Geneva Region, is said to have particularly appreciated this dish. For others, the recipe was brought back from the Crimean war by Swiss mercenaries who originated from the Lake Geneva Region. These mercenaries had contributed to the fall of Fort Malakoff which protected Sevastopol in 1855 against the enemy.
