Beignets, a delightful French pastry, are the perfect blend of all things fried and sweet.
These pillowy treats, pronounced “ben-YAY,” are akin to fritters and are made from deep-fried choux pastry dough. While traditionally associated with New Orleans, beignets can be enjoyed worldwide as a breakfast treat, often served warm and dusted with powdered sugar. Here’s a recipe to whip up your own batch of these irresistible delights:
Beignet Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast
- 2 eggs slightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup evaporated milk*
- 7 cups bread flour
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs, salt, and evaporated milk together. Add this mixture to the yeast mixture.
- In a mixer, combine flour, shortening, and vanilla extract. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Let the dough rise for two hours. Then, roll it out and cut it into squares.
- Allow the dough squares to rise for another 30 minutes.
- Heat oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and fry the dough squares until golden brown.
- Drain the fried beignets for a minute or two, then generously dust them with powdered sugar.
Notes
*If you don’t have evaporated milk, you can make your own by simmering regular milk until reduced to one cup.
Enjoy these delightful beignets as a sweet indulgence for any occasion!