Light, fluffy and coated with powdered sugar! A delicious treat! Beignets are a delicious treat you’ve got to try!
What are beignets?
Beignets are light, fluffy, yeast, small square-shaped French doughnuts. Their popularity stateside is attributed to New Orleans where they can be found all over the city, especially the acclaimed Cafe du Monde.
Why Make Beignets?
I’ve always wanted to go to Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, Louisiana. They’ve been frying up delicious beignets for decades. They’re considered some of the best in New Orleans and it’s their specialty.
But until I can travel to New Orleans, I decided to make my own beignets at home to fulfill this wish, for now at least. I’m definitely a doughnut fan. I love trying all different types of doughnuts across different cultures and cuisines.
How to Serve Beignets
They’re best hot and fresh out of the fryer with a cup of chicory coffee (if you can get your hands on some) but if not, then a cup of regular coffee will do just fine.
1.) hot and fresh out of the oil
2.) covered with powdered sugar
3.) a big cup of coffee (traditionally chicory coffee)
How Do Beignets Taste?
They taste like yeast doughnuts but not quite as sweet to compensate for the excessive amount of powdered sugar.
Are Beignets Healthy?
Beignets are not exactly healthy, after all, they’re fried squares of dough coated with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. Like any other doughnut, they’re a once in a while treat and not an everyday indulgence.
How to Make Beignets?
- To make beignets it starts with the dough. Needless to say, the dough is the main component of this recipe. So taking the time to prepare it, is actually well worth the effort to ensure that you end up with light and fluffy beignets.
- All of the ingredients can be mixed together in one bowl starting with the wet ingredients and ending with the flour.
3. Take the time to knead the dough for 5 to 7 minutes, only adding flour as needed. The dough should be soft, supple and elastic by the time you finish kneading it.
4. Allowing the dough to rise for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size is an important next step after kneading. Then roll the dough out into a rectangle approximately 13×9 inches. Then cut into squares to prepare the dough for frying.
Beignets (New Orleans Style French Doughnuts)
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast
- 1 cup whole milk warmed
- 1 whole large egg
- 2 tbsp white sugar
- 3 tbsp melted butter
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2½ cups bread flour
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cups vegetable oil
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the yeast, milk, egg, white sugar, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir well.
- Add the salt and gradually add the flour, a third at a time, stirring with each addition.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball.
- Clean and dry the bowl and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and grease the inside of the bowl. Place the dough ball in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Place in a warm place and allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 13 x 9 rectangle. Cut evenly into squares and gently place in an even layer on the parchment lined baking sheet.
- In a cast iron skillet, pour 2 to 3 cups of oil and heat over medium high.
- When oil reaches about 350 degrees, add in the beignets, one by one, frying no more than 5 or 6 at a time.
- Fry on each side until golden brown, about 1 ½ to 2 minutes per side.
- Remove the beignets from the oil and place on a paper towel lined plate. While still hot, sprinkle with plenty of powdered sugar and enjoy hot and fresh!
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