How to Make Beignets

These homemade beignets are incredible! Covered in cinnamon and sugar or powdered sugar, I can’t get enough of them.

They are perfect to eat for breakfast or brunch, or just as a snack throughout the day. And they are so easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!

What are beignets?

Beignets are a type of French pastry, similar to a donut. Basically they are deep fried dough, usually covered in powdered sugar, or other common toppings like cinnamon and sugar, honey, and various fruit syrups.

They are quite popular in the French Quarter of New Orleans here in the United States. These are similar to the ones made in the Disney Movie, Princess and the Frog.

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cup of All-purpose flour plain flour (350g)
• 2 tsp. baking powder 8g
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2g
• 1/2 tsp. of table salt 2g
• 1 tsp. of cinnamon 4g
• 1/3 cup of white granulated sugar 65g
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup of water 58ml
• 1 tsp. of vanilla extract 5ml
• 1 cup of buttermilk or whole milk 240ml
• oil for frying

Toppings

• Powdered sugar
• Honey
• Cinnamon and sugar mix
• Maple syrup, fruit syrups, etc.

Instructions

Pour enough oil into a large pot so it is about 1 inch deep. Set the heat to medium and heat the oil up to 325 F/162 C. Make the dough while the oil heats.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, and ground cinnamon.

Take a large bowl and add the egg, water, vanilla extract, and buttermilk and whisk to combine.
Now add the flour mixture a bit of it at a time whisking it in with the egg mixture. Once it is too thick for the whisk, switch a wooden spoon. Keep adding the flour mixture until all combined and you are left with a nice soft dough.

Place the dough on a floured surface and knead it for about 30 seconds. Then roll the dough out into a rough rectangle shape that is about 1/2 inches thick or so. Cut the dough into small 2-inch by 2-inch squares. Although you can make them as big or as small as you want. But that is a good size. Stack them on a plate.

Now once the oil is at the correct temp, gently drop in 4 to 5 beignets. Cook them for a minute to 2 minutes per side until nice and golden brown. Don't overcrowd them. Remove them with tongs and place on a wire rack or plate with a paper towel to dry. Allow them to cool for a few minutes.

Time to finish them off. Sprinkle on heaps of powdered sugar, or dip them in a cinnamon and sugar mix, or serve them with maple syrup, or fruit syrup to dip them in. Enjoy!

Find and print the FULL recipe here on my website: https://www.inthekitchenwithmatt.com/homemade-beignets