Easy Classic French Beignets

Name: Beignets
Prep time: 75 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 95 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 3/4 cups of lukewarm water; 2 1/4 teaspoons of active dry yeast; 1/4 cup of granulated sugar; 1 egg; 1/2 cup of milk; 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter; 6 cups of sunflower oil; 1/2 teaspoon of salt; 1/2 cup of powdered sugar

This easy beignets recipe yields light and fluffy beignets that are perfectly golden outside and pillowy soft inside! Making this pastry perfect for breakfast or a midday snack!

French Cuisine

August 26, 2021

Difficulty Easy

Servings 8 people

Preparation 75 mins

Cooking 20 mins

Total 95 mins

Recipe Contents

Ingredients Directions Nutrition Equipments Tips

Ingredients

3/4 cups of lukewarm water
2 1/4 teaspoons of active dry yeast
1/4 cup of granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup of milk
3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
6 cups of sunflower oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of powdered sugar

Directions

Start by activating the yeast by adding water, yeast, and sugar to a small bowl and whisking until combined. Let the mixture rest for 5 to 10 minutes, so the yeast dissolves and begins frothing up.
Once the yeast has made the mixture frothy, add the egg and milk and whisk together.
Add flour and salt to the bowl of your mixer and combine before pouring in the yeast mixture and adding the softened unsalted butter.
Use a dough hook to mix the wet and dry ingredients together until well incorporated in the form of a dough. Stop once the dough starts coming clean from the sides of the mixer bowl.
Transfer this formed dough from the mixer to an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a clean and damp towel. Let the dough sit in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours until it rises and doubles in size.
Once the dough has risen and doubled, roll it out into a long rectangle about 3/4 of an inch in thickness and cut into long strips. Then cut the strips of dough further into squares of dough.
Prepare the French beignets for frying by pouring about 3 inches of oil into a Dutch oven or deep frying pan. Heat the oil to about 350°F before adding the beignets in batches of 5 or 6 and fry until golden brown on each side.
Remove the cooked beignets from the oil and transfer them to a large paper towel lined bowl. Let the paper towels absorb the excess oil.
Sprinkle the beignets with powdered sugar before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Beignets

Serves 8

Amount Per Serving

Calories179

% Daily Value*

Protein 4 g8%

Total Fat 3 g3.8%

Sodium 108 mg4.7%

Potassium 64 mg1.4%

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Tips

Always store your yeast in a cool, dry place and check the expiry date every time. You can also store yeast in the fridge or freezer, but be sure to bring it to room temperature before use.
If the yeast doesn’t froth up after dissolving in lukewarm water and sugar, it is likely to have expired or lost its activity and won’t rise the dough.
To make this French beignets recipe without yeast in a pinch, substitute yeast with an equal amount of baking powder.
Feel free to substitute active dry yeast with instant or rapid-rise yeast in this beignets recipe, but mix the yeast directly into the dough instead of dissolving it first in water if you do.
Place the dough inside a turned-off oven preheated to 200°F to ensure a warm environment and speed up the dough rising process.
The oil should be hot (about 350°F) to fry the French beignets quickly and thoroughly. Use a candy thermometer or fry one beignet first to ensure proper frying temperature.
Only use lukewarm water to activate the yeast, as any hotter is likely to kill it.
It is necessary to add sugar to the water to activate the yeast as the sugar acts as food for the yeast.
Be sure to soften your butter at room temperature before adding it to the dry ingredients for easier mixing.
To make this beignets recipe in the oven, leave the dough squares to rise for another 45 minutes and preheat your oven to 350°F. Brush the risen beignets with milk and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
Make sure to turn the beignets when deep-frying to allow both sides to brown evenly.

Rate This Recipe

While beignets are common in both French and Creole cuisine, this recipe differs from most New Orleans beignets recipes in that the resulting beignets are denser and more cake-like than the New Orleans version.

These pieces of fried dough resemble doughnuts in taste and texture but tend to be less sweet and dense than a traditional doughnut with lighter, airier insides.

Equipment for this recipe

Mixing Bowls

Stand Mixer

Measuring Cup

Deep Fryer

Dutch Oven

Whisker

Glass Measuring Cup

What is Beignets?

French beignets are deep-fried square or round pieces of dough topped with powdered sugar and occasionally filled with raspberry filling, creme, or chocolate. French beignets' history stretches back to the 16th century or earlier, with older variations pointing to a similar dessert from Ancient Rome.

How to Make Beignets?

Make beignets using this easy French beignets recipe. To start, activate the yeast with water and sugar until frothy and whisk in egg and milk. Add this mixture and softened butter to flour and salt in the bowl of your mixer, and mix with a dough hook until well incorporated.

Transfer the formed dough to an oiled bowl and leave covered for an hour or two until doubled in size. Roll the risen dough into a long rectangle about 3/4 of an inch in thickness before cutting into squares. Fry the dough squares in a dutch oven or deep frying pan at 350°F until golden brown and drain the oil before serving.

What to Serve with Beignets?

Pair this beignets recipe with something to drink like tea, coffee, and wine, or enjoy it with raspberry sauce, vanilla dip, caramel dip, banana fritters, brownies, or chocolate chip cookies. Top with powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, berries, and chopped or whole nuts.

Here are some our delicious recipes that you can serve with Beignets:

How to Store Beignets?

French beignets are best eaten fresh, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag for 1-2 months. To reheat, microwave for 15 to 20 seconds or bake for 3-5 minutes at 350°F.

Recipe byPetite Gourmets