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Beignets

Transport yourself to the magical streets of New Orleans with these fluffy pillow-like Beignets! Inspired by The Princess and the Frog movie and my own trip to Cafe du Monde, these beignets packed with a mountain top of powdered sugar will leave you speechless with every bite. Not to mention, they’re shockingly so easy to make from scratch!
Prep Time1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time2 hours
Yields20 donuts
Servings20 donuts

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cup whole milk, warm
  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions 

MAKE THE DOUGH

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk and active dry yeast. Whisk together until the yeast is dissolved. Allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
  2. To the yeast mixture, add the granulated white sugar, salt, eggs, softened unsalted butter, and vanilla extract. Mix well until all the ingredients are combined.
  3. Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the mixture, stirring continuously until a dough forms. It will be very soft and a bit sticky.
  4. Knead the dough for about 3 to 4 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can use your hand, a wooden spatula, or a stand mixer with the hook attachment.
  5. Place the kneaded dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until it doubles in size.

SHAPE THE DONUTS

  1. Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air. Transfer it to a clean and floured surface.
  2. Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness into a large square. Use a pizza cutter to cut squares about the size of 2.5 by 2.5 inches.
  3. Cover them with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise again but this time only for about 15 to 20 minutes, just while the oil heats up.

FRY THE DONUTS

  1. In a deep pot or fryer pan, heat vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Carefully add a few donuts to the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for about 1-2 minutes on each side, or until they turn golden brown.
  3. Once fried, remove the donuts from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on a wire rack to drain any excess oil.
  4. Repeat the frying process with the remaining donuts.
  5. Once all the donuts are fried and cooled slightly, dust them very generously with powdered sugar to enjoy warm.