Beignets (French doughnuts)
Hello! I’m continuing my Mardi Gras themed recipes, and today I made beignets.
Beignets are French doughnuts. Deep fried pastry pillows of deliciousness. If you can’t make it to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans to get an order of their famous beignets, you can make these in your very own kitchen!
Normally, you just top them with powdered sugar, but I dressed these babies up for Mardi Gras with some colored sugar that I made myself. I topped them with powdered sugar first, then with the colored sugar.
These have the perfect crunch on the outside and are pillowy soft on the inside. Best of all, they are really easy to make!
Here’s what you’ll need:
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 cup sugar
1 package active dry yeast
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups flour
1/4 cup shortening
Oil for frying
Powdered sugar
Ok. Let’s do this!
In a large bowl, mix water, sugar and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes.
In another bowl, beat the eggs, evaporated milk and salt together.
Combine egg mixture with the yeast mixture.
Add 3 cups of flour and stir to combine.
Next, add the shortening and the rest of the flour. Stir to combine.
Once combined, place dough on a lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth.
Place dough in a large, lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm, draft free place for 2 hours.
Pour a few inches of oil into a large, deep pot.
Heat oil to 350°.
On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to roughly 1/4 inch thickness.
Cut dough into 3 inch squares.
Place 4-6 squares into the oil.
When the squares float, flip them continuously until golden brown.
Remove beignets and place on a paper towel lined plate to drain for a few seconds.
While the beignets are still hot, sprinkle with powdered sugar, using a mesh sieve.
Enjoy these beautiful beignets anytime, but especially for Mardi Gras! It’s just like being in the French Quarter… without the chaos and the hangover!
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Beignets (French Doughnuts)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 2 eggs slightly beaten
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 7 cups flour
- 1/4 cup shortening
- Oil for frying
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix water, sugar and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs, evaporated milk and salt together.
- Combine egg mixture with the yeast mixture.
- Add 3 cups of flour and stir to combine.
- Next, add the shortening and the rest of the flour. Stir to combine.
- Once combined, place dough on a lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth.
- Place dough in a large, lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm, draft free place for 2 hours.
- Pour a few inches of oil into a large, deep pot.
- Heat oil to 350°.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to roughly 1/4 inch thickness.
- Cut dough into 3 inch squares.
- Place 4-6 squares into the oil.
- When the squares float, flip them continuously until golden brown.
- Remove beignets and place on a paper towel lined plate to drain for a few seconds.
- While the beignets are still hot, sprinkle with powdered sugar, using a mesh sieve.