Have the wonderful experience of eating New Orleans Beignets right in your home with this easy Homemade Beignets recipe.
Think you have to live in New Orleans to enjoy Beignets? Think again. These pillowy pieces of deep fried dough coated in powdered sugar can be enjoyed at home. They’re really not hard at all to make.
All it takes to make beignets is some dough and some hot oil. They can be enjoyed for breakfast, dessert, or a snack and are especially good with a cup of coffee.
That’s a mound of beignets isn’t it?
What Are Beignets?
Beignets are pieces of yeast dough that has been cut into squares, deep-fried until golden and covered with powdered sugar. They are ownderful paired with a cafe au lait. Beignets were brought to New Orleans by 18th century French Colonists and they have become one of New Orleans most iconic foods.
This Homemade Beignets recipe is from Paula Deen and like all her recipes, it is slap your mama good!
It is best to make the dough a day ahead of time so plan ahead. Also, this recipe makes a huge amount of beignets, so you may want to cut it in half if you don’t plan on feeding half the neighborhood.
Be sure to go heavy on the powdered sugar. 🙂
I think you will find these are some of the best beignets you have eaten. Even better than Cafe du Monde.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy beignet recipe, try these Biscuit Beignets.
Keep Dough For 3 Days
The dough needs to be made a day in advance and will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator. That’s 3 days you can have fresh beignets!
How To Store
Beignets unfortunately do not keep well. It’s best to fry up just the amount you want to eat right away. Leave the rest of the dough in the refrigerator where it will keep for 3 days.
Cook’s Note
Be careful when you eat beignets that you don’t inhale the powdered sugar. It is easy to do!
More New Orleans Favorites
- Mardi Gras Monkey Bread
- Mardi Gras Pound Cake
- Bananas Foster Coffee Cake
- Pecan Praline Cheesecake
- King Cake Cracker Candy
- Cinnamon-Pecan King Cake
- Bananas Foster Cake
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Watch the short video below to see how easy it is to make Homemade Beignets.
Homemade Beignets
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 envelope active dry yeast
- 2 eggs,, slightly beaten
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 7 cups bread flour
- 1/4 cup shortening
- Vegetable oil
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Mix water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and let sit 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, salt, and evaporated milk together.
- Add egg mixture to yeast mixture and mix.
- Stir in 3 cups of bread flour. (A wooden spoon is good for stirring.)
- Add shortening and stir it in. Stir in remaining flour.Note: The video above shows melted shortening being used, but there is no need to melt the shortening. It will mix in just fine in solid form.
- Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.
- Coat a large bowl with oil, place dough in bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
- Let rise at least 2 hours or place in refrigerator overnight.
- Pour about 3 inches of oil in a Dutch oven and heat to 350 degrees.
- Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut 2-inch squares. (This is easy to do with a pizza cutter.)
- Working about 4 at a time, place in oil and fry, flipping continuously until they are golden brown.
- Test one to make sure it is cooked through. Drain on paper towels and coat with powdered sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Source: slightly adapted from Paula Deen
Originally posted February 4, 2015.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
for lactose family members need to remove milk. change with what please ?
Because of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, my daughter wanted to make them. I came across this recipe and absolutely love them. They are a annual tradition now during Thanksgiving. We also freeze the dough in small quantities so we can thaw/cook as desired. Amazing treat!!
Can you use an air fryer
Can I use a deep fryer or is it required I heat the oil on the stove top?
Yes, you can use a deep fryer. I
Hi there! Looking forward to trying this recipe. If I remake the dough ahead of time to keep on the fridge, do I need to plan for the dough to sit 2hours+ to rise before frying? Or do I let it rise first and then set it in the fridge until I’m ready to use it?
Quick ??? Do you have to use a dutch oven? Will a deep fryer suffice?
I am certain they are more tasty warm, but what if I am going to a jack and jill. Can I make these ahead of time?