Soft, buttery beignets that are not too sweet so the powdered sugar on top can shine! These beignets are light and airy like the very best beignets should be. The perfect homemade Beignets Recipe which you will want to make over and over again!

There’s just something about deep-fried dough that is hard to resist! I feel so joyful and fulfilled when I make any deep-fried sweet treat like my Twisted Doughnuts. Also, check out my guide on How To Make African Puff Puff.

A while ago while at a Caribbean/Southern restaurant, I spotted the waitress taking some famous Beignets to a table next to ours. I couldn’t help stretching my neck to check out the basket of puffy buns generously dusted with confectioners sugar.

The Beignets were calling my name, but I had no place to keep them because, on that day, we ordered a ridiculous amount of food, and my tummy was full. There was no space for more.

But I just couldn’t get the picture of the beignets I saw out of my mind. I added them to my bucket list of recipes to make. So I read up some easy recipes online and started trying to make my own Beignets.

First, the Beignets I made were dense and not as airy on the inside. Then, after experimenting more, I was able to create the best beignet recipe and nail the perfect soft, light Beignets. And that’s the Beignet Recipe I am sharing with you today!

What Are Beignets?

Beignets are a form of deep-fried dough, classified as choux pastry, popular in the city of New Orleans, in the US Southern state of Louisiana. New Orleans-style beignets are mostly shaped into squares, puffy, and dusted with powdered sugar.

People especially love eating them for Mardi Gras, but they are delicious any time! New Orleans Beignets are mostly served with cafe au lait (hot coffee with hot milk). The famous New Orleans café du monde beignets have been served since 1862, but you can find them in various shops there.

“Beignets’ is a French word that translates to ‘fritters’ in English. The concept of French beignets was brought to the U.S. by French colonists. So, although beignets are the official state doughnut of Louisiana, New Orleans is not the place of origin for these French doughnuts.

Also, Beignets are pronounced “ben-yay”. Don’t be like my husband’s colleagues and pronounce it “beg-nets”. 

How Are Beignets Different from Donuts?

Beignets and donuts are quite similar in that they are both deep-fried dough. However, beignets are shaped into squares, while regular American doughnuts are round with holes in the middle. Also, beignets are very light and hollow in the middle.

Beignets on their own are not as sweet as regular American donuts. Most of the sweetness you get from beignets comes from the sugar on the top.

Why Make This Beignets Recipe?

This beignets recipe is definitely one for the keeps! Serve it with some Ginger Tea for breakfast, brunch, or for an afternoon pick-me-up! In the summer, enjoy beignets with some homemade iced coffee or chicory coffee, and you’ll be in heaven.

My whole family goes crazy for these. So addictive! We love them warm with hot chocolate for breakfast. Mr. N took some to work and his colleagues loved it!

Take this to your next potluck or Christmas party, and you will be the star of the day! These Beignets are simple enough to make but elegant enough to be a star on your serving table.

They take a bit of time, but they are ridiculously easy! Just make sure you follow the recipe to the letter, and you will have soft buttery Beignets.

Ingredients Needed

Here are the main ingredients you need to make beignets. They are regular everyday ingredients.

• All-purpose flour. Bread flour could work as well since this is a recipe that uses yeast. You will need 4 cups of flour either way.
• Granulated sugar. Feel free to use cane sugar instead.
• Whole milk. The milk should be warmed until it is just about 110 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps the yeast cells activate. You can also use evaporated milk, but you must mix it with water for the right consistency (use 3/4 cup evaporated milk and 3/4 cup water to do so).
• Active dry yeast. You could use instant yeast in a pinch.
• Egg. Adds richness to the dough.
• Melted butter. Unsalted butter is great for flavor, but feel free to substitute it with any neutral-tasting oil like corn oil, canola oil, light olive oil, or even vegetable shortening.
• Salt. The salt will balance the sweetness of the beignets.
• Powdered or icing sugar. Feel free to use as little or as much as you’d like. You could sprinkle a little powdered sugar over beignets, or you could pile heaps of powdered sugar over beignets. You choose what direction you want to go.

Be sure to check out the complete recipe below for accurate measurements. You can also check out the nutrition information there as well so you can see the daily values for the calories and nutrients.

How to Make Beignets

Here is a run-down of the steps required in making beignets:

1. In a large bowl, combine yeast and warm milk and let it rest. This helps the yeast activate.

2. Add sugar, egg, and melted butter to the yeast mixture and mix well. (If using the bowl of a stand mixer, make sure to use a dough hook, as a paddle attachment doesn’t knead the dough correctly.)

3. Add the flour and salt then mix to form a dough. You can start with a couple cups of the flour, then add the rest.

4. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until elastic then place it in a warm environment to rise for 2 hours. Cover it with plastic wrap or linen. The slow rise ensures they come out nice and fluffy.

5. After the dough rises, punch it down to remove extra air and roll it out into a rectangle on your work surface.

6. Use a sharp knife or pizza wheel cutter to cut the rectangle into squares to create smaller pieces of dough. (I find that a pizza cutter works best.) Then, prepare the hot oil in a large pot or frying pan so it is ready for frying.

7. Deep fry the squares of dough in frying oil until golden brown. If using a smaller pan, only add as many beignets as will fit and leave the rest of the dough for another batch. Move them to a wire rack or layers of paper towels on a large baking sheet to drain excess grease.

8. Sprinkle with icing sugar or toss them with sugar in a medium bowl.

Important Tips For Making Beignets

• One of my top tips is to have your oil temperature in the correct range; if the oil is too hot, the outside will burn while the inside is still raw. If it is too cold, the dough will soak up all of the oil! To prevent this, use a candy thermometer or deep fryer thermometer so you can observe the oil, making sure it stays around 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• If you make the dough ahead of time, make sure to bring it to room temperature before you roll it out. Also, if making it in advance, either keep it in a tightly wrapped greased bowl or airtight container. This prevents it from drying out.
• Avoid setting your burner to high heat. Instead, work with medium heat. If you notice the temperature start to dip, temporarily set it to medium-high heat until it gets up to temperature again.
• You don’t need a super deep pot for this recipe, but if you want to make a higher quantity, you can use a Dutch oven or deep fryer. The same temperature range applies.
• To prevent hot oil from splashing, use a slotted spoon or some tongs to safely remove the beignets from the oil.

Variations to Beignets Recipe

Beignets are so versatile. There are different ways of making them, so you could switch this Beignets recipe up as you like! Try the following variations:

Cinnamon beignets. Mix cinnamon powder together with the icing sugar in a small bowl to create cinnamon beignets.

Chocolate beignets. Fill the beignets with chocolate hazelnut spread. Use a spoon to make a hole in a beignet, pipe chocolate hazelnut spread into the hole until a little spills out.

Jam-filled beignets. Fill the beignets with your favorite jam to make jam-filled beignets!

FAQs

What is the best oil to fry beignets?

It is best to fry beignets in any neutral-tasting oil like peanut oil, vegetable oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, or light vegetable oil. Avoid oils that have a strong taste as the taste of the oil will impact the taste of the beignets.

What dough are beignets made of?

Beignets are made of yeasted dough. The dough used for beignets is light, making beignets lighter in weight than doughnuts.

Can you eat beignets cold?

Beignets are best eaten warm, shortly after they have been fried. You could eat beignets cold but note that they are not as delicious as when warm.

What do you serve with beignets?

Serve beignets with coffee or hot tea. The bitterness of coffee pairs well with the sweetness of beignets. Beignets could also be served with jam on the side for dipping.

Are beignets supposed to be hollow?

Yes, beignets are supposed to be light and hollow in the middle. The hollowness of beignets is one thing that makes them different from doughnuts.

Serving

Serve beignets with:

Honey Lemon Tea

Ginger Drink

Coconut Hot Chocolate

Iced Coffee Recipe

Similar Recipes

Love this Beignets recipe? Also check out these irresistible deep-fried dough recipes:

African Doughnuts – Twisted Doughnuts

How To Make Puff Puff

Sugar Coated Donuts

BEIGNETS SOUFFLES

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