New Orleans Beignets
When I was researching recipes for Mardi Gras there was one thing that was a constant on every menu and every list that I found – beignets. Quite simply, a beignet is a pastry made from deep-fried dough, much like a doughnut, and then dusted with a liberal coating of powdered sugar. Beignets are actually the official state doughnut of Louisiana, which would explain their deep affiliation with New Orleans and the tie they have with Mardi Gras celebrations. I have never been to New Orleans but my mom was there once, and she came home raving about beignets, so much so that she bought a beignets mix upon her return so she could make them at home. This was a long time ago, so I’m not sure what happened, but those suckers did not turn out. I was thrilled at the idea of giving them another go, from scratch this time, especially since I had such great success with doughnuts last summer.
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The dough for beignets is a sweetened yeast dough, made with bread flour, which gives the pastries a sturdy exterior – they hold their shape extremely well. The dough is mixed together (it takes less than 15 minutes!) and then chilled in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or up to an entire day. When you’re ready to make your beignets you simply roll out the dough and cut it into 2-inch squares, then drop them into your frying vessel. They only take a couple of minutes on each side to turn a beautiful golden brown and to magically puff in the middle, creating rotund little pastries. Once out of the oil and drained, they get a generous dusting of powdered sugar and are ready to eat.
These are absolutely delicious – a little like a doughnut, but a tad bit different. They are fluffy, sweet, and of course… fried. Yum. I’m excited to have another regional specialty under my belt, I love exploring the food world!
Four years ago: Chicken and Dumplings
New Orleans Beignets
Ingredients
- ¼ ounce (7.09 g) envelope active dry yeast , (2¼ teaspoons)
- 1½ cups (375 ml) warm water, 105° to 115°, divided
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (256 ml) evaporated milk
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (51.25 g) vegetable shortening
- 6½ to 7 cups (780g to 840g cups) bread flour
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Combine the yeast, ½ cup warm water, and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar in the bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer; let stand 5 minutes. Add milk, eggs, salt, and remaining granulated sugar.
- Microwave remaining 1 cup water until hot (about 115°); stir in shortening until melted. Add to yeast mixture. Using the paddle attachment, beat at low speed, gradually adding 4 cups flour, until smooth. Switch to a dough hook and gradually add remaining 2½ to 3 cups flour, beating until a sticky dough forms. Transfer to a lightly greased bowl; turn to grease top. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours.
- When you're ready to fry the beignets, turn the dough out onto a floured surface; roll to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into 2½-inch squares.
- Pour oil to depth of 2 to 3 inches into a Dutch oven; heat to 360°. Fry dough, in batches, 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on a wire rack. Dust immediately with powdered sugar.
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These might have to be made in my house tomorrow! Delicious!
They look amazing :)
I am SO going to pin these! So delicious!
They look good. It impress me how many different deep-fried sweets there are in the world. And they are always so delicious. Have you heard about angel wings? Or chiacchiere? They are worth trying too :)
Yes! My grandma (she was Italian) always referred to angel wings as “bow ties”. But they were twisted fried dough dusted with powdered sugar. She always made them right around Easter – I could never get enough! My boyfriend’s family makes something similar, only for New Year’s. LOVE!
I really need to get over my fear of frying so I can make these, haha. They look so awesome!
These look amazing! I’d love them with some cinnamon sugar too. Warm out of the deep fryer… please! :)
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/
Don’t forget the Cafe au lait! Oh such wonderful memories of my trip with my daughter. Food and travel, my two favorite things.
These look so delicious. and relatively few ingredients too.
I visited New Orleans many years ago, and was lucky to eat beignets at Cafe du Monde. What an awesome experience, eating al fresco with the great Mississippi behind you, and one I would love to repeat. I will have to try these beignets for the family. Thanks Michelle.
So these don’t raise at all? How simple!!!
Nope! Well, they do raise a little, but in the refrigerator.
Fabulous! THanks so much!
Donyou think these could be baked? I am sure they would be much yummiest fried, but trying to stick to those new years resolutions!
Hi Hallie, I did find this recipe for oven-baked beignets you might want to try! http://www.eatliverun.com/oven-baked-beignets/
This excites me so much!! It’s been about 8 years since I’ve been to New Orleans (time to go back, me thinks); this beignet recipe brings back so many great memories! :)
So soft and pillowy bake!
These would be so dangerous to have in my house – I am powerless to resist doughnut-like treats! They look awesome :)
I have never heard of beignets before, but they remind me of the little fried donuts you get at Chinese buffets. Those are my favorite thing about getting Chinese food and this version looks delicious and pretty easy. Can’t wait to try them!
The texture inside of that beignet looks positively creamy! Great post, you’ve inspired me to try.
I also would be interested in a substitute for the vegetable shortening since I don’t think I have any in the house, but would like to make these for tomorrow. I might just try butter and see how it works!
Hi Jen, Let me know how it turns out with butter!
Well, I made these last night/this morning (made the dough last night and fried them up early this morning for my husband to take to work.) I made them with butter since I did not have vegetable shortening and they came out great! I have never made them with shortening so I don’t know exactly how they compare, but they look like the ones in the photos. And my husband has only been at work for half an hour and I am already getting emails and Facebook messages from his co-workers saying how great they are, so I guess they were a success. :D Thanks for the recipe!
Ben went to N’awlins ;) a few years ago and brought home a Beignet mix for me. I never had the chance to make them before the box’s expiration date, but would love to make them homemade, especially now that I only live 2 1/2 hours from the Mardi Gras festivities! We attended our first Mardi Gras parade yesterday and I made your King Cake to share with my relatives there. Big hit! :)
So glad you and your family enjoyed the King Cake!
These look absolutely fantastic! I’m going to pin it right now!
I’ve never been to New Orleans yet either but we plan to go this summer! Someone was just telling me about Beignets the other day… that I have to try them. They look wonderful!
What differentiates a beignet from a doughnut? There is no second rise prior to frying. That’s what accounts for the difference in texture you cited.
Oh these look amazing. And after reading the recipe it seems like I could actually make these. And I like that the recipe makes a lot.
Yum! I went to NOLA in high school on a band trip, but didn’t get to try beignets. Hopefully, I’ll make it back there one day! Do you think that you could chill the dough for more than 24 hours?
Hi Jennifer, Well, I honestly don’t know, but my guess is probably not since the recipe gives a pretty wide window that is capped at 24 hours. If you like 30 hours I think you’re fine, but I wouldn’t leave the dough for more than a day and a half or so.
These look so good, but I can’t handle fried foods! :( I wish you could bake them, but they probably wouldn’t taste the same.
Hi Jennifer, I found this recipe for oven-baked beignets you might want to check out: http://www.eatliverun.com/oven-baked-beignets/
Oh dear, these look delightful! Do you know of a good substitute for vegetable shortening though, could butter work here?
Hi Amy, I’m honestly not sure, as I haven’t tried to substitute. Most times that is an okay substitute, but they do have different properties.
Aww yeah! All that powdered sugar is a sure tasty treat!
My brother went a few years ago and he loved eating these and so now my mother makes them from time to time. These look so delicious and I think I will have to finally give them a try.
I’ve never been to New Orleans, but really am intrigued with the cuisine down there. Looks delicious!
I had never heard of beignets until I read your post. They sound just my thing – like doughnuts…but better! Love the continuing Mardi Gras theme, too.
Ahhhhh, my fondest memory of New Orleans: so-hot-your-fingers-burn when you pick them up coated with mountains of powdered sugar you wear no matter how delicately you try. Washed down with mountains of almost-bitter, nice and strong black chicory coffee blend…….better than any restaurant in town. And I really dislike donuts! I, too, have purchased boxes of the mix but been disappointed. More a function, I’m sure, of my dislike and lack of confidence in frying (never fried a chicken—-and I’m waaay older than you.) Will definitely make these the next time the kids visit or I have breakfast company with my go-to pecan sticky caramel cinnamon rolls as backup. Thanks for the recipe!
I love that you are all over Mardi Gras and NOLA-inspired food…these look fabulous!