Get ready to indulge in these airy, deliciously fluffy beignets, perfect for any sweet tooth. This beignet recipe combines soft, pillowy dough with a golden, crispy exterior that’s lightly sweetened. Whether you prefer to fill them with cream, jam, or enjoy them coated in sugar, these beignets will melt in your mouth. Ideal for any time of the day, they offer a delightful treat that transports you straight to a cozy bakery atmosphere.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll fall in love with this beignet recipe because it offers a step-by-step approach to creating the fluffiest, most tender beignets right in your own kitchen. It uses simple ingredients, yet the result is an impressive batch of pastries that taste as if they came from a French patisserie. The dough is easy to work with, ensuring perfect results whether you shape them traditionally or get creative. With their soft interior and sugary coating, these beignets make for the perfect indulgent snack or dessert that’s guaranteed to please everyone.
Perfect Occasion
These beignets are ideal for weekend brunches, special occasions, or any time you want to treat yourself and your loved ones to something extra special. Serve them at a cozy breakfast with coffee, as a delicious afternoon snack, or at gatherings where you want to impress your guests with a homemade delight. Their versatile nature also makes them a great party dessert, allowing for endless filling options, from classic jams to rich creams or custards.
Decoration Tips
Once your beignets are perfectly fried and golden, dust them generously with powdered sugar for a traditional finish. For an extra touch, you can drizzle melted chocolate or caramel sauce over them. If you’re feeling creative, fill them with pastry cream, jam, or chocolate spread using a piping bag, after making a small incision with a knife. You can even roll them in cinnamon-sugar for a slightly spiced version or top them with colorful sprinkles for a playful presentation. Display your beignets on a beautiful serving platter lined with parchment paper to elevate their appearance.
Ingredients:
- 600g flour (Type 45)
- 60g sugar + 1 packet of vanilla sugar
- 250ml lukewarm milk
- 11g dried baker’s yeast
- 2 eggs
- 100g softened butter
- 5g salt
Quantity: This recipe makes about 20 beignets, depending on their size.
Cooking: Fry the beignets in medium-heat oil.
Instructions:
- Start by dissolving the dried yeast in lukewarm milk and let it rest for about 5 minutes until it activates and becomes slightly frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl (or using a stand mixer), combine the flour, salt, sugar, and vanilla sugar. Stir these dry ingredients together.
- Gradually add the milk and yeast mixture to the dry ingredients.
- Begin kneading the dough slowly, and while it mixes, add in the pre-beaten eggs to the dough.
- After about 3 minutes of kneading, add in the softened butter, and continue kneading for another 10 to 15 minutes. You want the dough to become smooth, soft, and slightly elastic, but not too sticky.
- Form the dough into a ball, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1.5 hours or until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has risen, gently press out the air (this process is called "degassing").
- At this point, you have two shaping options: either roll the dough out to about 1cm thickness and cut out your beignets using a round cutter, or form small dough balls of about 70g each, as shown in the video.
- Place your dough pieces on squares of parchment paper. This step helps keep the beignets in shape as you transfer them to the oil for frying.
- Cover the dough pieces with a clean towel and let them rise again for about 1 hour, until they puff up.
- Heat oil in a pan to a medium temperature (around 160°C). Be sure not to overheat the oil, as this can lead to beignets that are raw inside while overcooked on the outside.
- Once the oil is ready, gently fry the beignets until they turn golden on both sides. You’ll notice that they puff up as they cook.
- Remove the fried beignets from the oil and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.
- While the beignets are still warm, roll them in granulated sugar to coat them evenly. If you prefer powdered sugar, wait until they cool down to sprinkle it on, ensuring it sticks nicely.
- If you’d like to fill your beignets, use a piping bag with a nozzle to inject your favorite filling (jam, pastry cream, etc.) into each beignet. You can make a small hole with a knife before piping for easier filling.
Enjoy these perfectly soft and fluffy beignets with their sweet sugar coating or delicious fillings!