The Easiest Homemade Beignets Recipe

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These homemade beignets are the perfect way to indulge in a little bit of Southern hospitality. They're light, fluffy, and absolutely delicious - not to mention easy to make! Perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras or whenever you want something sweet, this recipe is not just delicious, but sure to impress.

tower of beignets on white platter with hand sprinkling powdered sugar over the top

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Homemade Beignets
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make Homemade Beignets
Frequently Asked Questions
More Easy Dessert Recipes
📖 Recipe

Homemade Beignets

Who doesn't love beignets? These delicious little pillows of fried dough are the perfect sweet snack. But who has time to go to New Orleans every time you get a craving? With this incredible homemade beignets recipe, you can have fresh mouth-watering treats right in your own kitchen. Trust me, this recipe is so simple, you will wonder why you haven't tried it sooner.

Make a fresh batch of these beignets to enjoy in the morning with your coffee or fry a batch after dinner to enjoy for dessert. While you can make these fried treats and enjoy them later, they are best served warm, covered in powdered sugar with a nice warm cup of coffee or tea.

If you like the pastry or fried dessert treats like this, then you might also enjoy the copycat Disneyland churros or this easy substitute for a donut, air fryer biscuit donuts. Both are great options that satisfy a craving with a fun new recipe.

three beignets with powdered sugar on blue plate

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups milk
1 ½ teaspoons instant active yeast
⅓ cup granulated sugar
3 ½ cups flour
1 large egg
2 ½ tablespoons butter

white rectangle platter stacked with tower of beignets coated in powdered sugar and honey

Handy Kitchen Tools

three beignets on wood table with honey wand beside stack

How to Make Homemade Beignets

Heat the milk until it is hot but not boiling. This is usually around 180°F to 185°F.

Add the milk and yeast to a large bowl, then stir together. To this, add the sugar.

hand pouring sugar into yeast and milk in stainless steel bowl

And then add 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour. Reserve the rest for later.

Mix this together then let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom.

Next, add in the egg and melted butter. You can use salted or unsalted butter here, it is a personal preference.

Then, once that is combined with the yeast mixture, add in the remaining flour. Stir this together then knead it for about 5 minutes until a smooth elastic dough forms.

flour being poured into stainless steel bowl

Tip: Use a stand mixer with a dough hook for less mess and to make this easier.

Once the dough is nice and smooth, cover it loosely with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let it sit for 2 hours in a warm location.

On a clean surface, lightly sprinkle flour then turn the dough out and roll into a square or rectangle.

Use a knife or cutter to cut the dough into squares or rounds.

Heat the oil or deep fryer, then cook the beignets for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden brown and puffed up. Watch carefully to not overcrowd the pan so you don't burn the beignet before it cooks through.

blue spatula pulling beignet out of hot ouil

Drain the beignets on paper towels, then dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with honey.

hand holding honey wand over beignets on white platter

These are best served hot but can be served at room temperature.

four beignets on blue platter with powdered sugar on top

Frequently Asked Questions

What Oil is Best for Frying Beignets?

You can use whatever oil you would normally fry in, but a typical oil to use is canola or vegetable oil. You want to use a neutral-flavored oil that won't add anything to the beignets. You should avoid oils like olive oil or butter, as they impart a strong flavor and may not give you the results you want. Canola oil is often used for frying because it has a high smoke point and doesn't impart much flavor to foods. Another option some people use is peanut oil, but it is my least favorite of the oils due to potential allergies as well as flavors.

What’s the Difference Between a Donut and a Beignet?

Beignets and donuts are similar in taste but they are different. Beignets are French-style donuts that are made using yeast and the dough is sweetened to add flavor and then it is fried to perfection. The doughnuts are usually cut into squares.

Donuts have more eggs in the dough compared to beignets and that leaves them with more air pockets when they are fried. They are also topped with different things like frosting or glaze and beignets are usually topped with powdered sugar or honey.

Are Beignets and Zeppoles the Same Thing?

Beignets are French donuts and Zeppoles come from Italy. Beignets and zeppoles are both typically fried, although beignets are usually shaped in a square or rectangle and zeppoles are typically cut into a donut shape or round shape. The fried dough of zeppoles is also slightly different and is often filled with a cream filling.

What Should I Serve On Beignets?

You can serve beignets with a variety of toppings, the most common being powdered sugar. You could also try honey or jam if you wanted a sweeter option.

A less traditional choice, but still delicious, is to make a sauce to dip the beignets in. You can make a raspberry sauce or use something like a thinned chocolate or caramel sauce. You can also decide to make a powdered sugar glaze to dip the beignets in.

stack of beignets on black plate with bowl of honey

More Easy Dessert Recipes

Dessert is by far my favorite part of any meal. Whether you reserve this as a special treat on occasion or have it with every meal, it is something that adds a bit of sweetness and decadence to your meal. Below are some fun and easy dessert recipes that you might enjoy much like this easy beignet recipe. Make sure that you bookmark the recipe, print it out, or pin the recipe to Pinterest so it is handy when you are ready to make it!

📖 Recipe

Yield: 16

The Easiest Homemade Beignets Recipe

This homemade beignets recipe is going to be your new favorite treat to make! A dessert, snack, or even a tasty breakfast, these are a classic New Orleans treat!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 ¼ cup milk, lukewarm
1 ½ teaspoons active instant yeast
⅓ cup granulated sugar
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 large egg
2 ½ tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together the warmed milk and yeast. Add in the sugar and 1 ½ cups of the all-purpose flour, then mix it well and let stand for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, add in the egg, melted butter, and add the additional 2 cups of flour.
Mix this together and knead the mixture for 5 minutes until a smooth dough forms.
Set the dough aside and cover lightly then let it rest for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, roll the dough out onto a clean surface.
Cut into squares or rounds, depending upon your own preference.
In a deep-bottomed pan, heat oil to 375°F.
Drop the dough into the hot oil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden brown and puffed up. Repeat this process until all dough has been cooked.
Drain the dough on paper towels, then dust with powdered sugar while hot.