Not all doughnuts are round with a hole in them. Some are square, pillowy (is that even a word?) and light. Enter the beignet, a fritter made popular by Cafe du Monde in NOLA. Traditionally eaten for breakfast, this fritter is a great treat any time of the day... But I must admit, I like a beignet in the morning with a cup of coffee. My kids on the other hand, they will eat them at anytime of the day. I mean come on... who wouldn't eat a fresh beignet?
For an extra treat fill them with chocolate and/or raspberry sauce. It really takes them up a notch or two. 😉
AuthorZairaCategoryBaked Goods, baking, Beignets, Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Doughnuts, Weekend Breakfast IdeaDifficultyIntermediate
Combine water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and let sit until yeast is foamy, about 5 - 10 minutes.
In another bowl of your stand mixer, beat the eggs, salt and evaporated milk together. Mix yeast mixture into the egg mixture. Add the 3 cups of flour to the bowl and mix to combine. Add the shortening and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour. Continue to mix the dough, with your dough hook attachment for 8 minutes.
Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Put dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap and set in the fridge to cold proof overnight.
Preheat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares, or take this opportunity and use some cookie cutters to cut out some cool shapes.
Deep-fry the dough, flipping constantly, until they become a golden color. After beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds over a wire rack.
The final step, coat the fried dough pillows with powdered sugar and devour!
YUM!
Pro Tip: Fill your beignets with delicious toppings like chocolate sauce, raspberry jam, or salted caramel... the options are endless. 🙂
Ingredients
Directions
Combine water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and let sit until yeast is foamy, about 5 - 10 minutes.
In another bowl of your stand mixer, beat the eggs, salt and evaporated milk together. Mix yeast mixture into the egg mixture. Add the 3 cups of flour to the bowl and mix to combine. Add the shortening and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour. Continue to mix the dough, with your dough hook attachment for 8 minutes.
Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Put dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap and set in the fridge to cold proof overnight.
Preheat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares, or take this opportunity and use some cookie cutters to cut out some cool shapes.
Deep-fry the dough, flipping constantly, until they become a golden color. After beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds over a wire rack.
The final step, coat the fried dough pillows with powdered sugar and devour!
YUM!
Pro Tip: Fill your beignets with delicious toppings like chocolate sauce, raspberry jam, or salted caramel... the options are endless. 🙂