Traditional New Orleans Beignets Recipe

These New Orleans beignets are so soft, pillowy and light! I’ve gone for an authentic take on these delicious southern fritters. They are easy to make and will not disappoint!

Ever since our trip to New Orleans, I’ve been dreaming about the deep fried, fluffy, piled-high-with-sugar beignets recipe at the legendary Café Du Monde.

The historical French Market has been serving up the delicious French-style beignets and coffee since 1862. Traditional New Orleans Beignets are the only food they serve, so they definitely do it right. And the place is almost always packed.

Since we live about 1,900 miles from New Orleans, I figured I’d try a few recipes out so I can make them from scratch at home!

They’re really not that difficult to make, but we’ll keep them as special treats for holidays or birthday requests. And the pile of powdered sugar makes them pretty charming and delicious!!

If you’re looking for a super easy way to make these beignets, check out our store-bought dough version in the video below!

How To Make New Orleans Beignets

• In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar and yeast and stir. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

• Meanwhile, in a standalone mixer, combine the eggs, evaporated milk and salt and beat until combined.

• With the mixer on low, add in the yeast mixture to the egg mixture.

• Then add in 3 cups of bread flour and mix on low.

• Add the shortening in and continue to mix before adding the remaining 3 1/2 cups bread flour. DON’T over mix!

• Knead the dough until smooth (it shouldn’t be stiff). Then place back in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap.

• Set the bowl in a warm area and let it rise for 2 hours.

• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4″ thick. Then slice into 2″ squares with a pizza cutter.

• Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven until the temperature reaches 350 degrees. Or you can be like me and just wait until it’s pretty hot ; )
  Then place a few dough squares in the hot oil and watch the magic happen! Turn them so they don’t burn on one side.

• When you remove them, dust with a light layer of powdered sugar, until all of them are done, then pile powdered sugar on top! And don’t be shy!!

Where Do Beignets Come From?

The word beignet (pronounced ben-YAY) comes from the early Celtic word beign meaning “to raise.”  It is also French for “fritter.” Beignets have been associated with Mardi Gras in France since at least the 16th century, and many recipes for beignets appear in French works around the same time.

What Is A New Orleans Beignet?

Traditional French beignets are part of the French choux pastry family, which are raised in steam and have a hollow center. This method gives French beignets a light and pillowy texture.

New Orleans beignets vary from the traditional French choux pastry beignet because they’re raised with yeast instead of steam.

They are fried, raised pieces of yeast dough, usually about 2 inches in diameter or 2 inches square. However, New Orleans’s beignets are still an utterly delicious and extremely popular form of fried dough!

What To Drink With a Beignet

Having a hot drink to accompany your sweet beignets makes a great pairing. To balance out the sugar, try drinking coffee with chicory, which offers the perfect amount of bitterness, in addition to some extra New Orleans authenticity. 

Tips For Making New Orleans Beignets

• Beignets are best prepared right before consumption
• Beignets are best served fresh, but you can fry them 2 hours ahead of time and reheat.
• Don’t skimp on the powdered sugar!
• Use a pizza cutter to cut up the dough, it really saves time.

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Traditional New Orleans Beignets Recipe

You will love this traditional recipe for beignets!

4.62 from 21 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fried food, Southern food, sweet bread

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Resting time: 2 hours

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 12 beignets

Calories: 404kcal

Author: Eden

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 6 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
• 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine the warm water, sugar and yeast and stir. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a standalone mixer, combine the eggs, evaporated milk and salt and beat until combined.
• With the mixer on low, add in the yeast mixture to the egg mixture.
• Then add in 3 cups of the bread flour and mix on low.
• Add the shortening in and continue to mix before adding the remaining 3 1/2 cups bread flour. DON’T over mix!
• Knead the dough until smooth (it shouldn’t be stiff). Then place back in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
• Set the bowl in a warm area and let it rise for 2 hours.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4″ thick. Then slice into 2″ squares with a pizza cutter.
• Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven until the temperature reaches 350 degrees. Or you can be like me and just wait until it’s pretty hot ; )
• Then place a few dough squares in the hot oil and watch the magic happen! Turn them so they don’t burn on one side.
• When you remove them, dust with a light layer of powdered sugar, until all of them are done, then pile powdered sugar on top! And don’t be shy!!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Traditional New Orleans Beignets Recipe

Amount Per Serving (0 g)

Calories 404 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 33mg11%

Sodium 230mg10%

Potassium 149mg4%

Carbohydrates 62g21%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 90IU2%

Vitamin C 0.4mg0%

Calcium 71mg7%

Iron 0.8mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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