americandessert
New Orleans Beignets
Puffy fried pastries generously dusted with powdered sugar.
Prep
30 min
Cook
20 min
Servings
12
Difficulty
Medium
★★★★★
4.7(2,500 ratings)#beignets#new orleans#fried#pastry#dessert
About This Recipe
The iconic dessert of New Orleans — pillowy-soft fried dough generously coated with powdered sugar. Perfect with chicory coffee on a morning in the French Quarter.
Ingredients
Serves 12
- 500 mlwhole milk
- 7 ginstant yeast
- 60 gsugar
- 1 tspsalt
- 1 tspvanilla extract
- 2egg yolks
- 300 gall-purpose flour
- 40 gshortening
- oil for fryingvegetable oil
- 250 gpowdered sugar
Instructions
- 1
Make dough
Warm milk, combine with yeast, sugar, salt, vanilla and egg yolks. Mix in flour and shortening. Knead until smooth. Let rise 1.5 hours.
- 2
Roll out
On floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into 7.5cm squares.
- 3
Fry
Heat oil to 375°F. Fry beignets 2-3 minutes per side until golden. Drain on paper towels.
- 4
Coat
While still warm, dust generously with powdered sugar.
- 5
Serve
Serve immediately with chicory coffee.
Pro Tips
- →
Generously dust with powdered sugar — that's part of the charm.
- →
Have plenty of napkins ready — beignets are famously messy
- →
Use a pastry brush to apply egg wash for shine
Variations
- •
Serve with jam filling.
- •
Create a chocolate version by adding cocoa to the dough.
- •
Make a savory version filled with cheese and herbs.
- •
Serve with chocolate sauce for dipping.
Storage
Best eaten fresh, within hours of frying.
History & Origin
Beignets are French-Creole pastries brought to New Orleans through French colonial heritage. They became iconic New Orleans cuisine at Café du Monde, established in 1862. Beignets represent the blending of French pastry traditions with American ingredients and culture, epitomizing New Orleans' unique heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between beignets and donuts?
Beignets are unfilled fried dough pastries served plain with powdered sugar, while donuts often have fillings and glazes. Beignets are lighter and less sweet, letting the powdered sugar shine.
Why are they so messy?
The generous powdered sugar coating is part of the tradition! It's expected to end up on your hands and face — embrace the mess and have fun.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Beignets are best eaten fresh, but you can fry them ahead and reheat at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. The texture won't be quite as puffy as just-fried.
What's chicory coffee and should I serve it?
Chicory coffee is a New Orleans tradition — roasted chicory root mixed with coffee. It adds earthiness and tradition to the beignet experience.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (80g) · 12 servings total
Calories280kcal
Protein2g
Carbohydrates42g
Fat12g
Fiber0g
Protein2g
Carbs42g
Fat12g
Time Summary
Prep time30 min
Cook time20 min
Total time50 min
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