What are Beignets?
You don’t have to travel all the way to New Orleans to treat yourself to Beignets! You can make them at home, and I’ve even made a yeast-free version to make it even easier and faster to enjoy. Just picture yourself in New Orleans, sitting at Cafe du Monde eating beignets and drinking a Latte…a girl can dream right?
So what are Beignets? Essentially they are a doughnut but almost taste like a cross between a doughnut and a fritter. They are made by deep frying choux pastry and served with a dusting of icing/powdered sugar.
Are they a doughnut or like a fritter?
Beignets are traditionally made with more yeast and less eggs compared to a traditional doughnut. They are more puffy and have a softer middle compared to traditional doughnuts. Also, they are rectangle/square shaped just in case you were not sure which type of doughnut you were eating.
How to pronounce Beignets?
Whatever you do…do not pronounce it Beg-net… it’s Ben-yay!
They look delicious, how do you make them?
You can whip up a batch of these Yeast free Beignets in less than 30 mins. My yeast-free version means you can be tucking into yummy Beignets covered in icing sugar in no time!
- Add plain flour, baking powder, cinnamon, caster sugar and salt in a bowl. mix together with a whisk until combined.
- In a separate bowl add 1 egg, vanilla extract and buttermilk. Whisk together until combined, then put into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
- Mix together using a spoon until the dough starts to come together, then knead on a flour-dusted counter until the dough is smooth.
- Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest for 10 mins (otherwise you will be able to roll it out)
- Roll the dough into a large rectangle keeping the thickness 1cm.
- Cut into rectangles (or squares) then deep fry on each side for 2mins.
- Dust with icing sugar and enjoy!
If you want to make beignets the FULL RECIPE is below.
Love Beignets…check out my other doughnut recipes
Ingredients
- 350g plain flour
- 2tsp baking powder
- 1/2tsp salt
- 1tbsp cinnamon
- 60g caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 1tbsp vanilla extract
- 230ml buttermilk
Instructions
- Add 350g plain flour, 2tsp baking powder, 1tbsp cinnamon, 60g caster sugar and 1/2tsp salt in a bowl. Mix together with a whisk until combined.
- In a separate bowl add 1 egg, 1tbsp vanilla extract and 230ml buttermilk. Whisk together until combined, then put into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
- Mix together using a spoon until the dough starts to come together, then knead on a flour dusted counter until the dough is smooth.
- Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest for 10 mins (otherwise you will to be able to roll it out)
- Roll the dough into a large rectangle keeping the thickness approx. 1cm-1.5cm
- Cut into rectangles (or squares) then deep fry on each side for 2mins.
- Dust with icing sugar and enjoy!
