Beignets (Easy and Fail-Proof Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Soft and light French beignets that taste just like New Orleans. Easy homemade beignet recipe with a choux pastry dough and powdered sugar!

Beignets (Easy and Fail-Proof Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

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Table of Contents

What Is a Beignet?

Beignets are donut-like fried dough that are dusted with powdered sugar. They are sometimes misspelled as benyas.

The country of origin is France but they are very popular in New Orleans, especially at the famed Cafe Du Monde.

I first learned about beignets from Princess and the Frog audio CD.

Beignet Recipe

Most beignet recipes calls for a yeast dough, such as the authentic New Orleans beignets. The texture is dense just like doughnuts.

This recipe is made from choux pastry dough.

It produces eggy, light and crazy delicious beignets that are golden-brown in color and dusted generously with powdered sugar.

Beignets (Easy and Fail-Proof Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (3)

Other Recipes You Might Like

    • New Orleans Beignets
    • Malasadas
    • Donut Holes

Main Ingredients

This recipe calls for the following ingredients to make the choux pastry dough:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Unsalted butter
  • Eggs
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Water

There is no yeast in this recipe.

How to Make Beignets?

You can make them with a yeast dough or choux pastry dough.

First, make the dough and chill in refrigerator for one hour.

Shape the dough into small balls using a teaspoon or 1/2 tablespoon.

Heat 2-3 inches of oil in a frying pan on medium-low heat to deep fry the dough balls in batches.

They are ready when they turn golden brown. Transfer out with a strainer and drain on paper towels.

Sprinkle the powdered sugar generously and serve warm with a cup of coffee or tea.

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Cooking Tips

Here are my deep-frying tips on perfectly round and golden brown beignets:

  • The best oil to use is vegetable oil. It’s neutral tasting and great for high-heat frying.
  • Use a wide frying pan.
  • Don’t skim on the oil. Use at least 2-3 inches of oil.
  • Shape the dough into a ball with a spoon before dropping them into the oil for frying.
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Can I Use a Beignet Mix?

Yes, you sure can. If you live in New Orleans, you can buy Cafe Du Monde’s mix and make these sweet treats at home using the instant flour mix.

How Many Calories Are in Beignets?

Each beignet is only 58 calories, which is much lower calories than Cafe Du Monde’s in New Orleans.

What to Serve with This Recipe?

Serve this dish with other desserts for an afternoon tea party. I recommend the following recipes.

Cheesecake Banana Bread

Blueberry Scones

Coconut Water Lemonade

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

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Beignets

Soft and light French beignets that taste just like New Orleans. Easy homemade beignet recipe with a choux pastry dough and powdered sugar!

4.44 from 105 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 20 people

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 2 minutes mins

Total 17 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 4 oz. (125g) unsalted butter (stick, cut into pieces)
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 large eggs
  • oil for frying
  • 1 teaspoon powdered sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

  • Place water, butter, sugar, and salt in a sauce pan over medium high heat. Stir until butter is melted and everything comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium.

  • Add flour into the mixture, stir to combine well with the butter mixture. Continue to stir and cook until the dough pulls away from the sides and starts to form into a ball, about 1 minute. Let cool for 5 minutes.

  • Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the dough with the eggs, start with one egg until the egg is completely incorporated into the dough. Add the rest of the eggs, one at a time. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for one hour.

  • After chilling, shape the dough into small balls using a teaspoon or 1/2 tablespoon. Arrange the dough balls on a plate lined with parchment paper.

  • Heat 2-3 inches (5cm-7cm) of oil in a frying pan on medium-low heat. When the oil is fully heated, drop the dough balls and fry them in batches. Keep turning the dough balls around, so they are evenly browned and puff up considerably.

  • The beignets are ready when they start to form a seam (the beignet will start to burst, creating a seam when it is ready). Transfer out with a strainer and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle the powdered sugar generously and serve warm.

Course: Dessert Recipes

Cuisine: Desserts

Keywords: beignets

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Beignets

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 89Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 49mg16%

Sodium 22mg1%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 2g4%

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

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Beignets (Easy and Fail-Proof Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

Why didn't my beignets rise? ›

Do not add too many pieces to the oil or else the oil temperature will drop and your beignets will be fry up flat. They will not puff up. The only other reason the dough does not puff up would be if you rolled the beignet dough too flat.

Why are my beignets raw in the middle? ›

heating oil too fast can cause beignets that are overcooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside and can even degrade the taste of the oil.).

What is beignet and what is the history behind why it becomes famous? ›

beignet, French-style fried square doughnut. Introduced in Louisiana by the French Acadians in the 18th century, this light pastry is a delicacy in New Orleans. The beignet was named the official state doughnut of Louisiana in 1986. Beignets are commonly served hot with powdered sugar for breakfast or as a dessert.

What is the secret to good beignets? ›

A bunch of online recipes say: It's super important to keep your temperature consistent at 370 degrees F. That's why it's highly recommended to use a cooking thermometer with your pot/pan if you're not using an electric skillet, to ensure your oil temperature is maintained throughout your beignet frying.

What kind of flour does Cafe du Monde use? ›

You can always purchase our beignet mix and make them at home with family and friends. What are the ingredients in your beignet mix? Enriched wheat flour, enriched barley flour, milk, buttermilk, salt, sugar, leavening (baking powder, baking soda, and/or yeast), natural and artificial flavoring.

Can you let beignet dough rise overnight? ›

If you want to prepare the dough ahead of time, you can do a slow rise in the refrigerator overnight. Then you can roll it out and cut the beignets. Since the dough will be cold, let the cut beignets come to room temp for about 30 minutes before frying.

What oil does Cafe Du Monde use for beignets? ›

The Café Du Monde beignet is a square piece of dough, always fried in cottonseed oil and lavishly covered with powdered sugar. A plate of three is served for less than $3.

Why are my beignets chewy? ›

Beignets are different than doughnuts in a few ways. First, the dough is made with a single rise. This creates a chewy texture rather than a fluffy one.

Can you eat beignets the next day? ›

Beignets really are best served fresh, but if you have any leftover you can keep them in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days or even freeze them for 1-2 months. Reheat the beignets in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds or in the oven at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes to serve them warm.

Why are my beignets not fluffy? ›

Tips for MAKING Your Fluffy Beignets:

Really coat that countertop and rolling pin with flour- you do NOT want these babies to stick and they really, REALLY want to. Be sure that you oil is NIICCE and hot. We had our oil even 20 degrees hotter than the box called for and this really seemed to help the dough puff.

How sticky should beignet dough be? ›

If it's not too sticky to knead, knead it on a floured surface or with the dough hook; if it's still pretty sticky, add another 1/2 cup flour. Knead until it's smooth and elastic, yet still tacky. Put the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and let rise for 1 1/2-2 hours.

Why do beignets come in threes? ›

At that time, beignets were generally called “French Market doughnuts,” something Fernandez rectified in 1958 when he rebranded them “beignets.” Asked why beignets are always served in threes, Roman had a very simple explanation: “My grandfather always sold them in threes, so that is what we still do today.”

What is the English name for beignet? ›

a fritter or doughnut. French Cooking.

What is the cousin of a beignet? ›

Beignets are one of New Orleans' signature sweet treats. But this powdered-sugar-dusted-delicacy has a lesser-known cousin, the cala, with a fascinating and unique history.

What oil does Cafe du Monde use for beignets? ›

The Café Du Monde beignet is a square piece of dough, always fried in cottonseed oil and lavishly covered with powdered sugar. A plate of three is served for less than $3.

What is the coffee to water ratio for Cafe du Monde? ›

The Coffee and Chicory should be brewed to the ratio of 2.0 US gallons per 13 ounces of Coffee and Chicory. One 15oz can should be brewed with 2.3 US gallons.

How many beignets does Cafe du Monde Mix make? ›

A: Cafe Du Monde Beignet Mix. Our 28oz. box makes up to four dozen French doughnuts.

Why does Café du Monde fry the beignets in cotton seed oil? ›

“Cottonseed oil is part of the original recipe,” says Benrud. “If you want to maintain consistent flavor from one generation to the next, you have to adhere to your original recipe.” Café Du Monde knows it can count on cottonseed oil for another 150 years.

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