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)

Beignets (Easy and Fail-Proof Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2)

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 are my beignets not fluffy? ›

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. Try rolling the dough a little thicker.

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 name of the dough in beignets? ›

A traditional way beignets are prepared is using choux pastry dough. Otherwise known as the French-style beignet, this type of dough is typically made using butter, milk or water, sugar, flour, and salt. Choux pastry is versatile and is prepared differently by culture.

Why are my beignets raw in the middle? ›

Why are my beignets raw in the middle? Oil that's too hot will quickly brown the beignets before the centers have a chance to cook. Make sure to check your oil temperature, and reduce the heat if your beignets are browning too quickly.

What is the best oil to fry beignets in? ›

Ingredients for Easy Beignets:
  • Oil, for frying – This recipe uses vegetable or canola oil because most people have these on hand, but if you want to get really authentic, try and find cottonseed oil! ...
  • Confectioners' sugar – It isn't a beignet unless it's covered in confectioners' sugar, aka powdered sugar!
Oct 28, 2021

How do you make beignets soft again? ›

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. You will just want to add a fresh dusting of powdered sugar before serving. They won't be quite as good as fresh, but still pretty darn good.

Why are beignets sold in threes? ›

You might be wondering, why are beignets served in threes? This tradition varies from place to place, but many believe it's simply because three is the perfect number for a satisfying treat!

What's the difference between French beignets and New Orleans beignets? ›

The difference between classic French beignets and the New Orleans-style fritters seen can be found in the preparation of the dough. The former is made from pâte à choux, while those from the Big Easy are made from leavened dough that's cut into squares and fried until crispy on the outside and airy within.

When to eat beignets? ›

The New Orleans beignet is great for breakfast, dessert or a midnight snack.

What is beignets to english? ›

Translation of beignet – French–English dictionary

a jam doughnut.

Are beignets supposed to be doughy in the middle? ›

Are beignets supposed to be doughy? On the inside, beignets should be light and fluffy, like a regular fried doughnut. If your final product is doughy, the oil might have been too cool when you added the beignets, causing them to absorb oil and become doughy.

What is the difference between beignets and Mandazi? ›

Mandazi is beignet in Swahili . The main difference is that they are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Can you eat beignets cold? ›

Instead, get a hot beignet -- don't eat these things cold -- because the sugar will hold onto the surface of the beignet and will melt more quickly as you eat. Next, carefully lift the beignet to your mouth but do not breathe! If you have to take a breath first, put the beignet down.

Can I use expired beignet mix? ›

Can you use Beignet Mix after the expiration date? We DO NOT recommend using our mix after the best by date. One of the ingredients is powdered milk, and it will sour after the best by date.

Can I leave beignets in the fridge overnight? ›

Plan ahead, because this recipe needs to chill in the refrigerator overnight, or kept chilled up to 2 days. If you want same-day beignets, they must chill for 4 hours at the very least.

What texture should beignets be? ›

They are warm, fluffy, chewy, and sweet all at the same time. I think the chewy texture is my favorite part about them. Doughnuts are fluffier and breadier. But beignets have a texture all their own.

What makes dough fluffy? ›

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

What is the difference between French beignets and New Orleans beignets? ›

The difference between classic French beignets and the New Orleans-style fritters seen can be found in the preparation of the dough. The former is made from pâte à choux, while those from the Big Easy are made from leavened dough that's cut into squares and fried until crispy on the outside and airy within.

References

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