Description
Delightful French vanilla beignets bring New Orleans street charm to home kitchens. Sweet powdered sugar-dusted pastries offer a simple yet elegant dessert experience you can easily master.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
Binding & Flavor Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Seasoning & Finishing Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast by mixing it with warm water and a touch of sugar, allowing it to bloom and become frothy for approximately 5 minutes.
- Create a harmonious wet mixture by combining sugar, salt, milk, egg, vanilla extract, and melted butter in a separate mixing vessel.
- Marry the activated yeast with the wet ingredients, gradually incorporating flour until a cohesive dough emerges.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead methodically for 5 minutes, developing a smooth and elastic texture.
- Nestle the dough into an oil-coated bowl, drape with a clean cloth, and permit rising in a warm environment until volume doubles, roughly 1-2 hours.
- Gently roll the dough to a uniform 1/4 inch thickness, then slice into precise square shapes using a sharp knife or pastry cutter.
- Heat cooking oil to a precise 350°F in a deep, heavy-bottomed pan, carefully frying dough squares in small batches until achieving a rich golden-brown color, approximately 1-2 minutes per side.
- Extract beignets using a slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drain on absorbent paper towels, then generously dust with powdered sugar moments before serving.
Notes
- Activate yeast properly by ensuring water temperature is between 100-110°F to create perfect foam and activate fermentation.
- Select fresh ingredients like high-quality vanilla extract and unsalted butter for enhanced flavor complexity in beignets.
- Maintain consistent oil temperature around 350°F when frying to prevent greasy or unevenly cooked pastries, using a thermometer for precision.
- Create gluten-free variations by substituting all-purpose flour with a blend of rice flour and almond flour for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg