There are two types of French doughnuts or beignets, quick rise dough and yeast dough. Quick rise beignets are fast and easy to make, though not as tasty as yeast risen doughnuts. Yeast beignets have yeast in the dough which adds to the time to make the dough as the yeast needs some time to rise. Making them is easy using either method, though I prefer the yeast dough. They are great with a cup of coffee in the morning.

What is a Beignet?

A beignet is a small French donut, coated in powdered sugar and is usually eaten in the morning. This recipe is a yeast risen dough rather than a baking powder dough like a biscuit. This recipe is much slower but more traditional than the quick rise method of making beignets.

Beignets

A beignet is a small French donut, coated in powdered sugar and is usually eaten in the morning. This recipe is a yeast risen dough rather than a baking powder dough like a biscuit. This recipe is much slower but more traditional than the quick rise method of making beignets.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings 24 beignets

Equipment

• 1 Deep pot or small electric fryer
• 1 stand mixer optional

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup warm water (100 to 105 degrees)
• 1 packet active yeast (or tsp active dry yeast)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup whole milk
• 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 4 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• neutral oil for frying
• powdered sugar

Instructions

 

• Add the warm water, active yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar and whisk until combined. Let sit for 7-10 minutes until it forms a raft on top.
• Next, pour in the remaining sugar, whole milk, eggs, and melted unsalted butter and whisk until combined.
• Add in the salt and all purpose flour and either knead or mix on medium speed until smooth and the dough has pulled away from the inside of the bowl, about 2-3 minutes.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a towel and let sit at room temperature until it has doubled in size, about 90 minutes.
• Move the dough to a large clean surface dusted with flour and roll out until it is ¾ inches thick and cut into 1½ x 3 inch rectangles. You may need to add more flour if the dough is too sticky.
• Add several of the beignets to a pot with neutral oil for frying or a deep fryer set to 350°F and cook each side is until golden brown. This will only take a minute or so for each side.
• Cook in batches until the beignets have all been deep friedand set on a sheet tray with paper towels and drain.
• Roll the beignet in powdered sugar and serve.

Keyword donuts