How Do You Make a Beignet?
One of New Orleans’ staple desserts is perfectly light, fluffy, sweet and decadent—but how do they make them? You can pick up the mixings at popular places like Café Du Monde, but following the right recipe is also important. If you really want to take a piece of Crescent City home with you, learning to make a proper beignet is the most delicious of solutions.
Start by dissolving 2 ¼ teaspoons of active dry yeast in 1 ½ cups of warm water heated to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, add ½ cup of white sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, two eggs and one cup of evaporated milk. Blend well, then mix in four cups of your preferred flour. All-purpose flour is recommended if you don’t pick up special flour from your favorite beignet shop.
Batter Up!
Beat the flour into the mixture until it’s smooth, then add ¼ cup shortening. Next, add an additional three cups of flour and blend well. Cover the bowl and chill for ideally 24 hours. After it’s chilled, roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thick and cut into 2 ½-inch squares.
The squares are fried at 360 degrees Fahrenheit in hot oil. Are the beignets not “popping?” Increase the heat. Bronzed beignets can be dried on paper towels to then be covered with confectioner’s sugar while they are still warm, right before serving.