Homemade New Orleans-Worthy Beignets Right in Your Kitchen

This post contains affiliate links. All photos and opinions are mine and should not be used without written permission.

New Orleans is one of my favorite foodie places in the world. The history, the culture, and the flavors keep myself and countless others flocking to it as a tourist destination every year. But one staple that only New Orleans has is beignets.

Beignets are lightly sweetened dough that is cut into squares, deep fried, and covered in powdered sugar. These French doughnuts are a staple in Louisiana cuisine and I’m not one bit mad about it!

A couple things to know about these delicious things:

While this is an item that is a total carb-fest, they are not necessarily just for dessert! In fact, most Louisans eat them with their Café Au lait (coffee) in the morning.
You will always make a mess eating them. There is no way around it other than wearing a white shirt. Pro tip: hold your breath when taking a bite…

Do not reheat them. Do not save them for later. You must eat them when they are fresh and warm or don’t do it at all.

Homemade New Orleans-Worthy Beignets Right in Your Kitchen

Beignets are lightly sweetened dough that is cut into
squares, deep fried, and covered in powdered sugar. These French doughnuts are
a staple in Louisiana cuisine and I’m not one bit mad about it!

1 ½ cups lukewarm water
½ cup granulated sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups bread flour
¼ cup shortening
Nonstick spray
Canola oil (for frying)
3 cups confectioners’ sugar

In a large bowl, mix together the water, sugar and yeast, Let sit for 10 minutes.
In a stand mixer, mix the eggs, salt, and evaporated milk together.
Add the yeast mixture to the egg mixture.
Add 3 cups of the bread flour to the mixer and stir until well combined.
Add the shortening and continue to mix while adding the remaining flour.
Remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough until smooth.
Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray and put the dough into the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a towel. Let the mixture rise in a warm place (around 80 degrees F) for at least 2 hours.
Preheat the oil in a deep fryer or pot to 350 degrees F.
Add the confectioners’ sugar to a plastic bag and set aside.
Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thickness and cut into 1 inch deep squares. Deep fry, flipping constantly, until they become a golden brown.
After the beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds on paper towels, and then toss them in the bag of confectioners’ sugar. Hold the bag closed and shake to coat evenly.