New Orleans Beignet Recipes

BEIGNETS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, salt, eggs, evaporated milk, and blend well. Mix in 4 cups of the flour and beat until smooth. Add the shortening, and then the remaining 3 cups of flour. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours.
• Roll out dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2 inch squares. Fry in 360 degree F (180 degrees C) hot oil. If beignets do not pop up, oil is not hot enough. Drain onto paper towels.
• Shake confectioners' sugar on hot beignets. Serve warm.

BAKED BEIGNETS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, using the whisk attachment, combine water, sugar, and yeast and stir to combine. Let sit for about 10 minutes until it starts to get foamy on the surface.
• Preheat oven to 200°F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
• To the mixing bowl add egg, buttermilk, 3 tbsp butter, salt and vanilla and whisk to combine.
• If available, replace whisk attachment with a dough hook. Slowly add in the flour and stir on medium-low speed until the dough begins to remove itself from the sides of the bowl. If needed add in additional flour in 1 Tbsp. increments until the dough pulls itself away from the bowl.
• Knead dough on medium speed for 5 minutes.
• Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl. Turn off preheated oven and place bowl in the oven with the door slightly ajar to rise for 15 minutes. *Cover bowl with a towel that has no danger of touching the heating elements of the oven.
• Remove bowl from the oven, close the door and preheat to 200°F.
• On a lightly floured surface roll dough out into a rectangle or square, about 1/4 inch thick.
• Cut 2-inch squares with a pizza cutter.
• Place dough on prepared baking sheets. Turn off preheated oven and place the baking sheets in the oven with the door slightly ajar to rise for 30 minutes. *Cover the baking sheets with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with baking spray.
• Remove baking sheets from oven, close the door and preheat to 375°F. Brush the tops lightly with milk.
• Bake individual baking sheets for 10-12 minutes until light golden brown. Let cool for about 5 minutes then brush the beignets tops lightly with 1 Tbsp. melted butter and generously dust with powdered sugar.
• Beignets are best eaten warm and fresh.

NEW ORLEANS BEIGNETS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, oil, sugar, egg and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). Do not knead. Cover and refrigerate overnight. , Punch down dough. Turn onto a floured surface; roll into a 16x12-in. rectangle. Cut into 2-in. squares. , In a deep cast-iron or electric skillet, heat 1 inch oil to 375°. Fry squares, in batches, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Roll warm beignets in confectioners' sugar.

NEW ORLEANS BEIGNET RECIPE

Steps:

• In a stand mixer bowl, stir together ½ cup water, sugar, and yeast. Allow the yeast to bloom for 5 minutes.
• Add the evaporated milk, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture and beat just until combined.
• In a large measuring cup, stir vegetable shortening into the remaining warm water. Mix into yeast mixture.
• Add 4 cups bread flour to mixing bowl and blend until smooth. Slowly add remaining bread flour.
• Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, turning the dough to oil all sides. Cover with plastic wrap.
• The dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or allowed to rise in a warm, draft-free location until it doubles in size.
• Heat vegetable oil in a fryer or dutch oven until 360 degrees.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently shape into a rectangle. Roll the dough to ¼ inch thickness.
• With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into about 40 rectangular pieces.
• Fry the beignets in small batches about 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove and drain on paper toweling.
• Before serving, sprinkle heavily with powdered sugar.
• Makes about 40 beignets.

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE BEIGNETS

Steps:

• In a medium-size bowl, add the warm water, sugar, and yeast and whisk well to combine. Sit aside for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture has bubbled up and become foamy.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs until smooth. Beat in the vanilla and evaporated milk. Beat in 3 and 1/2 cups of the flour until smooth. Turn the mixer to low speed and slowly pour in the yeast mixture (careful here - this mixture can splash up if added to quickly!); beat until smooth. Add in the butter and beat until incorporated. Finally, beat in the remaining 3 and 1/2 cups of flour and salt. Beat until dough is smooth and cohesive; about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours.
• Line a large rimmed baking sheet with three layers of paper towels, set aside.
• In a large enameled cast-iron pan, heat 4-inches of oil to 360 degrees (F). Remove the dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Cut the dough into 2 and 1/2-inch squares.
• In batches, fry the dough until they puff up and are golden brown in color, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beignets to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.
• Dust with powdered sugar and serve at once!

NEW ORLEANS BEIGNETS

Steps:

• Combine the yeast, water, and sugar and let sit until frothy, about 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl or mixer, combine the yeast mixture with the egg, salt, and evaporated milk. Blend in about half the flour, then add the shortening and blend in well, then add the rest of the flour. You want the dough to be soft but not sticky. Add small amounts of flour as needed. It's best when the dough just barely stops sticking to the side of the bowl or mixer.
• Cover loosely and let the dough raise in the fridge at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Punch down the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out into a large square. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into 2 inch squares for mini beignets. For full size beignets make 4 inch squares. Remove squares to a cookie sheet lined with cooking spray and let raise for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Pour vegetable oil into a deep fry pan over the stove on medium high to heat. When oil is hot, test a small piece of dough in the oil to make sure it's hot enough, the dough should float to the top and begin to brown within a few seconds.
• Prepare by setting out a large plate topped with paper towels and a large slotted spoon near the stove, these cook quickly! Also fill your paper bag with about a cup of powdered sugar.
• Carefully place several pieces of dough in the oil, when you see the edges turning golden, quickly flip them over and cook for a few seconds more. Use a slotted spoon to remove dough from the oil and place on the paper towels. Let drain for about 30 seconds.
• Toss beignets into the paper bag filled with powdered sugar. Seal the top and shake to coat. Add more powdered sugar as needed as you go. Remove beignets to a plate and serve immediately, they taste best warm!

BEIGNETS

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, combine yeast, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and warm water; use a fork to mix well. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add milk, egg, butter, salt and remaining 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and beat with fork to blend. With machine on low speed, gradually add flour. Increase speed to medium and beat just until a smooth dough forms, about 5 minutes.
• Lightly grease a large bowl with vegetable oil. Transfer dough to the prepared bowl and turn to coat dough in oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until doubled in size and very puffy, about 3 hours.
• In a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet, heat 2 inches of oil over medium to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, turn out dough and cut in half. Working with one piece at a time and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 10-by-8-inch rectangle (about 1/4-inch thick). Cut into 2-inch squares and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, transferring to a second parchment-lined sheet.
• In batches, fry dough until puffed and golden underneath, about 2 minutes. Flip the beignets and fry until golden on second side, 1 minute more. Transfer beignets to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and let stand for 1 minute. Generously dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm.