Description
Beignets de Carnival, a sweets staple in French and Cajun cuisine, are a delicious, fancy yeasted doughnut. Similar to brioche, they’re fortified with egg and butter, then rolled, cut, twisted and fried, light and golden brown and dusted with sugar. OMG. They will make your knees weak.
Ingredients
330 Grams sifted flour (2 2/3 Cups)
3 Eggs
60 Grams sugar (1/3 Cup)
30 Milliliters warm milk (2 Tablespoons)
85 Grams soft butter (1/3 Cup + 2 Teaspoons)
9 Grams fresh yeast (1/2 Teaspoon)
30 Milliliters orange blossom water (2 Tablespoons)
25 Grams lemon zest (2 Tablespoons)
8 Milliliters vanilla extract (½ Teaspoon)
Pinch of salt
Oil for frying (best results: corn or sunflower)
Instructions
- In large bowl mix flour, sugar, salt, orange blossom water, vanilla & lemon zest.
- In a small pot, heat milk to a light simmer.
- In small bowl add yeast & warm milk, mixing thoroughly to dissolve yeast.
- Lightly beat eggs in a small bowl.
- Make a well in the center of the flour, add both egg and yeast moisture to dry ingredients. Mix the dough well by hand, then knead to achieve a stiff dough that springs back when touched. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
- In a small bowl, ensure butter is soft, with no lumps.
- Place dough on cool, clean surface and form into flat disk, add soft butter to centre, then fold around butter. Alternately kneading and folding to incorporate all fat, work dough until smooth (but sticky), airy and light.
- On lightly floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick, and cut into (rough) diamond shaped strips, cut two slits (diagonally) in centre of each, twist one end through farthest slit and let stand (on lightly floured surface) until ready to fry.
- Fry over medium heat (oil temp: oil to 325⁰F/165⁰C) until golden. Remove from pan, drain on paper towel, and cool. Sprinkle icing sugar.
Notes
Beignets can be enjoyed hot or cold and can be served with fruit compote, or dipped in warm Nutella at 3AM, or with coffee for ummm… breakfast. Just random thoughts based on what I like to call “research”.
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Cajun