New Orleans Beignets Recipe

Name: New Orleans Beignets
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 155 min
Ingredients: 3 cups (415g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting; 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 3 tablespoons sugar, divided; 1 cup warm whole milk; 2 teaspoons active dry yeast; 1 large egg; 3 tablespoons butter, melted; 1 1/2 to 2 quarts vegetable oil; 3 cups powdered sugar

New Orleans Beignets stacked on a cake plate with two cups of espresso visible to the left and a paper towel to the right. — Cindy Rahe

Have you ever had a beignet? These sweet, squares of fried dough buried in powdered sugar are a staple of New Orleans food culture, with tourists making the trek to the famous Café du Monde just for beignets and coffee.

My NOLA beignet experience has remained a lasting memory. I was lucky enough to be in great company, music played all around us, and as we approached the café, the humid air was thick with the smell of frying dough, sugar, and coffee. It was heaven.

While I can’t just jet off to New Orleans for a beignet experience anytime I’d like to, I can recreate something similar at home and share it with all of you!

Three Cafe Du Monde Beignets on a cream plate with a cup of espresso to the left. A partial view of a cake platter is on the right. — Cindy Rahe

What To Expect From a Beignet

When I was working on this recipe, I channeled my memory of those beignets. Each bite needed to begin in a cloud of sugar with a just-crisp golden edge that gave way to a pillowy, warm interior.

1:40

Beignets

How Are Beignets Different From Doughnuts?

Beignets only have a single rise, unlike doughnuts, which have a second rise after they are cut out. Instead, beignets go from the initial rise to cutting and frying in pretty quick succession.

Once fried, they are coated, and I mean absolutely covered, in powdered sugar.

Powdered sugar donuts are on a cream plate and one is dipped in coffee. A platter of more donuts is behind and to the right. — Cindy Rahe

How Are Beignets Served?

Sometimes beignets are served with a side of jam for dipping, but not always. They are usually served warm, covered in powdered sugar, with coffee on the side. I’m personally a fan of the classic combo of sugary, warm beignet and bitter coffee.

Time Saving Beignet Tips

If you want to prepare the dough ahead of time, you can do a slow rise in the refrigerator overnight. Then you can roll it out and cut the beignets. Since the dough will be cold, let the cut beignets come to room temp for about 30 minutes before frying.

To reheat beignets: A quick 10 seconds in the microwave will perk them up just enough.

More Recipes That Go Well With Coffee!

New Orleans Beignets

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Rising Time 2 hrs

Total Time 2 hrs 35 mins

Servings 8 servings

Yield 16 beignets

3 cups (415g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 cup warm whole milk, about 100°F
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 large egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 to 2 quarts vegetable oil
3 cups powdered sugar

Stand mixer

Start the dough:

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 3 cups of flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Bloom the yeast:

In a 4 cup measuring glass or medium bowl, combine the warm milk (it should be about 100°F), remaining tablespoon of sugar, and yeast, and allow it to sit until foamy, about 5 minutes.
Make the dough:

Beat the egg into the foamy milk mixture and add the mixture to the mixing bowl of flour. Mix by hand or using the paddle attachment with your stand mixer set to low or medium low, until you get a wet dough with shaggy dry bits throughout. This can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes depending on how you’re mixing.

Swap out the paddle attachment for the dough hook. Add the melted butter. Set the mixer to medium-low until the butter is incorporated, about 1 minute.
Knead the dough:

Turn the mixer up to medium or medium-high (depending on the size and weight of your mixer) and knead on the hook for about 6 minutes. The dough should be tacky to the touch but not so wet that you can’t handle it.
Shape the dough and let it rise:

Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover with plastic and allow it to rise until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours depending on the temperature of the room.

Cindy Rahe

Cindy Rahe
Set up your frying and dusting stations:

Fill a large 4-quart pot with a few inches of vegetable oil (about 2 quarts). Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet and place it next to the pot of oil along with tongs.

Sift 3 cups of powdered sugar into a medium-sized mixing bowl and set next to the rack and a sheet pan.
Cut the dough and heat the oil:

Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a floured surface and roll it out into an oblong shape (about 10 inches by 14 inches and 1/4 inch thick). Cut the dough into 16 rough rectangles and cover with a flour-dusted tea towel to rest while you heat the oil.

Cindy Rahe

Cindy Rahe
Fry the beignets:

Heat the frying oil to 325°F. Fry the beignets in batches until golden, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side.

Cindy Rahe

Cindy Rahe
Drain and coat the beignets in sugar:

Use your tongs or a frying spider to lift the beignets out of the frying oil and place them on the baking rack.

Let some of the fat drain off for about a minute before covering in powdered sugar. You want to coat them with sugar while the beignets are still hot, but not straight out of the fryer dripping in oil. Drop the drained beignets into the bowl with the powdered sugar. Turn to coat. Repeat with the remaining beignets.

Cindy Rahe
Serve:

Serve warm with another generous dusting of powdered sugar and hot coffee on the side.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
458	Calories
20g	Fat
63g	Carbs
7g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	458
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g	26%
Saturated Fat 5g	23%
Cholesterol 38mg	13%
Sodium 176mg	8%
Total Carbohydrate 63g	23%
Dietary Fiber 2g	5%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 47mg	4%
Iron 2mg	13%
Potassium 110mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.