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Welcome back to Smoking and Grilling with AB! Today, we’re diving into the heart of the Big Easy with a foolproof recipe for New Orleans-style beignets. These little pillows of joy are a Southern classic, and I’m gonna show you just how easy it is to recreate that NOLA magic in your own kitchen. So, grab your apron, and let’s get cookin’!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 package instant yeast or active dry yeast
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Oil for frying
  • Powdered sugar, to taste

Instructions

Activating the Yeast:

A person pours milk from a measuring cup into a saucepan on a stove while prepping ingredients for New Orleans-Style Beignets. Nearby, flour, an egg, sugar, salt, butter, yeast, vanilla, and a red spatula rest on a wooden board.
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A saucepan with milk and butter heats on the stovetop. On a cutting board are ingredients for New Orleans-Style Beignets: brown sugar, an egg, vanilla, salt, flour, dry yeast, a spatula, thermometer, and a hand reaching in.

Start by warming up a cup of milk to 116°F using The SnG Food Thermometer. Add in brown sugar, butter, and sprinkle that magical yeast on top. Wait for that frothy goodness to happen – about 5 minutes.

Crafting the Dough:

A hand holds a blue digital thermometer over a metal pot of liquid, displaying 25.6°C—perfect for preparing New Orleans-Style Beignets.
A person presses a ball of dough in a glass bowl with one hand on a wooden surface, preparing to knead it for classic New Orleans-Style Beignets.

In a big ol’ bowl, mix your flour and kosher salt. Blend in the yeast mix, throw in the egg, and a dash of vanilla extract. Stir until you’ve got yourself some beautiful dough.

Rise and Shine:

A person holds a glass bowl of risen dough on a marbled countertop, ready to make New Orleans-Style Beignets, with a small bowl of flour nearby.

Cover that bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise. Give it an hour, or until it’s doubled in size – like magic!

Rolling and Cutting:

A person uses a rolling pin to flatten dough for New Orleans-Style Beignets on a floured countertop. Nearby are a blue pot, a wire rack, and a sink.
A person cuts rolled-out dough into long strips on a floured countertop, preparing classic New Orleans-Style Beignets. A rolling pin, a pot, and a cooling rack are nearby, setting the scene for this delicious treat.

Roll out that dough, cut it into squares, or rectangles if you’re feeling fancy.

Fry ‘Em Up:

A blue pot filled with hot oil is frying several pieces of dough, turning golden brown, on a marble countertop—perfect for making classic New Orleans-Style Beignets. Rolled out raw dough strips are visible nearby.

Heat that oil to 375°F. Drop those beauties in and let ’em sizzle until they’re golden brown – about 2-3 minutes each side.

Dusting with Sweetness:

A person sprinkles powdered sugar through a small strainer onto golden, square-shaped New Orleans-Style Beignets cooling on a wire rack in a kitchen. More pastries are in a bowl on a wooden cutting board in the background.

Out of the fryer, onto the paper towels, and dust those babies with powdered sugar. It’s the crowning glory of your New Orleans-style Beignets!

The Ultimate Beignet Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 10
Welcome back to Smoking and Grilling with AB ! Today, we’re diving into the heart of the Big Easy with a foolproof recipe for New Orleans-style beignets. These little pillows of joy are a Southern classic, and I’m gonna show you just how easy it is to recreate that NOLA magic in your own kitchen. So, grab your apron, and let’s get cookin’!
Save This Recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Ingredients  

  • 3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 Pack of instant yeast or active dry yeast
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Oil for frying
  • Powdered sugar To Taste

Instructions 

  • Warm the milk to 116°F and add brown sugar and butter.
  • Sprinkle the yeast over and let it sit until frothy (about 5 minutes).
  • In a large bowl, combine flour and kosher salt.
  • Mix in the yeast mixture, then add the egg and vanilla extract. Blend until a dough forms.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.

  • Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
  • Cut into squares or rectangles.
  • Heat oil to 375°F.Fry the beignets until golden brown on both sides (about 2-3 minutes per side).
  • Remove from oil, drain on paper towels, and dust generously with powdered sugar.
  • Serve warm and indulge in the delightful combination of flavors and textures.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 350kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About AB

Aaron “A.B.” Brown, a self-taught culinary maestro, has carved his flavorful path into the hearts and kitchens of millions. With over 3.6 million devoted YouTube subscribers, he’s become a household name for those seeking culinary expertise.

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