In celebration of Mardi Gras and dressed in green, gold, and purple sanding sugar these pillowy soft and perfectly fried homemade beignets are ready to party!
Have you ever been to New Orleans? I have not, but it's on my bucket list of places I want to visit. I hear the food is amazing, the people are fun, and the culture needs to be experienced at least once.
But, until I actually get to New Orleans, making homemade beignets for Mardi Gras is a great way to take part in the celebration and get the party started, even from home!
**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making Homemade Beignets for Mardi Gras is available near the end of this post. OR click on the "jump to recipe" button (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe.
Dressed in the wonderful colors of Mardi Gras, or plain with a dusting of confectioners sugar, these homemade beignets are cause enough for celebration!
The ingredient list for making homemade fried beignets:
**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned
- Active Dry Yeast (instant dry yeast may be substituted)
- Honey
- Warm Water
- Granulated Sugar
- Salt
- Eggs
- Milk
- Butter
- All-Purpose Flour
- Oil (I used peanut)
- Sanding Sugar (Green, Gold, Purple)
- Confectioners Sugar
- Almond Extract
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- Deep fat fryer or Large, high-sided skillet
- Spider Strainer or large slotted spoon
- Large, medium and small mixing bowls
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Stand Mixer (optional)
- Spatula
- Whisk
- Thermometer for Frying
- Rolling Pin (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Paper Towels (for draining off excess oil)
- Pastry Wheel or Pizza Cutter
- Confectioner Sugar Shaker or Sieve, optional (for dusting)
- Small Zip-Top Bag or Pastry Bag, optional (for icing)
Who doesn't love fried pastry?
Once I finished making these begniets I packed them all up and sent them with my husband to his office so he could share them with his coworkers.
From what I understand, they were gone in a matter of moments!
My husband told me he ate THREE of them!
What do the colors of Mardi Gras signify?
- Purple signifies justice
- Green signifies faith
- Gold signifies power
What is the best oil for frying beignets?
The best oil for frying is typically light in color and one that has a high smoke point.
My favorite oil for frying is peanut oil, but you can also use sunflower oil, safflower oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, or even avocado oil.
Nervous about making beignets at home?
If you're intimidated by working with yeast dough or frying food, I'm here to walk you through it with my easy step-by-step photos and video.
I want you to feel totally comfortable with this recipe and turn out some beautiful homemade beignets. Let's do this!
What is the proper oil temperature for frying beignets?
I like to have my oil at 375-degrees.
Remember that the oil will fluctuate once the beignets have been added to the oil, so never overcrowd the pan.
Caution - To avoid boilover of hot oil, NEVER fill the pan more than halfway full with oil when frying. Remember that the oil will expand as food cooks.
Can frying oil be recycled for additional uses?
Once the oil is completely cool, you can carefully funnel it back into its original container and use it another 3-4 times.
I recommend saving oil used for frying seafood by marking it and using it specifically for frying additional seafood, not sweet items like beignets.
Cover the oil container and store the used oil in a cool, dark place.
How to make homemade beignets;
- Dissolve the yeast in warm water with a pinch of honey.
- In a separate bowl, warm milk and butter together.
- When the yeast gets foamy (approximately 5 minutes), add it to a large bowl along with the milk and butter mixture.
- Stir in two eggs, and sugar.
- Use a dough hook of a stand mixer, or a spatula or spoon to stir in 4 cups of flour until smooth and blended.
- Once smooth, knead in the remaining flour to form a smooth, soft dough.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for one hour until doubled.
- When the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface pressing the dough out to form an approximate 24" x 16" rectangle.
- Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut the dough into approximately 3" squares (as you can tell from my cut dough, this doesn't need to be exact).
- Heat canola or peanut oil to 375-degrees degrees.
- Carefully fry about 4-5 beignets in the hot oil for approximately 1-2 minutes per side or until golden brown.
- Carefully flip each beignet and fry the other side for an additional 1 minute.
- Remove with a large slotted spoon and allow the beignets to drain on paper towels.
- Continue frying the remaining cut beignets.
- Once drained, sprinkle the beignets liberally with powdered sugar or drizzle each with the almond glaze and sprinkle with the colored sanding sugar.
For additional Mardi Gras inspired recipes, please click on the titles for:
*Vieux Carre Cocktail by Feast + West
*No-Churn Mardi Gras King Cake Ice Cream by The Speckled Palate
*Cajun Spicy Tomato Soup by Online Pastry Chef
*Jambalaya Balls by Love & Flour
*Shrimp Hush Puppies by Stetted
*Traditional Polish Pączki by The Crumby Kitchen
*King Cake Donut Holes by Cake 'n Knife
*Easy Shrimp Po Boys by Simply Whisked
*Easy Jambalaya by The Secret Ingredient Is
*Mardi Gras King Cake by Nancie's Table
*Pecan Pralines by Stephie Cooks
*Hurricane Matthew (A Hurricane Drink Recipe) by Off the Eaten Path
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Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's popular New Orlean's fried pastry, the homemade beignet.
Homemade Beignets for Mardi Gras
Ingredients
- 1 package 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1½ cups warm water 110-115 degrees
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup warm milk
- 4 tablespoons butter at room temperature
- 7 cups all-purpose flour
- peanut oil
To Make the Almond Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
- sanding sugar purple, yellow, green
Instructions
- In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add the honey. Set aside for 5 minutes to allow the mixture to get foamy.
- In another small bowl, warm the milk and butter together. Not hot. Just warm to the touch.
- Pour the yeast mixture into a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), and add the milk and butter mixture.
- Add the eggs and granulated sugar to the yeast mixture, and beat to combine.
- Stir in 4 cups of flour and stir well to make a smooth dough.
- Turn the dough out and knead in the remaining flour until the dough forms a smooth, elastic ball.
- Place the dough into a bowl that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest and rise until doubled in bulk (approximately 1 hour).
- Once risen, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and press the dough into a rectangle approximately 24" x 16"
- Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the dough into approximate 3" squares.
- Carefully heat the oil in the high sided frying pan to reach 375-degrees.
- Carefully add 4 - 5 cut beignets to the hot oil and fry each side for 1-2 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Carefully flip the beignets and fry on the other side until golden.
- Use a large slotted spoon or spider to carefully remove the fried beignets to paper towels to drain.
- Continue frying the remaining dough.
- Once cooled, liberally sprinkle the beignets with a liberal amount of powdered sugar.
To make the glaze:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk.
- Drizzle the fried beignets with the almond glaze and immediately sprinkle the glaze with the colored sanding sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's recipe for these colorful and delicious homemade beignets as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
**Note - The post above includes affiliate links. As always, I truly thank you for your support!
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Cindy says
These beignets are so lovely and I love the color combination too! One question: Can I use instant yeast? Thanks!
Brandy says
Mardi Gras or not, these beignets were INCREDIBLE! Loved the fun colors too!
Kelly S says
If you're ever in a rush, get the Cafe' Du Monde beignet mix. Cafe's Du Monde is a staple cafe in New Orleans. we live 60 minutes from there, in southeast Baton Rouge (technically St. George now) and will drive down to NOLA just for the beignets.
Gina Matsoukas says
These beignets are AMAZING!
Renée says
Thank you!
Jenni says
Dang, Renee! You don't know how badly I want to sink my teeth into these bad boys. I think, like your husband, that they'd be best eaten in threes! =)
Renée says
You and he are probably right, Jenni! 😉
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
I love beignets but never tried them at home. These look really good!
Renée says
Thanks, Shadi. They're really easy to make and taste even better than they look!
I know you'll enjoy them!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
This is my favorite post of yours ever! Love everything about it. They're so fun! And I love that you added almond extract to the icing. I don't like regular powdered sugar icing like that but with almond extract?! Oh, man. Gimme! And what'd you do with all those beignets?! They go bad so quickly. Did you have a beignet eating party? I want to come next time!
Renée says
I actually had my husband bring them to work with him the next day. I couldn't trust myself having all those beignets in the house...
Nikki @ Nik Snacks says
Oh, my gosh! How creative are you!? Wow! These little pillows of Mardi Gras are so pretty! They're perfect!
Renée says
Thank you Nikki. Glad you enjoy these pillows of Mardi Gras. LOL
Meg @ With Salt and Wit says
I have never been to New Orleans but we are dying to go. In the meantime, can I indulge in all of these beauties?! Yum!
Renée says
That's how I feel, Meg. I can at least eat beignets until I get to NOLA.
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
These are so beautiful! I can't believe it's almost Mardi Gras already!
Renée says
Thank you so much, Lauren! It's the colors of Mardi Gras that make these beignets so special.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
mmm I haven't had a good beignets in a year or so and I'm missing them! I love your Mardi Gras, purple, gold and green beignets!!I've been to New Orleans and I loved it!
Renée says
Thanks, Angie. Lucky you to have had beignets while in New Orleans. I need to go!
Serene @ House of Yumm says
These are amazing!! Love your step by step photos too, you make it look so easy!
Renée says
I'm glad you appreciate the photos. I happen to learn visually so, for me, I think it's helpful to add lots of photos to my recipes. Thank you!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Yum, these are total perfection! So pretty and festive!
Renée says
Thank you, Kimberley. Glad you like them.
Catherine says
Dear Renee, These look fantastic!!! What a fun and festive treat for mardi gras...I wish I could try one. Pinning! xoxo, Catherine
Tasha @thatssoyummy says
These beignets look absolutely sinful and exactly what I need in my life!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
I would eat this ENTIRE batch. These are so pretty and fun!
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says
I've never been to NOLA, but it's been in my top 5 must-visit destination forever! I do love me some beignets, though...and definitely hope to eat one from "the source" one day, but until then - I want a whole tray of yours. They're gorgeous!
Kirsten / Comfortably Domestic says
Okay, my beignets never look near as perfect as these do. The mardi gras themed sugar is a sweet touch...literally. I've never been to New Orleans either, but I plan to eat my way through it when I do.
Paula says
Very cute and delicious looking way to celebrate Mardi Gras. I hope you do get to visit New Orleans one day. Take some beignets with you...they'll love them!
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
Renee, please bring these over now! They look perfect and love the almond icing (almond extract is a favourite of mine!)
DessertForTwo says
Well these are stunning!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
These are the most gorgeous beignets I've even seen! And your Mardi Gras glasses are awesome too!