As kids, we always put in a heartfelt request for these Costas French Market doughnuts (beignets) on Christmas Eve. It was quite a family affair — my mom would make up the dough, my dad would roll them out and cut them, and then after frying them up, we kids would take turns shaking them in a paper bag with confectioners' sugar! I finally got to go to New Orleans and was excited to try "the real thing'" at the famous Cafe Du Monde. I was so happy because my husband and I said our recipe was a near-carbon copy of Cafe Du Monde! We've made this recipe for over 40 years, and I promise it won't disappoint!
Ingredients
- 0.5 cups water , room temperature
- 1 tablespoon yeast
- 0.5 cups white sugar
- 0.25 cups shortening
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 eggs , beaten
- 7.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
Instructions
-
1
Pour ½ cup room temperature water into a small bowl; sprinkle yeast over water and let stand to dissolve, about 5 minutes.
-
2
Combine white sugar, shortening, and salt in a large bowl; pour 1 cup boiling water over shortening mixture, then stir in evaporated milk. Cool mixture until lukewarm, then add yeast mixture and beaten eggs.
-
3
Slowly mix in flour until dough forms a ball. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 to 60 minutes.
-
4
Roll out dough, working with a small portion (a little larger than a baseball) at a time, until ⅛-inch thick. Cut dough into strips 2- to 3-inches wide, then cut at an angle in the opposite direction, making diamond shapes.
-
5
Heat oil in a deep, wide, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C).
-
6
Lower dough diamonds carefully into the hot oil in batches. Fry until puffed and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully transfer to a rack set on paper towels to drain; cool until you can handle them.
-
7
Place beignets in a clean paper bag with confectioners' sugar; shake gently until covered generously. Or use a sifter to dust beignets with confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
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