In celebration of Mardi Gras I made these beignets. They are light fluffy pillows of fried goodness. Seriously, they are delicious! What makes them even better is the warm chocolate fudge on the side. Enjoy with a cup of Café au lait.
Beignets
- 3/4 cups warm water
- 1 packet active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus a pinch
- Pinch salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- seeds from one vanilla bean
- 3 1/2 -4 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour, plus more as needed (I used bread flour)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- butter
- Vegetable oil, for deep frying
- powdered sugar for dusting
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment add the warm water, yeast and pinch of sugar. Stir and set aside until the yeast has dissolved, about 10 minutes.
To the bowl add the 1/4 cup of sugar, salt, egg, vanilla, vanilla bean seeds scraped from one vanilla bean, and the condensed milk. With the mixer on low, add half the flour and mix until just combined. Add the shortening, continue to add remaining flour until the dough forms into a mass. I used about 3 1/2 cups. Transfer dough to floured surface and knead until smooth. Add the dough to a large buttered bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest 3 to 4 hours, or overnight in the refrigerator.
Once rested, gently turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle a little more flour on top so you can work with the dough. Gently shape the dough into a 1-inch thick rectangle so it can be cut into squares. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter cut into squares, (you should yield 12 large squares, depending on how thick you rolled the dough).
Heat about 3 inches of oil in a large, heavy-based pot over medium heat, (you want to make sure there is plenty of room as the beignets will puff up when cooked) to 350 degrees. Fry the beignets in batches, about 3 minutes per batch. Turn them in the oil while they fry to brown evenly on both sides. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil. Transfer beignets to a serving platter and dust generously with powdered sugar.
Chocolate Fudge Sauce
- 1 1/4 cups sweetened condensed milk (left over from beignets)
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
Add condensed milk, chocolate, butter, and heavy cream to a sauce pan. Heat over low heat stirring occasionally until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and add vanilla and a pinch of salt. Serve warm on the side with beignets. This sauce is so good, it’s hard not to eat all of it after its done!
These beignets take a little bit of time to make, but trust me it is well worth it. Try them with vanilla ice cream topped with the chocolate fudge sauce.
I would definitely have to make these on the weekends because they seem a bit time-consuming. However, since you made these look SO yummy, I would pinch in the time to make these during the week 🙂 You did a great job!!
Thanks so much! Once you get the dough made it’s pretty easy from then on. They are so delicious, it’s worth the time!
Wow!!!
Delicious! I must try that this evening:)
Hope they’ll like it! thank you for sharing~
I hope you like them! I couldn’t stop eating them lol Enjoy!
Can you make them without the stand mixer?
You can make them in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer. If your hand mixer doesn’t have a dough hook attachment, a big wooden spoon usually does the trick for me.
Wonderful! I was just thinking I was gonna have to shell out for a stand mixer (which I would anyway, but just wasn’t prepared to do it). this just looks like fun to do (and to eat)
🙂
I think I could just make and eat the chocolate fudge sauce all by itself right now. I’m having one of those chocolate cravings where I just can’t seem to find the right chocolate combination to satisfy it. Maybe this recipe will do the trick!
Thanks for sharing your recipe!
The fudge it so addictive! it will do the trick for a chocolate craving!
Not fair when I have a.) a complete lack of time to make them this morning; b.) the inability to transport myself to New Orleans but c.) the desire to eat them. Now.
😉
I have a weakness for fried food and these look delicious. I will definitely be trying this recipe sometime this week.
I so wish I had the confidence to cook like you! These look so good…but I’d be afraid to try them!
They are really simple. It’s worth a try!
Oh my… this looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing, I will need to make this very soon. “light fluffy pillows of fried goodness” = amazing
Onto explore more of your blog, Congrats on being freshly pressed.
Thanks alot!
[…] – Ms. Veronica’s In celebration of Mardi Gras I made these beignets. They are light fluffy pillows of fried goodness. Seriously, they are delicious! What makes them even better is the warm chocolate fudge on the side. Enjoy with a cup of Café au lait. Beignets 3/4 cups warm water 1 packet active dry yeast 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus a pinch Pinch salt 1 large egg 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract seeds from one vanilla bean 3 1/2 -4 c … Read More […]
I might actually have to try this, despite my complete terror of anything remotely approaching deepfrying (not for the health issues, just for the oil burns I’ve seen on other people)…they just look so good!
Oh geez! These look sooooo good! I’m definitely going to make them at some point. Congrats on being on FP!
Thanks You!
OMG! Posts like this should be illegal! Now I won’t be able to work and I will be thinking the whole day about this recipe!
Delicious!!!! I will thank you only after I can taste it!!!! lol :))
I hope you like them. They are delicious!
They do sound good. Can you send me some? LOL.
LOL, you need to hand out drool bibs if you’re going to post pics like these. Food porn!
[…] Behold (via Pretty Girls Cook): […]
wow, they look great! congrats on FP by the way 🙂
Thanks!
I love, LOVE these and your post is so timely as I was just thinking about what I could make with my daughter this weekend.
Thanks for sharing!
I hope you enjoy them!
You just made my sweet tooth pump. I want some 😦
Those beguilingly photographed beignets totally take me back to my childhood, when my mum used to make them, all dusted in ‘fairy sugar’ (what we called confectioners’ sugar). Now in Scotland so beignets are not much mentioned, but I may start a small hot pastry revolution of my own. Thanks for the gorgeous recipe and photos.
Thanks so much!
oh wow..they look so delicious!!!! great job…and congrats on being freshly pressed…your blog is so eye catching btw!!!
Now there’s a calorie bomb after my heart…. long live mardi gras!
I have had something similar from a restaurant, and I must say, the chocolate sauce makes ALL the difference!
http://www.pick2cart.com I love, LOVE these and your post is so timely as I was just thinking about what I could make with my daughter this weekend.
http://wwww.moncler21.com LOL, you need to hand out drool bibs if you’re going to post pics like these. Food porn!
http://www.okay-nfl.com They do sound good. Can you send me some? LOL.
http://www.iofferbag.com Oh geez! These look sooooo good! I’m definitely going to make them at some point. Congrats on being on FP!
Hungry for beignets. Will get over fear of hot oil to make.
YUM
they look amaaaaaaaaazing
Congrats on being freshly pressed
I’m jealous of your baking ability. I’ve never made anything that even remotely looks as good as that picture.
They look very good! Oh hey, I noticed that you have a lot of traffic in your site. How do you do that? I’m kinda new here and I wanna share my blogs to the world! Can you give me some tips and view my blog for me? It really means a lot to me 🙂
Thanks! I’ll head over to your blog
Yum. Just looking (only) at your blog for a zero calorie dessert. Ok, I’m done. Thanks.
Looks so yummy/lovely. Question for you-why when these get microwaved or heated up do they lose all their flavor?
I’m not sure. I usually only make a few at a time and refrigerate the remaining dough until I’m ready to make more. They just taste the best freshly made!
Oh this is gonna be YUMMM-EEEE! Thank you for sharing! What lovey photos and well done instructions….perfect for sharing! I am gonna try thses for my birthday breakfast this weekend! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!!! Well done and deserved!!
Looks good 🙂
OMG these look delectable! I have to try to make them! Thanks for sharing!
http://shoeshirtsandothersht.com/
I think I would like to celebrate Mardi Gras at your house . . . all I got were beads.
This recipe looks delicious. I’ll have to try it!
Oh. My. Word. That looks AMAZING! I will try to make them some time soon! They look sooooo good! Lol
Uuuuu, I want some now 🙂 looks great, I wish I had any kind of talent in the kitchen…
Wow these sound amazing – I really wanted a recipe for these after seeing them whilst watching ‘princess and the frog’ with my little girl ha ha.
Will be trying them very soon!
Those sound absolutely divine! I love Beignets. Will have to try these. You should check out my blog at some point too, I have some fun homemade deserts on there ;p. great post!
Wow! That looks awesome. Reminds me of chocolate croissants for some reason. Will have to try this one day. Thanks for sharing.
MJ – muchamunch.wordpress.com
omg these look too good!!!!
WOW these look amazing, I’m kind of hungry now…
it looks yummy. I never try to make bakery stuff using dry yeast.
will try it later
wow! these look delicious! Benignets are one of my all time favorite ways to fry dough. I’ll have to try these ones!
[…] Vanilla Bean Beignets with Chocolate Fudge Sauce « prettygirlscook […]
These look delicious–as I presume everyone is saying.
They look delicious 🙂
These look amazing! I can’t wait to try them out!
wow these look awesome! sometimes i go buy crescent rolls and just fill the triangle with choc. chips and fold it up from all sides, american version lol
Those look REALLY REALLY GOOD!! Mmmm…thanks for the recipe. Congrats on FP! 🙂
-Tia
❤
Oh. My. Gosh. These look sinful! I can’t wait to try them!
Yum yum! And congrats on Freshly Pressed!
Looks amazing!
Sounds awesome and very timely. Should I make these or do a road trip?
[…] Beignets […]
wow, i shouldnt of visited here! makes me hungry for something i cant have on my diet! mmm… WHY CAN’T I JUST BE 110!!? please visit my new site! need ppl so i can sell my designs in the future and get a career in fashion! plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
wow. those. look. so. delicious. congrats on FP!!
Ever since I honeymooned in New Orleans I’ve loved beignets. And I’ve always had a thing for chocolate. Now you’ve brought my two favorites together. This is bliss. Congrats on being freshly pressed. Can’t wait to try this! 🙂
hey one question. which one taste the best bread flour or all purpose flour?
They will probably taste the same I just usually use bread flour when I’m making any type of dough.
These sound fab, and definitely appropriate for today’s celebrations!
[…] http://prettygirlscook.com/2011/03/07/vanilla-bean-beignets-with-chocolate-fudge-sauce/ […]
Oh. My. Gosh. I do want to try them. Even if I’m allergic to chocolate!!!!! 😉
Awesome post. This sure be another delight for my list. The photos are lovely and so irresistible. I’ve been a fan of croissants since I was small, and maybe this time I’ll include this beignet wonder treat to surprise everyone! Being Freshly Pressed is a masterspiece! I must have this too. Thanks for sharing! Keep up!
Perfect way to celebrate Mardi Gras!!
How lovely and delish! I can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks for posting! 🙂
i am such a sucker for desert and sweets. looks delish and the ingredients look amazing. im taking this recipe from you if you dont mind =]
Look so yummy~~~
YUM! Thanks for the Mardi Gras recipe!
As a non dessert maker – these would be a challenge for me – but I’d love to give them a try!
Just dribbled on the keyboard!! These look so good.
Gorgeous photography! These look irresistable- but since I bake dairy and gluten-free, I’d have to figure out some adjustments…the fudge sauce looks killer good! Beautiful blog. I’ll check back just to punish myself with painful desires!
-Silky Sienna
mMMMMmmmm chocolate!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats!!!! and I agree food porn all the wayl ol
my god I’m drooling all over the place! :O
My kids have been asking how to make these since watching Princess and the Frog….I shall be trying these!
Yummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
These sound AMAZING!!! I am going to save this! Thanks!
Nice, nice…real nice…indeed, almost sexual in its intensity….
Just finished trying it out and I love it.
These look INCREDIBLE. Have you tried churros- can be a bit hit and miss but once you find somewhere that does a good version of these Spanish dounghnuts and chocolate sauce… wow.
Thought you might like to salivate over another recipe that involves delicious choclatey goo…
http://jennysjustdesserts.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/mississippi-mud-pie/ x
Thanks! I love the video!
They look fab – well worth an extra 6 trips to the gym 😉
OMG it looks sooooooooo gooood!!
Thank you fir sharing your ingredients with us!
A couple of the ladies here at Ontos were down in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago for a Dermatology Convention. They had to try the Beignets! Glad to see the rest of us don’t have to go all the way down there to have a taste. 🙂 Thanks for the post!
I love beignets and will try your recipe. THanks for sharing — and I’ll check your blog again soon.
I love beignets. Mine never come out as good as the ones you get in New Orleans though. Maybe I’ll try this recipe though.
Omg this looks so gooood! I’ll add your recipe to my collection (and of course, I’ll do it), thanks for sharing ^^
Greeting for Chile!
Javi.
Why do I have to find out about this blog, just now that I’ve decided to eat healthier to loose a little weight?
The beignets look great. never made them before. but I will definitely use this recipe. Thanks!
Nice pairing with the chocolate sauce. I’ll definitely have to try these!
These look delicious! I’ll have to try these out when I go home for a weekend. I don’t currently have a kitchen aid since I just graduated and am just scraping by, but I’d love to try this recipe out. Do you think I could hand mix this dough or is it too tough?
Thanks! I think you can hand mix it. Before I got my stand mixer I used a big wooden spoon to make all my doughs and they came out just fine!
These look delicious! I’ll have to try these out when I go home for a weekend. I don’t currently have a kitchen aid since I just graduated and am just scraping by, but I’d love to try this recipe out. Do you think I could hand mix this dough or is it too firm of a dough to stir by hand?
You’ve made these look SO delectable! I wish I liked to spend lots of time in the kitchen. Then, I’d make them myself.
The pics remind me of the 1st time I ever had a beignet. It was in Louisiana, I felt so “comforted” it was ridiculous. Comfort food to the MAX!
I’ll stay tuned for more recipes.
nice,
These look so yummy. I wish i could bake like that.
Oh wow! These look amazing. Quick question though because I’m not real well versed is working with dough. When you let it rest for 3-4 hours….do you need to chill it? Or do you just put in the fridge when you leave it overnight. Probably a dumb question, but I’m a stickler for details 🙂
I can’t wait to make this!!
Thanks! I actually just left the dough out in my kitchen at room temp for aout 4 hours. If your going to let it sit overnight you should refrigerate it. I also refrigerated the extra dough or a later use.
This recipe looks awesome! My daughter is in Switzerland learning to make pastry. I am going to pass this one along to her. She is sure to get an A+ . Thanks so much for sharing!
officially my favourite post on my favourite blog lol good work!:)
I have been wanting to find a good beignet recipe after eating some delicious ones at our local farmer’s market. But I didn’t even have to look! It appeared for me in freshly pressed!
Bookmarked for the weekend! Lovely pic, btw.
Absolutely making these for the St. Patrick’s Day brunch I’m having for the Chicago Parade and dye’ing of the River! Thanks for the recipe and gorgeous pictures!
Great timing. I think its always a great time for beignets! Good stuff:)
mmmm, this is making me drool!! not a good look in the office though!hehe!
i shall def give this a try!
thanks!
This looks amazing!
Insane. Seriously ridunkulous. Isn’t there some sort of statute against making something look so good, when someone else can read it really late at night before they go to bed but are super hunger but there’s nothing good to eat in the house, unless you count toasted oat flax?
Grrrr! Congrats on the Fresh Pressage!
Dug
http://thf2.wordpress.com
These look delicious! Congrats on freshly pressed – I just wrote my first blog about food today, actually! I’m hoping to do it at least once a week once this semester is out and I have time to lounge around my apartment and cook to my hearts content without worrying about homework and school newspaper responsibilities. These are definitely going on my list of things to try out – thanks for sharing!
Thanks and good luck with your blog I’ll definitely check it out. I know how it is needing the time. I make two things a day sometimes when I’m off from work so i can take all the time I need. It’s all worth it at the end!
i love it is good
These look heavenly! Yum 🙂
Love your site… its helped me loads with my cooking… check out mine
http://bonnievclyde.wordpress.com
xx
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed. Omg I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. This is such a scrumptious recipe. Thanks for sharing. If this were to be cooked at my house they sure wouldn’t last very long.
holy! i’ll be making these soon…thanks for sharing!
These looked so yummy that I had to make them last Saturday. You were right, they were totally worth the effort!
Thank you 🙂
Thanks! I’m glad you tried out the recipe the chocolate sauce alone makes them worth all the effort!!
Love your blog. Wow, this Vanilla Bean Beignet looks wonderful! I’m just curious about the vanilla beans. Will they dissolve? Or do they add a crunch to the dough?
Thanks so much! The vanilla beans will add an extra kick of vanilla flavor to the beignets. They blend in with the batter, but you will probably see small flecks of them like in vanilla bean ice cream.
OMG! Chocolate Fudge!!!
Thank you for your blog, this is very useful to me. Because I was new in the world of bloggers so please guidance yes.
Hi there, I was wandering around online and I stumbled to your webpage from bing. I read some of your articles and thought they were awesome. Thank you, I’ll try to stop by your page again soon.
I love, LOVE these and your post is so timely as I was just thinking about what I could make with my daughter this weekend.
Thanks for sharing!
Hmmm yumyum
Very good! Greets from Germany
Hi,
I really like the idea. Do you think we can make salty beignets out of it with a salty dip like melted cheese?
I’m pretty sure you can but you would probably want to add a bit of salt and of course no sugar. I also have a savory version posted with shrimp