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Photo of Honey Beignets by WW

Honey Beignets

3
Point(s)
Total Time
11 hr
Prep
30 min
Cook
2 hr 30 min
Serves
32
Difficulty
Easy
New Orleans–style beignets and Nigerian puff-puffs have many similarities; they are both pieces of fried dough dusted with powdered sugar, but we use an air fryer to lighten these up. The mildly sweet fritters are as puffy as pillows and taste even better if the dough rises overnight in the fridge. They are best enjoyed with a cup of coffee— and if you want to go full-on New Orlean's style, serve with chickory coffee.

Ingredients

Cooking spray

4 spray(s)

Honey

¼ cup(s), divided

Yeast

2 tsp, instant dry yeast

Low-fat evaporated milk

½ cup(s)

Egg(s)

1 large egg(s), beaten

Kosher salt

2 tsp

Bread flour

3¼ cup(s), 3 to 3½ cups bread flour, divided, plus more for rolling out dough

Powdered sugar (confectioner's)

½ cup(s), for serving

Instructions

  1. In small bowl, mix 1⁄2 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F), 1⁄2 tsp honey, and yeast. Let stand until yeast turns a little foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. In another small bowl, whisk remaining honey, milk, egg, and salt. In large bowl, place 2 cups flour. Pour in both bowls of wet ingredients and, using wooden spoon or fork, mix until smooth batter forms. Gradually mix in 1 cup flour until shaggy sticky ball forms. Keep mixing in up to 1⁄4 cup more flour (if needed) until dough is stiff enough to gather into solid sticky ball. Transfer dough to work surface. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic, 3 to 4 minutes. (Dough will be very sticky. Try to refrain from adding more flour and instead dampen hands with water as you knead. Use dough scraper to help bring dough back toward you if needed.)
  3. Coat large clean bowl with nonstick spray. Transfer dough to bowl and cover with damp clean cloth. Allow dough to sit at room temperature until tripled in size, 1 to 2 hours. (Alternatively, cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Let sit at room temperature for 2 hours before continuing.)
  4. Lightly flour rimmed baking sheet. Punch dough down and stretch out on work surface to about 12-by-6-inch rectangle. (Wet hands and dough a little to make it easier to work with dough if needed.) Cut dough into 32 squares and place on prepared baking sheet. Cover with damp towel and let rise for 30 to 45 minutes.
  5. Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Coat bottom of air-fryer basket with nonstick spray. Working in batches, gently transfer a few pieces of dough to basket, spacing pieces 1 inch apart, and cook until puffed and golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Dust beignets with powdered sugar and serve immediately.
  6. Serving size: 1 beignet

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