Fluffy Fried Dough Squares (Printable Version)

Light and airy fried dough squares dusted with powdered sugar for a sweet finish.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
02 - 1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
03 - 1/4 cup whole milk, at room temperature
04 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
05 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ For Frying

09 - Vegetable oil, for deep frying

→ Topping

10 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, for dusting

# Directions:

01 - Combine warm water, a pinch of sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Mix flour, remaining sugar, and salt thoroughly in a large bowl or stand mixer.
03 - Add yeast mixture, milk, egg, and melted butter to dry ingredients. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
04 - Knead dough by hand or with a dough hook for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
05 - Place dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
06 - Punch down dough, transfer to floured surface, and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.
07 - Cut dough into 2-inch squares using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
08 - Preheat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to 350°F.
09 - Fry dough squares in batches, turning once, until puffed and golden brown, about 1–2 minutes per side.
10 - Remove beignets with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
11 - While warm, dust generously with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They puff up beautifully in hot oil, creating that signature tender-crispy contrast that makes your first bite genuinely magical.
  • The dough is forgiving enough for beginners but impressive enough to make guests think you've been doing this for years.
  • Once you taste a warm beignet dusted with powdered sugar, you'll understand why New Orleans got this one so right.
02 -
  • Temperature matters everywhere in this recipe—warm water activates yeast, a warm environment makes dough rise properly, and 350°F oil creates the perfect texture instead of a greasy disaster.
  • Resist the urge to fry too many at once because crowded oil temperature drops, and that's what makes them absorb oil instead of puff up.
  • Powdered sugar is non-negotiable for both flavor and that authentic New Orleans presentation that makes them irresistible.
03 -
  • Don't skip the thermometer for yeast activation or oil temperature—these two things make the difference between beignets that astound and beignets that disappoint.
  • If your kitchen is cold, place the rising dough in an oven with just the light turned on, or near a sunny window; warmth is everything for proper yeast development.
  • Cut your beignets just before frying, not hours ahead, so they stay fresh and don't dry out or absorb excess moisture from the air.
Go Back