Air Fryer Beignets Recipe: New Orleans Beignets (2024)

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Air Fryer Beignets Recipe: New Orleans Beignets (1)

Having been born and raised in New Orleans, I regularly have a craving for the famous Cafe du Monde delicious beignets. The classic beignet is such a staple to be enjoyed while in the Big Easy, not just for Mardi Gras but also in the French Quarter with a hot cup of Cafe au Lait. Since receiving my Air Fryer, I have not stopped air frying all the foods because who needs the calories of deep frying when one can make homemade air fryer beignets at home with this easy recipe? Check out this easy and delicious Air Fryer Beignets recipe to make at home.

If you enjoyed this Air Fryer Beignets Recipe, check out these other air fryer recipe: Air Fryer Churros Recipe, Air Fryer French Toast Sticks Recipe, Air Fryer Smores Poptart Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Perogi Recipe, easy Air Fryer Donuts.

Air Fryer Beignets Recipe: New Orleans Beignets (2)

Air Fryer Beignets Recipe

Being a native of New Orleans, it is only natural that I would try my hand at a New Orleans classic recipe and a sweet treat enjoyed by many using my air fryer. Not only did I want to bring this French Quarter treat to my readers, but I also wanted to give everyone a skinnier, more waist-line-friendly recipe because deep fryer beignets are fatty with a capital F. I mean, they are delicious, so they are totally worth it, but skipping the step of frying the beignets in oil is a total fat saver.

Air Fryer Beignets Recipe: New Orleans Beignets (3)

Ingredients

3 cups self-rising flour

1½ tsp salt

1 package instant yeast or active dry yeast

1 cup milk

2 TBS brown sugar

2 TBS butter

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

Powdered sugar, to taste

Air Fryer Beignets Recipe: New Orleans Beignets (4)

Directions

Whisk flour, salt, and instant yeast mixture together in a small bowl. Heat the milk in microwave until boiling hot. Combine milk with the melted butter and sugar in a large bowl and pour the steaming milk over the top. Stir so that the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool to a lukewarm temp. Add the egg and vanilla to the milk mixture and mix thoroughly. Combine flour mixture with the wet ingredients and mix until a dough is formed. Knead dough for 3-5 minutes. Place dough into a lightly oiled bowl (I used vegetable oil). Cover and allow it to rise for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface and cut into a square shapes creating the beignet square pieces. Let the dough rest setting dough pieces aside on a cookie sheet for 30 minutes or until the risen dough have almost doubled in size.

Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and place the dough squares into the basket of the air fryer, making sure it remains a single layer in the basket. Depending on the type and size of your air fryer, times and temperatures will vary. I set my air fryer at 390 degrees F and set the timer to 10 minutes, flipping the beignet halfway through at about 3-4 minutes. Cook until the air-fried beignets are golden brown, remove, and place beignets parchment paper until cool enough to eat.

Top with powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, white sugar, or just a buttered side and enjoy with that hot cup of coffee!

Air Fryer Beignets Recipe: New Orleans Beignets (5)

Air Fryer Beignet Recipe

Famous New Orleans beignet recipe which is a little lighter on the waistline since it is cooked in an air fryer!

3.40 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings 9 people

Calories 180 kcal

Equipment

  • air fryer

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 TBSP butter
  • 2 TBSP brown sugar
  • 1 pack active dry yeast
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 sprinkle powdered sugar to taste

Instructions

  • Whisk flour, salt, and instant yeast mixture together in a small bowl. Heat the milk in microwave until boiling hot. Combine milk with the melted butter and sugar in a large bowl and pour the steaming milk over the top. Stir so that the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool to a lukewarm temp. Add the egg and vanilla to the milk mixture and mix thoroughly. Combine flour mixture with the wet ingredients and mix until a dough is formed. Knead dough for 3-5 minutes. Place dough into a lightly oiled bowl (I used vegetable oil). Cover and allow it to rise for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface and cut into a square shapes creating the beignet square pieces. Let the dough rest setting dough pieces aside on a cookie sheet for 30 minutes or until they have almost doubled in size.

    Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and place the dough squares into the basket of the air fryer, making sure it remains a single layer in the basket. Depending on the type and size of your air fryer, times and temperatures will vary. I set my air fryer at 390 degrees F and set the timer to 10 minutes, flipping the beignet halfway through at about 3-4 minutes. Cook until the air-fried beignets are golden brown, remove, and place beignets parchment paper until cool enough to eat.

Keyword air fryer recipe, beignet

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Air Fryer Beignets Recipe: New Orleans Beignets (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between French beignets and New Orleans beignets? ›

The difference between classic French beignets and the New Orleans-style fritters seen can be found in the preparation of the dough. The former is made from pâte à choux, while those from the Big Easy are made from leavened dough that's cut into squares and fried until crispy on the outside and airy within.

Why are my beignets not fluffy? ›

Do not add too many pieces to the oil or else the oil temperature will drop and your beignets will be fry up flat. They will not puff up. The only other reason the dough does not puff up would be if you rolled the beignet dough too flat. Try rolling the dough a little thicker.

What oil does Cafe du Monde use for beignets? ›

The Café Du Monde beignet is a square piece of dough, always fried in cottonseed oil and lavishly covered with powdered sugar. A plate of three is served for less than $3.

What is the most famous beignet place in New Orleans? ›

Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter is the oldest and most iconic beignet shop, but several other cafes have become local favorites such as Cafe Beignet and Loretta's Authentic Pralines for their praline-filled beignets. See a full list of place to grab New Orleans beignets below.

Why are beignets chewy? ›

Beignets are different than doughnuts in a few ways. First, the dough is made with a single rise. This creates a chewy texture rather than a fluffy one. Because of this, the doughnuts taste best hot from the fryer.

What is the secret to beignets? ›

Tips for MAKING Your Fluffy Beignets:

Be sure that you oil is NIICCE and hot. We had our oil even 20 degrees hotter than the box called for and this really seemed to help the dough puff. Try to keep that oil temperature as even as possible!

Why are my beignets raw in the middle? ›

Why are my beignets raw in the middle? Oil that's too hot will quickly brown the beignets before the centers have a chance to cook. Make sure to check your oil temperature, and reduce the heat if your beignets are browning too quickly.

What is the best oil to fry beignets? ›

Ingredients for Easy Beignets:
  • Oil, for frying – This recipe uses vegetable or canola oil because most people have these on hand, but if you want to get really authentic, try and find cottonseed oil! ...
  • Confectioners' sugar – It isn't a beignet unless it's covered in confectioners' sugar, aka powdered sugar!
Oct 28, 2021

Why do beignets come in threes? ›

At that time, beignets were generally called “French Market doughnuts,” something Fernandez rectified in 1958 when he rebranded them “beignets.” Asked why beignets are always served in threes, Roman had a very simple explanation: “My grandfather always sold them in threes, so that is what we still do today.”

Is Cafe Du Monde still cash only? ›

Delicious! but CASH ONLY! ATM across the street - Review of Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans, LA - Tripadvisor.

Can you let beignet dough rise overnight? ›

If you want to prepare the dough ahead of time, you can do a slow rise in the refrigerator overnight. Then you can roll it out and cut the beignets. Since the dough will be cold, let the cut beignets come to room temp for about 30 minutes before frying.

What flour does Cafe du Monde use? ›

A yeast dough will produce a lighter and sweeter beignet than a basic white flour dough, which many recipes recommend. Cafe du Monde uses multiple flours in their mix, including rye flour, and they aren't willing to share the exact mix and proportions in their recipe.

Can I fry beignets in olive oil? ›

Yes, you can use different types of oil for frying beignets, such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil. These oils have a high smoke point, making them suitable for deep frying. Avoid using oils like olive oil or butter, as they have lower smoke points and may burn at high temperatures.

Are beignets French or Louisiana? ›

We can trace the consumption of fried dough back to the times of ancient Rome. Beignets are thought to have migrated with French settlers and were introduced to Louisiana when settlers made their home there. Though beignets are found in other parts of the world, they are mostly known in the French Quarter.

Which cafe beignet is the original? ›

Cafe Beignet Royal

Cafe Beignet on Royal Street – the one that started it all! Located in a converted 1800s carriage house, Royal St. offers a European cafe setting with a lush, tropical courtyard.

What is a beignet New Orleans? ›

Beignets were also brought to Louisiana by the Acadians. These were fried fritters, sometimes filled with fruit. Today, the beignet is a square piece of dough, fried and covered with powdered sugar. They are served in orders of three.

Are beignets French or American? ›

beignet, French-style fried square doughnut. Introduced in Louisiana by the French Acadians in the 18th century, this light pastry is a delicacy in New Orleans.

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