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

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

New Orleans beignets are different from the classic French beignet in that they are made with yeast to help the dough rise. French beignets, meanwhile, are a choux pastry, a pastry that relies on moisture content instead of yeast to facilitate rising. Today, beignets are considered the official donut of Louisiana.

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 oil does Cafe du Monde use for beignets? ›

If it isn't, the beignets absorb too much oil and the powdered sugar melts when served and the beignet is greasy, sticky, and a hot, sweet mess of soggy dough. Cafe du Monde fries their beignets in cottonseed oil, even though most recipes call for vegetable oil.

What is the coffee to water ratio for Cafe du Monde? ›

Spoon in two tablespoons of coffee to every 225 ml of water into your pot, equating to around 65g of coffee for every litre.

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!

What makes beignets puff up? ›

The extra fat and sugar in the dough recipe will slow down the rise time. You can also allow the dough to rise overnight in the fridge. The rising time is important because it helps create a beignet that is light, puffy, and pillowy once fried.

What is the best oil to fry beignets? ›

Egg: This is a small-batch beignet recipe that makes 4 large beignets (or 8 small ones), so we only need an egg white. If you double the recipe, use 2 egg whites, NOT a whole egg. Oil for Frying: The best oil for frying is canola oil, vegetable oil, or grapeseed oil.

What is the most famous beignet shop in Louisiana? ›

Cafe Du Monde New Orleans.

What is the nickname for beignets? ›

For many years, especially in the early 20th century, Cafe du Monde's beignets were referred to as just doughnuts or French Market doughnuts. Locals had a hard time explaining to tourists what made their doughnuts so different, besides the fact that they lacked the hole in the middle.

What is the name of the dough in beignets? ›

Beignet (/ˈbɛnjeɪ/ BEN-yay, also US: /beɪnˈjeɪ, bɛnˈjeɪ/ bayn-YAY, ben-YAY, French: [bɛɲɛ]; lit. 'bump') is a type of fritter, or deep-fried pastry, made from pâte à choux, but may also be made from other types of dough, including yeast dough.

Can you eat beignets the next day? ›

No; since beignets are fried, they should be enjoyed right away. If you reheat them, they will dry out and get hard.

Can you leave beignet dough out overnight? ›

Can I let it sit overnight? Absolutely, most recipes call for an chilled overnight rest. The dough rolls out better when it's cold too. They don't need an overly long rise time before frying in the morning.

How sticky should beignet dough be? ›

If it's not too sticky to knead, knead it on a floured surface or with the dough hook; if it's still pretty sticky, add another 1/2 cup flour. Knead until it's smooth and elastic, yet still tacky. Put the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and let rise for 1 1/2-2 hours.

How many beignets does Cafe du Monde Mix make? ›

A: Cafe Du Monde Beignet Mix. Our 28oz. box makes up to four dozen French doughnuts.

Why does Café du Monde fry the beignets in cotton seed oil? ›

“Cottonseed oil is part of the original recipe,” says Benrud. “If you want to maintain consistent flavor from one generation to the next, you have to adhere to your original recipe.” Café Du Monde knows it can count on cottonseed oil for another 150 years.

How many pounds of powdered sugar does Cafe du Monde use? ›

Do you know how many pounds of powdered sugar the famous Café du Monde in New Orleans goes through? To keep their famous beignets completely loaded with powdered sugar, they use approximately 5,000 lbs every week!

How many beignets does Cafe du Monde make a day? ›

The kitchen at Cafe Du Monde. I believe Cafe Du Monde sells around 30,000 beignets a day, give or take.

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