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? ›

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 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? ›

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 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.

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? ›

As far as the oil goes, I really recommend peanut oil for frying pastries because it has a high smoke point and is almost flavorless–while canola oil is great because it has a high smoke point and it's good for your heart (um, am I talking about heart health in a post about deep-fried treats?), it can take on kind of a ...

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 it OK to use expired beignet mix? ›

Can you use Beignet Mix after the expiration date? We DO NOT recommend using our mix after the best by date. One of the ingredients is powdered milk, and it will sour after the best by date.

Why are my beignets hollow? ›

Finally, the beignets made from dough that rested two hours and then was rolled, cut, and fried had more of a hollow center — light and airy and perfect for filling with Nutella etc, if you'd be so inclined.

What are the two items that are served at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans? ›

Beignets at Café du Monde is a must for any visit to New Orleans. The original cafe, located near the French Market, has been operating since 1862 and is known for two things – beignets (square doughnuts covered in powdered sugar), and coffee laced with chicory (served black or au lait).

Is beignet mix the same as funnel cake mix? ›

Absolutely not: funnel cakes are made of pancake batter that is deep-fried. Funnel cake batter does not contain yeast, nor does it require a rising time. Beignets are more similar to donuts than funnel cakes.

Can you leave beignet dough out overnight? ›

Plan ahead. Chill the Beignet dough overnight so the yeasty flavor develops best overnight, or you can refrigerate it up to two days which is the route I took. Once mixed, I plopped the dough in a big, greased, zip-top bag so it would have room to expand if it decided to.

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 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? ›

The origin of the word beignet can be traced to the Celtic language, tied to the word “bigne,” meaning “to raise.” Although now considered a French pastry, the beignet is thought to have connections as far back as ancient Rome.

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