Fluffy Square Fried Dough (Printable)

Light, airy fried dough squares topped with powdered sugar, iconic of New Orleans flavors.

# What You'll 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 active dry yeast in a small bowl; let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Mix flour, remaining sugar, and salt in a large bowl or stand mixer.
03 - Add foamy yeast mixture, milk, egg, and melted butter to dry ingredients; stir until a shaggy dough forms.
04 - Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
05 - Place dough in 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; roll out on a floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness.
07 - Cut dough into 2-inch squares using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
08 - Heat 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 to 2 minutes per side.
10 - Remove beignets with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
11 - Dust warm beignets generously with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're actually doable at home once you stop overthinking the yeast and just let time do its thing.
  • That moment when you pull them out of the oil and they're still puffing up is honestly addictive.
02 -
  • Don't skip the yeast bloom—if you dump dry yeast straight into the dry ingredients, you won't get the rise you need and you'll end up with flat, sad squares instead of fluffy pillows.
  • Oil temperature is non-negotiable; invest in a thermometer because your eye is lying to you about when oil is hot enough.
03 -
  • Precision with water temperature matters more than anything else; if you don't have a thermometer, run the tap until it feels warm but not hot to your inner wrist.
  • Cut your squares and fry them right away—letting them sit too long after cutting lets the edges dry out and they won't puff properly.
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