Oh, the magic of the Big Easy! The music, the culture, and most notably, the food! Today, we’re going to bring a piece of New Orleans to your kitchen with this vegan beignet recipe. Yes, you heard it right! A vegan version of the classic beignets that you can enjoy in the comfort of your home, while daydreaming of the lively streets of Mardi Gras.
What are Beignets?
The word ‘beignet’ is as French as it gets, and these delightful pastries are deeply rooted in the cuisine of the United States’ most French city – New Orleans. Traditional beignets are essentially square pieces of dough, deep-fried until golden brown, and generously dusted with powdered sugar. They’re commonly enjoyed at the famous Café Du Monde, often with a cup of café au lait. But today, we’re putting a twist on the classic by making them vegan and gluten-free!
A Vegan Beignet Recipe Straight from the Heart of New Orleans
When we think of vegan recipes, we often imagine salads or tofu, but this vegan beignet recipe is proof that vegan desserts can be just as delicious and indulgent. This vegan version does not compromise on taste or texture. Using vegan ingredients like non-dairy milk, egg replacer, and vegan butter, you can create a dough that is just as light and fluffy as the traditional beignet dough.
Let’s Make Vegan Beignets!
Now, the best part about this recipe is that it’s not that complicated. All you need is a large bowl for your dry ingredients and a separate bowl for the wet ingredients. You’ll also need a lightly floured surface to roll out your dough, a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut your dough into squares, and a slotted spoon to retrieve your beignets from the hot oil.
Frying Your Beignets
Although we’re making a vegan version, we’re still sticking close to the traditional method of cooking beignets – in hot oil. For this, you can use a deep pot or a deep fryer. Fill it with vegetable or canola oil and heat it to medium-high heat. Once the oil temperature is right, carefully drop your pieces of dough into the oil. Cook them in small batches until they turn golden brown. Remember to turn them occasionally for even cooking.
Draining and Dusting Your Beignets
After frying your vegan beignets, you’ll want to transfer them to paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Once they’ve cooled slightly, generously dust them with powdered or confectioner’s sugar. The sugar not only adds sweetness but gives the beignets their signature look.
Gluten-Free Sauce for Your Vegan Beignets
While traditional beignets are typically served with café au lait, we thought it would be fun to create a gluten-free sauce to go with our vegan beignets. You can make a simple yet delicious chocolate sauce using cocoa powder, vegan sugar, and non-dairy milk, or perhaps a maple syrup and vanilla extract combination. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try different flavors like a warm coconut milk and vanilla sauce, or a hot chocolate with soy creamer. The possibilities are endless!
Storing Your Vegan Beignets
If you end up with leftovers (although we doubt you will!), you can store your vegan beignets in an airtight container at room temperature. They’re best enjoyed within a day or two. Just remember to give them a quick warm-up in the microwave or oven, and they’ll be as good as new!
Enjoying Your Vegan Beignets
Now that you’ve mastered this vegan beignet recipe, you can enjoy a taste of New Orleans anytime you like! Whether it’s a special treat for breakfast, a sweet snack with your afternoon coffee, or a dessert to impress your friends at your next dinner party, these vegan beignets are sure to be a hit! Bon appétit!
Delightful Vegan Beignets Recipe
Yield: 24 beignets
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Enjoy these delightful vegan beignets that are perfect for any occasion. Made with simple ingredients, these beignets are light, fluffy, and dusted with powdered sugar for a sweet finish.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 2.5 teaspoons of active dry yeast
- 3.5 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup of hot water
Frying
- 2-3 cups of vegetable oil
Dusting
- 1 cup of powdered sugar
Instructions
- Warm the almond milk in a small saucepan until it's lukewarm, not boiling.
- In a large bowl, combine the warm almond milk, sugar, and salt. Mix until the sugar is dissolved.
- Stir in the yeast and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- Add the melted coconut oil to the mixture and stir.
- Begin adding the flour to the mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition.
- Gradually add the hot water to the dough, mixing continuously until it's well combined.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel and let it rise for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- After the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll it out to about 1/4-inch thickness.
- Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 2-inch squares.
- In a deep fryer or large pot, heat the vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C).
- Carefully drop the dough squares into the hot oil, a few at a time. Fry them until they're golden brown on both sides, flipping them halfway through.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the beignets from the oil and drain them on paper towels.
- While they're still warm, dust the beignets generously with powdered sugar.
- Serve your delightful vegan beignets warm and enjoy!
Notes
Beignets are best eaten fresh and warm. However, you can keep the dough in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just make sure to let it come to room temperature before rolling and frying.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 150Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 50mgCarbohydrates: 22gNet Carbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gSugar Alcohols: 0gProtein: 2g
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest
