French Beignets Recipe with a Soft, Vanilla-Infused Center
Fluffy, golden French-style beignets infused with vanilla and dusted in powdered sugar. Light and airy, perfect for breakfast, dessert, or special brunches.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 20–24 beignets 1x
Ingredients
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup warm whole milk
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp granulated sugar
½ tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Neutral oil for frying
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
-
Warm milk and mix with yeast and 1 tbsp sugar. Let foam 5–10 minutes.
-
In a large bowl, mix flour, remaining sugar, salt, egg, vanilla, butter, and yeast mixture. Stir until sticky dough forms.
-
Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise 1–1.5 hours until doubled.
-
Roll dough to ½ inch thick. Cut into 2-inch squares.
-
Place on parchment, cover, and let rise 30–45 minutes.
-
Heat oil to 350°F. Fry beignets 1–2 minutes per side until golden.
-
Drain on paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.
Notes
Use vanilla bean paste for extra depth. Dough can be refrigerated overnight after first rise.