Thursday, May 23, 2013

baked buttermilk beignets


What are your plans for the long weekend ahead? We're headed to New Orleans tomorrow(!), and I can't wait. Is it any surprise that I'm all about the food when I travel? And New Orleans is where. it's. at.

You can't talk about New Orleans food without talking about beignets. I've always wanted to make them at home, but my intense fear of an enormous pot of hot oil always kept me from frying them up. So when I saw this recipe for oven-baked beignets, I was thrilled. And they are delicious.

Like regular beignets, it is a must to eat these warm. They reheat okay, but, like most things, nothing is quite like straight from the oven. Your house smells SO GOOD while these are baking, that eating them immediately will be no problem whatsoever. So gather some hungry people, and let's make beignets!

Baked Buttermilk Beignets (from Good Housekeeping)
makes about 15-18 beignets, depending on how you cut them

you'll need:
1/4 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
3 cups AP flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup cold buttermilk
1 large egg
1/4 cup powdered sugar, for dusting

In a small bowl, combine water, yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar. Let stand until foamy and active, 5-10 minutes.

In a large bowl, stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining sugar. With a pastry cutter or your hands, cut in the butter into the mixture until the crumbs resemble small peas.

To the foamy yeast mixture, add buttermilk and egg and lightly beat with a fork. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the yeast/buttermilk/egg mixture. Stir until just completely combined (do not overmix). Knead the dough by hand in the bowl until the dough is smooth and silky. Remove the dough and spray the bowl with cooking spray (no need to clean the bowl). Return dough to bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rest for 15 minutes.

After dough has rested, roll it out into a large rectangle or square on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 5 long strips and then cut those strips into squared. Transfer dough squares to parchment paper-lined baking sheets, spray the tops with cooking spray, and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bake beignets for 10-12 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden. Immediately dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy warm!

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30 comments:

  1. I visited New Orleans for the first time last summer and fell in love with the city ... and the food! The hot and fluffy beignets are soooooooo good! I like this healthier baked twist! Have a wonderful time!

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    1. Thanks dear! So glad you share the New Orleans love with me! Any great restaurants you went to that we should try?!

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  2. *Baked* beignets and they taste good?! Sounds so enticing. Have a great trip!

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    1. There's nothing like freshly fried ones, obviously, but these really do the trick at home! Thanks Monica - hope you have a great weekend!

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  3. Girl..don't be afraid to fry. :) These look tasty!!

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    1. Haha, I know I shouldn't be! I had a traumatizing incident involving fried ravioli that still haunts me to this day. Teach me your ways!

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  4. Beignets are one of my all-time favorite desserts! Like you, I've always been worried about the frying part so I never made them at home! Thanks for sharing this recipe and have a great time in New Orleans!

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    1. I love that beignets are one of your favorites - you should give these a try then! :)

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    2. I just did! So much easier than I expected and every bit as delicious as I hoped!

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  5. Replies
    1. I never knew it was a thing! But it is, and it's gooooood.

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  6. I have never heard of beignets! they look delicious. Can't wait to try them.

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  7. OMG yum!! Have fun in New Orleans! I've always wanted to go there and see what it's like :) and of COURSE you're all about the food when you travel - I am the same!

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    1. Thanks Ashley! Sounds like y'all are having a fun time on your trip too!! :)

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  8. Have a fabulous time in New Orleans! Eat a couple true, deep-fried beignets for me while you're there, while I try your baked recipe! These sound awesommmmeee.

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    1. Don't you worry, got that covered :) Hope you like the recipe if you try it!!

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  9. These look so good, I visited New Orleans a few years ago and I fell in love with all the food especially the beignets, but lets be honest they are not the healthiest thing and like you I don't have a deep oil pan at home so seeing a baked version is great. I am definitely going to give these a go. Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. So glad you share my love of New Orleans and beignets! Hope you love these!

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  10. You can BAKE them?! I have to try this! Hope you had a GREAT time in NOLA!

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    1. Let me know how they turn out! :) Thanks dear - we had the best time!

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  11. hope you had a great time in NOLA. I am soooo going to try thissss!

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    1. We had the best time, thanks! Hope you love them!!

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  12. Baked?!? No way!! Well clearly this means they have to be made! Hope you had a great time in NOLA!!

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    1. Let me know if you give them a try!! We had such a fun time!

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  13. Never had a beignets. I'll have to try this.

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  14. These look awesome! Slightly healthier too since they're baked! Hope you had fun in New Orleans! :)

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    1. Thank you! Yes, nice to have a little bit lighter version!

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