Air-Fried Beignets: A Tasty, Healthy Twist?

Beignets are a beloved French pastry, typically deep-fried and coated in powdered sugar. They are a popular treat in New Orleans and are known for their light, fluffy texture. While traditional beignets are fried, it is possible to make them in an air fryer. Air-fried beignets are a healthier alternative that still taste delicious and are much easier to make. They are puffy, fluffy, and can be served with various dips and sauces.

Air fryer beignet recipe

Air fryer beignets are a healthier alternative to the traditional deep-fried version of this New Orleans classic. They are puffy, fluffy, and coated with lots of powdered sugar for a sweet treat.

Ingredients:

• Flour: Use self-rising flour, not all-purpose as it will not give the dough the necessary lift.
• Yogurt or milk: This makes the dessert tender.
• Flavorings: Sugar and a dash of vanilla.
• Butter: Melt some for brushing on top.
• Powdered sugar: For dusting.

Method:

• Combine the yogurt or milk with vanilla and sugar. Add your flour. Keep stirring until you have a dough.
• Flour your surface, then tip the dough onto it. Fold the dough into itself several times. Carefully shape into a rectangular shape about 1-inch thick.
• Slice into squares, then leave them for about 15 minutes to rest.
• Before cooking, brush with butter.
• Air-fry at 350F for about 6-7 minutes, then flip and continue air-frying for another 6-7 minutes.
• Dust with lots of powdered sugar and enjoy immediately!

Tips:

• Make sure to leave gaps between each piece of dough. Otherwise, they may stick together and not be cooked fully.
• Don’t skip the butter. Aside from adding flavor, it also helps the surface brown up.
• If you’re making a big batch, you can keep the cooked beignets in a 200F oven while you finish the rest.
• These beignets are best enjoyed fresh out of the air fryer but can be stored on the counter for up to a day.

Variations:

• Greek yogurt substitute: Use plain yogurt or sour cream.
• Vegan: Use vegan butter substitute and plant-based yogurt.
• Cinnamon sugar: Dust them with cinnamon sugar on top while hot before the icing sugar for a wonderful spice flavor.
• Dip them in melted chocolate, caramel sauce, Greek yogurt, or a hot cup of coffee.
• Fill them with Nutella or jam before coating with powdered sugar.

How to make the dough

Beignets are a beloved café pastry that can be made in an air fryer. They are a sweet treat, often dusted with lots of powdered sugar. The dough is easy to make and requires only pantry ingredients.

To make the dough, you will need:

• Flour
• Yogurt or milk
• Flavourings such as sugar and vanilla
• Butter

Begin by mixing the yogurt or milk with vanilla and sugar. Add your flour and keep stirring until a dough is formed. You can also add an egg and egg yolk to this mixture. For a vegan alternative, use a vegan butter substitute and plant-based yogurt.

Next, flour your surface and tip the dough onto it. Carefully shape the dough into a rectangular shape about 1-inch thick. You can also roll the dough to a quarter-inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes.

Once you have your desired shape, leave the dough to rest for about 15 minutes. Before cooking, brush the dough with butter. You can also coat the dough with cooking spray or canola spray.

Now you are ready to air-fry! Cook at 350°F for about 6-7 minutes, then flip and continue air-frying for another 6-7 minutes.

Your beignets are now ready to be served! Dust them with lots of powdered sugar and enjoy immediately. They go well with hot chocolate or coffee, and you can even dip them in caramel or chocolate sauce.

How to cut the dough

Once you've made your beignet dough, it's time to roll it out and cut it into your desired shape. The traditional shape for beignets is rectangular, but you can also cut them into squares, circles, or even diamonds.

To start, transfer your dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it out to your desired thickness. Most recipes suggest a thickness of around 1/4 to 1/2 an inch. Then, using a sharp knife, pizza cutter, or cookie cutter, carefully cut out your shapes. If you're going for the traditional rectangle shape, you can first trim the edges of the dough to form an even square, and then cut the square into a grid pattern—for instance, a 4x5 grid will give you 20 rectangles. Alternatively, if you're using a cookie cutter, simply stamp out your desired shapes, re-rolling the dough as needed to cut out more.

Once you've cut your dough, you'll need to let the shapes rest for about 15 minutes before cooking. You can also flash freeze the cut beignets at this stage if you want to save them for cooking later. Simply place the frozen beignets in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to three months. When you're ready to cook them, just add a few minutes to the original cooking time.

How to cook the beignets

Beignets are a beloved French pastry, typically deep-fried, but they can be made in an air fryer for a healthier option. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook beignets in an air fryer:

Ingredients:

• Milk (whole milk is preferable, but you can use plant-based milk or 2-percent/skim milk)
• Active dry yeast (one packet or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
• Eggs (brought to room temperature)
• Butter (unsalted is best)
• Sugar (regular white sugar, or any granulated sugar)
• Flour (all-purpose flour is recommended, but self-rising flour also works)
• Salt
• Vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar

Optional Ingredients:

• Yogurt (plain, Greek, or sour cream)
• Cinnamon
• Nutella or jam

Method:

• Combine yeast, a tablespoon of granulated sugar, and milk in a bowl. Set aside for at least 5 minutes.
• Melt the butter in a separate bowl and mix with the eggs and vanilla extract.
• Add the rest of the granulated sugar, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture.
• Beat the mixture on low speed for about 1 minute, and then gradually add the egg and butter mixture.
• Continue beating on medium speed for about 4 minutes until the dough becomes elastic and smooth.
• Form the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let the dough rise for about an hour or until it has doubled in size.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it out to a quarter-inch thickness.
• Cut the dough into your desired shape. Traditional beignets are rectangular, but you can also use a cookie cutter to make circles or other shapes.
• Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C.
• Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place the beignets inside, leaving space between them. You can also brush the beignets with melted butter or spray them with canola oil.
• Air fry the beignets for 4 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for an additional 4-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
• Remove the beignets from the air fryer and place them on a cooling rack.
• Brush the warm beignets with melted butter and then dust them with powdered sugar.

Tips:

• If you don't have a stand mixer, you can mix the dough with a wooden spoon and knead it by hand.
• The dough needs a minimum of 1 hour to rise properly, but this may take longer depending on the temperature and elevation.
• Don't let the pieces of dough touch in the air fryer, as they may stick together and not cook evenly.
• Don't stack the cooked beignets, as they can become soggy.
• Beignets are best served fresh, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

How to serve the beignets

Beignets are a versatile treat that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas for how to serve them:

Sweet Treats

Beignets are often served with a generous dusting of powdered or confectioners' sugar. You can also get creative with other toppings such as cinnamon, honey, maple syrup, or fruit compote. For an extra indulgent touch, top them with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or a scoop of ice cream.

Beignets also pair well with various sauces. The classic choice is chocolate, but you can also try strawberry, caramel, vanilla custard, or dulce de leche. If you're feeling adventurous, make your own chocolate sauce or caramel sauce at home.

Savoury Delights

If you're looking for a savoury twist, beignets can be served with cheese. Try brie, cheddar, smoked gouda, or ricotta on the side. Cured meats such as prosciutto, salami, biltong, pastrami, and smoked ham are also great options to serve alongside beignets.

Beverage Pairings

Beignets are often served with coffee, especially in New Orleans. To balance the sweetness of the beignets, add chicory to your coffee. If coffee isn't your cup of tea, tea is another popular beverage choice to pair with these treats.

Meal Ideas

Beignets can be enjoyed at any time of the day. For breakfast or brunch, serve them with bacon and eggs, or enjoy them with a fruit platter. They also make a great dessert or midnight snack. If you're serving them for lunch, consider pairing them with ice cream.

Batch Cooking and Storage

If you're making a large batch, keep the cooked beignets warm in a low oven while you finish cooking the rest. Beignets are best enjoyed fresh, but any leftovers can be stored at room temperature for up to a day. To reheat, pop them in the air fryer for a couple of minutes—just be aware that the powdered sugar will melt.

Frequently asked questions