This fake beignets recipe is a quick and easy New Orleans inspired recipe to make at home.
While not exactly like homemade beignet doughnuts, these deep fried doughnut bites will definitely hit your Cafe du Monde cravings.
These sweet snacks are also perfect for your Mardi Gras party desserts recipes to make with kid or simple New Orleans recipes for Fat Tuesday celebrations.
How To Make Cheater Fake Beignets Ready In Minutes!
If you crave that sweet, pillowy deep-fried pastry dough like in New Orleans but you don’t have the two hours that it takes to make homemade beignets, try this easy beignet recipe!
This simple recipe is basically a 1-ingredient recipe, with optional toppings.
To make fake beignets at home, you’ll need:
- Refrigerated biscuits
- Vegetable oil*
Optional Beignet Toppings & Dipping Sauces
- Powdered sugar
- Cinnamon & sugar
- Fruit spreads
- Chocolate sauce
*RECIPE NOTE: At Cafe du Monde in New Orleans (aka: home of the best homemade beignets), they use cottonseed oil to fry beignets.
What are beignets?
If you’re not familiar with beignets you’re in for a treat!
Beignets are sweet fried dough squares that are lighter and fluffier doughnuts.
HOW TO PRONOUNCE BEIGNETS: Beignet is pronounced ben-yay and is a French word for “fritter” French donuts.
You may know these powdered sugar bites as the French sweets from Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Traditional beignets are covered with powdered sugar, but you can also eat them with cinnamon and sugar or plain dipped in chocolate sauce or a fruit compote (which is how I like them!).
You can eat them as a sweet breakfast paired with coffee or any time during the day when you need a sweet snack.
MAKING BEIGNETS FOR A MARDI GRAS PARTY & NEED MORE NEW ORLEANS THEME RECIPES?
ALSO CHECK OUT: Easy King Cake Recipe
⭐️Why make cheater beignets at home?
Homemade beignets from scratch take a long time to make (over 2 hours) and there is a learning curve to not overworking the dough so that it stays fluffy and also getting the frying time right.
I didn’t have that kind of time, so I made this fried biscuit dough instead!
YOU CAN TRY THIS BEIGNET MIX IF YOU WANT A MORE HOMEMADE BEIGNET RECIPE.
Free Printable Beignets Recipe Step-by-Step Instructions
These faux beignets (?fauxnets?) don’t taste exactly like homemade beignet recipes, BUT this recipe is close enough to satisfy your sweet snack beignet craving — especially if you generously sprinkle them with a mound of powdered confectioner’s sugar!
IMPORTANT RECIPE NOTE: You definitely need to use the country or Southern homestyle biscuits for this recipe. I found flaky or layered biscuits do not fluff up as well when the dough is fried.
Easy Fake Beignets Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 16.3 ounce can Southern homestyle biscuits - can of 8 (NOT flaky or biscuits with pull apart layers)
- 3-4 cups Vegetable oil
TOPPINGS (OPTIONAL)
- Powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
- Cinnamon sugar
- Chocolate dipping sauce or syrup
- Fruit spreads
Instructions
- Add oil to a deep saucepan, dutch oven or small pot. Heat to 375 °F.
- Remove biscuits from container. Using kitchen scissors or a knife, cut each biscuit into 4 sections. For each section, roll into a ball and then slightly flatten to a disc shape. NOTE: Beignets are usually square, but I found that making more of a disc-shape helps them puff up easier when using canned biscuits.
- Drop each biscuit "disc" into the hot oil. Do not overlap.
- Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until light golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, remove fried biscuits from oil and transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain.Â
TO SERVE
- The traditional way to serve beignets it to top with white powdered confectioners' sugar. However, you can serve these plain with dipping sauces or with cinnamon sugar, too.
Notes
Nutrition Note
Nutrition calculations are approximate. If you're following a special diet, please calculate your own nutrition values.
MORE MARDI GRAS FUN:
- Doubloon Dash Mardi Gras Game
- Easy Mardi Gras Games For Adults and Kids
- Mardi Gras Theme Party Activities And Ideas
- Best Fat Tuesday Playlist For Mardi Gras Celebration or New Orleans Party
I hope you enjoy the fake beignets recipe!
