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(Last Updated On: December 21, 2022)Easy Vegan Beignets Recipe
These homemade vegan beignets are so delicious–they have a slightly crisp outside and a warm and soft inside!
Made from scratch with just a few ingredients, and they are totally eggless and dairy free.
Perfectly golden brown vegan fried dough topped generously with powdered sugar.
These are a New Orleans French dessert that you won’t want to miss!
Also, be careful when eating the powdered-sugar-topped-beignets, it’s very easy to make a powdered sugar cloud if you breathe out too fast!
Try my Vegan Apple Fritters next for another simple fried dessert.
Dairy Free & Eggless New Orleans Beignets
Beignets are a type of donut that is popular in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are also the official donut of the state!
The donuts don’t have a holes or any fillings, but are instead topped generously with powdered sugar!
Beignets are related to cream puffs and churros in terms of dough and texture, and they are perfect to serve alongside some hot and fresh coffee. The crispy exterior, yet light and fluffy dough inside make these yeast-risen treats so irresistible.
I lived in New Orleans years ago, and always loved going out for beignets. That’s why I’m so excited to share this vegan version with you!
INGREDIENTS
- Warm Water – Heat water to 110F to let the yeast activate without killing it.
- Sugar – Just a bit to feed the yeast.
- Instant Yeast – This helps make the process much faster than normal yeast!
- Milk – Use your favorite, I love oat, soy or almond.
- Oil – You can use vegetable oil or melted vegan butter.
- Vanilla – This is optional, but I like the subtle flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour – Use bleached for a nice color.
- Baking Soda – This helps them rise and be a bit crispy when fried.
- Salt – Just a pinch to bring out all the flavors.
- Vegetable Oil – You will need a few inches to fry the beignets.
- Powdered Sugar – Use as much as you’d like to top the beignets!
How to Make Vegan French Beignets
Making the Beignet Dough
To start making these vegan beignets: to a bowl, mix together the warm water, sugar and yeast and let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy. Add the soy milk, oil or melted butter, and vanilla and mix in.
In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and salt. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix until a dough is formed.
Knead just a few times on a floured surface, then place in a lightly greased bowl to rise for 10 minutes, covered.
Then, roll out dough into a 9×9 inch square, 1/4 inch thick, using extra flour if needed. I cut just a little off the sides to make a perfect square. Cut 3×3 inch squares of dough with a knife or pizza cutter.
Frying and Serving Beignets
Finally, heat a few inches of vegetable oil to 350F. Then, very carefully add 1-2 beignets at a time, gently dropping them away from you into the oil (use extra caution with the hot oil). Cook for about a minute per side, watching until they are golden brown on both sides.
Carefully remove with a slotted spatula and place on a cooling rack with paper towels underneath to catch excess oil. Repeat with remaining beignets.
When still very warm to touch, but not hot, top with powdered sugar and enjoy immediately!
STORING
These beignets are best served immediately, they will lose their crispiness and delicious texture when they sit.
The Best Vegan Fried Dough Dessert
The beignet is truly a unique donut, and there’s really nothing like it.
I love making these every now and then as a special treat, and they don’t take long at all either.
If you’re new to frying, don’t be scared! You’ll get used to it in no time–just be sure to keep a thermometer safe for frying nearby, and start by frying one beignet at a time.
Watch the video on this blog post for a quick example!
This recipe is:
- Crispy
- Soft
- Fluffy
- Fried
- Delicious
- Vegan
- Dairy Free
- Eggless
Try these other vegan desserts!
Vegan Strawberry Powdered Sugar Donuts
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Vegan Beignets
These easy vegan beignets are sweet, delicious and totally dairy free and eggless! An easy French New Orleans fried dough recipe!
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Warm Water (110F)
- 3 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tsp Instant Yeast (1/2 packet)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Milk
- 2 Tbsp Oil or Melted Vegan Butter
- 1/2 Tsp Vanilla
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
Other
- Vegetable Oil for frying
- Powdered Sugar to top
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the warm water, sugar and yeast and let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy. Add the soy milk, oil or melted butter, and vanilla and mix in.
- In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and salt. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix until a dough is formed.
- Knead just a few times on a floured surface, then place in a lightly greased bowl to rise for 10 minutes, covered.
- Then, roll out dough into a 9x9 inch square, 1/4 inch thick, using extra flour if needed. I cut just a little off the sides to make a perfect square.
- Cut 3x3 inch squares of dough with a knife or pizza cutter.
- Finally, heat a few inches of vegetable oil to 350F. Then, very carefully add 1-2 beignets at a time, gently dropping them away from you into the oil. Cook for about a minute per side, watching until they are golden brown on both sides.
- Carefully remove with a slotted spatula and place on a cooling rack with paper towels underneath to catch excess oil. Repeat with remaining beignets.
- When warm to touch, top with powdered sugar and enjoy immediately!
Notes
*Oil is very hot, use extra caution.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 226Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 104mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 3g
I love everything about this recipe. They were so easy to make. To me, anything fried and with powdered sugar is too good to pass up.
Thanks so much!
You would never know that there is a difference between original beignets and this vegan option. So good!
Thank you! 🙂
I love that these beignets were vegan friendly!! They came out light, fluffy and perfectly sweet – great for weekend brunch!
Thank you!! 🙂
I love this vegan option! Great recipe!
Thanks!