Description
Pillowy, golden beignets filled with bright, tangy lemon curd and finished with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. Crisp on the outside and soft in the center, they’re a bakery-style treat you can make at home.
Ingredients
- 180 ml warm milk (110°F / 43°C)
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 50 g granulated sugar (¼ cup)
- 1 large egg
- 42 g unsalted butter, melted (3 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 440 g all-purpose flour (3½ cups), plus more for dusting
- Vegetable oil for frying (about 1.5 liters)
- 300 g lemon curd (about 1¼ cups)
- 60 g powdered sugar (about ½ cup), plus more for dusting
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together the warm milk, yeast, and granulated sugar. Let it stand for 5–10 minutes, until foamy on top.
- Add the egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir to combine. Gradually add the flour, mixing until a soft, slightly tacky dough forms.
- Knead for 5–7 minutes (by hand or mixer) until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 to 1½ hours, until doubled in size.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll to 6–12 mm (¼–½ inch) thickness. Cut into 5–7.5 cm (2–3 inch) squares.
- Heat oil to 175°C (350°F). Fry in batches, turning once, until puffed and golden, about 1–2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
- Let the beignets cool just enough to handle. Use a piping bag fitted with a small tip to inject lemon curd into the center of each one.
- Dust generously with powdered sugar and serve warm.
Notes
- Add lemon zest to the dough for extra citrus aroma.
- Use a lemon glaze instead of powdered sugar for variation.
- Fill with a mix of lemon curd and whipped cream for a lighter center.
- Add ½ teaspoon ground cardamom for a warmer flavor profile.
- Use a thermometer and fry in small batches to keep oil temperature steady.
- For best texture, serve beignets within a few hours of frying.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 beignet
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
