The airy texture and delightful aroma of air fryer beignets will transport you straight to a New Orleans café. This easy-to-make dough is transformed into fluffy pastry pillows in the air fryer and dusted with powdered sugar, making it a perfect treat for Mardi Gras or any time of the year. Air fryer beignets are yeast doughnuts sprinkled with powdered sugar, offering a fun and satisfying dessert experience. They are warm, light, and just the right amount of sweet.
Ⅰ. Time Overview
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes (including rising time)
Ⅱ. Ingredients Needed
To make these delightful air fryer beignets, you will need:
Milk: Warm whole milk helps activate the yeast, ensuring the air fryer beignets puff up perfectly and have a light texture.
Yeast: This recipe uses active dry yeast. Dry yeast comes in packets or jars and is activated by mixing with warm milk and sugar before adding to other ingredients. Store yeast in the fridge, away from any aromatic foods to keep it fresh.
Butter: Melt the butter and let it cool slightly before using. This ingredient is divided; part is used in the dough, and the rest is brushed on top of the beignets before air frying.
Cooking Spray: Prevents the dough from sticking to the air fryer basket. Use a neutral-flavored cooking spray suitable for baking.
Powdered Sugar: Sprinkled on top of the hot beignets, this ingredient gives the pastries their signature look. Purchase from a grocery store or learn how to make powdered sugar!
Ⅲ. Equipment Needed
To make air fryer beignets, gather the following equipment:
Air fryer
Mixing bowls
Measuring cups and spoons
Rolling pin
Pizza cutter or sharp knife
Pastry brush
Ⅳ. How to Make Air Fryer Beignets
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Start by mixing warm milk and sugar in a bowl. Add yeast and let it sit until frothy, about 10 minutes. This step is crucial as it activates the yeast, ensuring your beignets are light and airy.
In another bowl, combine flour, melted butter, and the yeast mixture. Mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Kneading helps develop the gluten, which gives the dough its structure and chewiness.
Step 2: Let the Dough Rise
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1½ hours until doubled in size. The warmth helps the yeast to ferment, causing the dough to rise and become airy.
Step 3: Shape the Beignets
Once the dough has risen, roll it out on a floured surface to about ½ inch thickness. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the dough into 2-inch squares. No need for fancy equipment; these simple tools work perfectly to shape the dough.
Step 4: Air Fry the Beignets
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Lightly brush the tops of the beignets with melted butter. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place the beignets in a single layer. Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. The air fryer cooks them quickly and evenly, giving them a perfect golden crust while keeping the inside soft and fluffy.
Step 5: Finish with Powdered Sugar
Remove the beignets from the air fryer and immediately dust with powdered sugar. This final touch adds a delightful sweetness and a classic beignet look. Serve warm and enjoy!
Ⅴ. Tips for Making This Recipe
1.Use a Pizza Cutter or Sharp Knife:
No special equipment is needed to shape or cut the dough. A pizza cutter or sharp knife can quickly cut the dough into the iconic square shape.
2.Choose a Warm Place for Proofing:
The dough needs to rise for about 1-1½ hours before it can be cut and air fried. Select a warm spot in your kitchen, around 75°F, to help the dough proof properly. Ideal locations include an oven with just the light on, a proofing drawer, a sunny window, or on top of the fridge.
3.Use Milk that’s Not Too Hot:
Yeast works best when fed with sugar and warm water or milk before use. For this recipe, heat whole milk to 100-110°F to help the yeast proof, but not too hot to avoid killing the yeast and preventing the dough from rising.
4.Let the Milk Mixture Sit at Room Temperature:
Allow the yeast mixture to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes or until bubbly. This takes about 10 minutes but can vary depending on the temperature of the ingredients. If the yeast doesn’t bubble within 15 minutes, start again. The milk might have been too cold or too hot, or the yeast could be expired and inactive.
Ⅵ. Conclusion
Air fryer beignets bring the taste of New Orleans right into your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Their light, fluffy texture and sweet powdered sugar coating make them an irresistible treat for any occasion.
