Description
Delight in these homemade Nutella Beignets—light, fluffy fried pastries filled with creamy Nutella and dusted with powdered sugar. Perfect as a decadent dessert or sweet treat, these French-American style beignets combine a soft yeasted dough with the rich flavor of chocolate hazelnut spread, fried to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- ¾ cup warm water (about 110°F)
- 1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup whole milk, warmed
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour
Frying
- Vegetable oil for frying
Filling and Topping
- 1 cup Nutella (for filling)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Activate yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix wet ingredients and form dough: Add the egg, warm milk, melted butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix well to combine. Gradually incorporate the flour, adding 1 cup at a time, stirring until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 6–8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and allow it to rise in a warm spot for 1½ to 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape beignets: Punch down the dough and roll it out to about ½-inch thickness. Cut into 2½-inch squares or circles. Place the pieces on a parchment-lined tray, cover, and let them rest for 30 minutes to rise slightly.
- Heat oil and fry: Heat vegetable oil in a deep pot to 350°F. Fry the beignets in small batches for 1–2 minutes on each side until they are puffed and golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Fill with Nutella: Once slightly cooled, fill a piping bag fitted with a small tip with Nutella. Insert the tip into the side or bottom of each beignet and gently squeeze to fill them with the chocolate-hazelnut spread.
- Finish and serve: Dust the filled beignets generously with powdered sugar and serve warm for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- To make filling easier, slightly warm the Nutella so it pipes smoothly.
- Unfilled beignets can be frozen after frying and filled later for convenience.
- Serve beignets warm to enjoy their soft texture and rich flavor fully.
