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This Quick and Easy Beignets for Mardi Gras take just minutes to make!

We spent last New Year’s Eve {2016 to 2017} in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was the first time Richard and I had ever been there, so of course we had to do all of the tourist-y things. We wandered the French Quarter, shopped the French Market, ate gumbo, saw the Mississippi River, visited the historic cemeteries, and, of course, we ate beignets. Lots of beignets. Beignets are generally made with a yeast-based dough, which takes time to prepare, rise overnight, and then cook the next day. Because they are a labor of love, I think yeast doughs tend to scare some people away, so I’m switching things up a bit by making my twist on a different French pastry dough called Pâte a choux {sounds much more complex than it is} and frying them like the Italian zeppoli. The trick here? Make sure they are light, crisp, and covered in powdered sugar!

This recipe should take you under 30 minutes to prepare start-to-finish and makes a dozen beignets.

 

Beignets for Mardi Gras Ingredients:

• 1 cup 7UP®
• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup flour
• 3 eggs
• oil for frying
• lots of powdered sugar

Beignets for Mardi Gras Directions:

Gather your ingredients from Walmart. How simple is this recipe with just six ingredients? In a medium saucepan over a low heat, combine the 7UP and one stick of butter. The fizziness of the 7UP adds an airy, light texture to this classic pastry.

Once the butter is completely melted, stir in the cup of flour. Turn off the heat, and whisk in all three eggs until you reach a smooth, consistent texture. Your batter is now ready. Set it aside.

In a separate pot, heat about two inches of oil. I prefer a high temperature oil, like grapeseed or sunflower oil, to avoid smoking. Bring to a medium-high temperature. Add a small piece of the batter into oil to test it. When the dough begins to brown and floats to the top, it’s ready to go. Use a tablespoon to scoop balls of dough. Fry until the exterior is medium brown. They should look fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Remove the beignets from the heat and drain them on a cookie rack over a layer of paper towels.

Now here’s the important part — The powdered sugar! Fill a small sifter with powdered sugar and cover the beignets completely while still warm. Make sure you get a nice coating because that’s your main source of sweetness in this recipe.

At Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, beignets are traditionally served with chicory coffee or cafe au lait. I brewed up a cup of chicory coffee {it’s very dark, rich, and bitter}, poured myself a little cream on the side, and enjoyed my Mardi Gras beignets.

And since we’re celebrating Mardi Gras, be sure to get festive! Gold, purple, and green are the traditional Mardi Gras colors. Masks, beads, whatever you need to create a festive display to celebrate New Orleans style.

Here’s a picture of us enjoying beignets for the first time at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, December 30th, 2016. They were so delicious, I understand why this place is famous!

Head to Walmart, where you can purchase all the ingredients to make these beignets for Mardi Gras. Check out the soda aisle to purchase a 12-pack of 7UP cans.  For more inspiration, check out this website.

How do you celebrate Mardi Gras? Try these Quick and Easy Beignets for Mardi Gras!

Pin the Beignets for Mardi Gras image below!