Auntie B's Beignets

By YogiRenee

You can serve these with chicory coffee for a brunch or as an after dinner dessert or as an afternoon treat, or…...

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 envelope dry yeast
• 2 eggs slightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• ( I like an organic brand like Trader Joe's because it contains much less sugar and gives just the faintest hint of sweetness)
• 7 cups bread flour
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• Nonstick spray
• Oil- peanut or canola for deep frying
• 3 cups powdered sugar -or
• powdered sugar mixed with cocoa powder

Preparation

Step 1

Mix water, sugar and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for at least 10 minutes.

In another bowl beat the eggs, salt, condensed milk and vanilla together. Mix egg mixture into the yeast mixture. Add 3 cups of the the flour to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the softened butter and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour.
This can be made in a stand mixer using the dough hook.

Remove dough from the bowl or the mixing bowl and place onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Put dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel. Let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours.

Heat the oil in a deep fryer or large deep skillet to 350 degrees.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface cut dough into squares. Fry beignets in small batches turning frequently until golden. Drain briefly on paper towels then dust them while they are still hot with powdered sugar mixture of your choice. The kids love to shake them in a bag filled with the powdered sugar or you can sprinkle them with powdered sugar using a mesh strainer.