New Orleans-Style Beignets

Ingredients
1 and 1/2 cups warm water, between 110 and 115 degrees (F)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 and 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup evaporated milk
2 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
7 cups bread flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 cups peanut oil, for deep frying
2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

1. In a medium-size bowl, add the warm water, sugar, and yeast and whisk well to combine. Sit aside for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture has bubbled up and become foamy.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs until smooth. Beat in the vanilla and evaporated milk. Beat in 3 and 1/2 cups of the flour until smooth. Turn the mixer to low speed and slowly pour in the yeast mixture (careful here - this mixture can splash up if added to quickly!); beat until smooth. Add in the butter and beat until incorporated. Finally, beat in the remaining 3 and 1/2 cups of flour and salt. Beat until dough is smooth and cohesive; about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours.
3. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with three layers of paper towels, set aside.
4. In a large enameled cast-iron pan, heat 4-inches of oil to 360 degrees (F). Remove the dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Cut the dough into 2 and 1/2-inch squares.
5. In batches, fry the dough until they puff up and are golden brown in color, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beignets to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.
6. Dust with powdered sugar and serve at once!

Notes: We visited New Orleans during Spring Break in 2020, right before the pandemic lockdown hit. We loved the beignets we had there. I requested that Brittany make beignets for my birthday breakfast several months later (December 2020) and this is the recipe she tried. Over two and a half years later I am finally posting the recipe. We have had beignets at least once or twice since then and always enjoy them. They are a lot of work though and take a lot of time to make.

Source: Baker By Nature