These Chocolate Beignets are a delightful twist on the classic New Orleans treat. Made with rich and decadent chocolate, these beignets are a perfect treat for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be enjoyed as a breakfast pastry, dessert, or even as a snack.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- While most beignet recipes call for a simple dough and powdered sugar, these chocolate beignets take it to the next level of flavor
- Making chocolate beignets results in an indulgent and satisfying treat that will leave you wanting more.
- Chocolate beignets use simple pantry staples, so you don't have to worry about making a try to the grocery store to buy anything special.
🧾 Ingredient List
- active dry yeast
- warm water (105° to 115°)
- granulated sugar
- evaporated milk
- large eggs
- salt
- vegetable shortening
- cocoa powder
- bread flour
- Vegetable oil
- powdered sugar
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🍲 Equipment
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Stand Mixer
- Dutch Oven
- Pizza cutter or sharp knife
- Baking sheet lined with paper towels or a wire rack
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Step 1: Stir together ½ cup water, sugar, and yeast. Allow the yeast to bloom for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Add the evaporated milk, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture and beat just until combined.
Step 3: Stir vegetable shortening into the remaining warm water. Mix into yeast mixture.
Step 4: Add the cocoa powder and 4 cups of bread flour to the mixing bowl and blend until smooth. Slowly add the remaining bread flour.
Step 5: Add the dough to an oiled bowl, and cover it tightly. Allow the dough to rise until doubled in rise or up to 24 hours.
Step 6: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface in a rectangle shape until ¼ inch thick. Cut into 40 retangles.
Step 7: Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven to 360 degrees. Fry the dough in small batches for 2-3 minutes or until done.
Step 8: Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and add to a freezer bag. Shake the warm beignets to coat them in the powdered sugar mixture.
👩🏻🍳 Eileen's Tips for Success
- When deep frying sweet treats like chocolate beignets, I like to use a mild flavored oil such as vegetable oil or canola oil.
- If you have a candy thermometer on hand, you can use it to check for the correct temperature of the oil so that your beignets do not overcook.
- I've found that the best way to keep your dough fresh during the rise time is to tightly cover it with plastic wrap.
- The amount of chocolate beignets that you can deep fry at one time will vary depending on the size of your pot. Be careful not to overcrowd it.
📖 Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways that you increase the flavor of this dish.
- You can add a chocolate hazelnut filling to the center of this airy chocolate dough before you coat them in powdered sugar, by using a piping bag.
- You could also fill them with your favorite jam, custard, or even buttercream icing.
- Make a chocolate ganache for dipping by melting some chocolate chips, and a little splash of heavy cream until smooth and creamy.
❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Make Ahead: One great thing about this delicious recipe is that you can make the dough ahead of time. It will store well in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just make sure that you allow it to come to room temperature so that it finishes rising, and cooks evenly.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to store them longer, place them in the fridge for up to a week.
Freezing: You can also freeze the donuts by wrapping them individually in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They will stay fresh for up to 2 months.
🥣 Serving Suggestions
- These chocolate beignets pair so well with a cup of coffee, a glass of whole milk, or even a Strawberry Banana smoothie.
- Are you serving these chocolate treats for breakfast? If so, add a little protein to your first meal of the day by adding Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs alongside them.
- Instant Pot Hot Chocolate is another great beverage to sip on while you enjoy this delightful treat.
🍽 Similar recipes
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Apple Cherry Fritters are easy to make and taste amazing. This one one of my favorite dessert recipes to make when I'm craving a homemade treat.
Churro Bites are the perfect bite-sized snacks. With a crispy outside, and a soft and fluffy center all coated in cinnamon sugar, they are a great snack for the entire family.
Want to indulge in the taste of summer in edible form? Whip up a batch of these Baked Key Lime Donuts for a homemade breakfast sweet treat.
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, powdered sugar and confectioners' sugar are the same thing. They are just called different names by different people.
New Orleans-style beignets are typically square and have a fluffy texture, while French beignets are usually round and have a denser texture.
Beignets are also traditionally served with powdered sugar on top, while French beignets may have different toppings or fillings such as chocolate or jam.
Yes, you can make beignets without a deep fryer. You can use a pot with oil on the stove like I did. However, using a deep fryer will give you the most authentic and traditional results.
I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Homemade Chocolate Beignets
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a stand mixer bowl, stir together ½ cup water, sugar, and yeast. Allow the yeast to bloom for 5 minutes.
- Add the evaporated milk, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture and beat just until combined.
- In a large measuring cup, stir vegetable shortening into the remaining warm water. Mix into yeast mixture. If the water is not warm enough to melt the shortening, heat it in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Add the cocoa powder and 4 cups of bread flour to the mixing bowl and blend until smooth. Slowly add remaining bread flour.
- Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, turning the dough to oil all sides. Cover with plastic wrap.
- The dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or allowed to rise in a warm, draft-free location until it doubles in size.
- Heat vegetable oil in a fryer or dutch oven until 360 degrees.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently shape into a rectangle. Roll the dough to ¼ inch thickness.
- With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into about 40 rectangular pieces.
- Fry the beignets in small batches about 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove and drain on paper toweling.
- Sift together the cocoa powder and powdered sugar for the powdered sugar topping.
- Before serving, toss with the chocolate powdered sugar.
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