Fluffy Fried Dough Pillows (Printer-friendly)

Light and airy square pillows of fried dough dusted with powdered sugar, inspired by New Orleans flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
02 - 1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
03 - 1/4 cup whole milk, at room temperature
04 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
05 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ For Frying

09 - Vegetable oil, for deep frying

→ Topping

10 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, for dusting

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine warm water, a pinch of sugar, and active dry yeast in a small bowl; let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - In a large bowl or stand mixer, whisk together flour, remaining sugar, and salt.
03 - Add yeast mixture, whole milk, egg, and melted butter to dry ingredients; stir until a shaggy dough forms.
04 - Knead the dough by hand or with a dough hook for 5 to 7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
05 - Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
06 - Punch down the dough and roll onto a floured surface to approximately 1/4 inch thickness.
07 - Slice the dough into 2-inch squares using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
08 - Preheat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to 350°F.
09 - Fry squares in batches, turning once, until puffed and golden brown on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side.
10 - Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels, and dust generously with powdered sugar while warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough comes together with basic pantry staples—no fancy ingredients or techniques required.
  • Watching them puff and golden in the oil is oddly satisfying, and the smell will make everyone in your home appear within seconds.
  • That moment when you dust them with powdered sugar and take that first bite warm is genuinely worth every minute of rising time.
02 -
  • The oil temperature is non-negotiable; even 10 degrees off in either direction will ruin the texture, so invest in a reliable thermometer if you're planning to make these more than once.
  • Don't let the dough rise in a cold kitchen—yeast is lazy when it's chilly, and you could be waiting hours instead of one, so find a warm spot or preheat your oven slightly and turn it off before placing the bowl inside.
  • Powdered sugar only sticks to warm beignets, so dust them immediately after they come out of the oil; waiting even five minutes means the sugar will slide right off.
03 -
  • If you're making these ahead, fry them completely and store them in an airtight container; reheat in a 350°F oven for just a few minutes to restore warmth and crispness without drying them out.
  • Keep a small bowl of powdered sugar nearby while frying so you can dust them in batches as they drain—this prevents the sugar from settling and makes each piece evenly coated.
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