Mardi Gras Fried Dough (Printer-friendly)

Crispy fried dough with a powdered sugar coating offers a festive, golden-brown indulgence.

# What you'll need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 3/4 cup whole milk
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ For Frying

09 - 4 cups vegetable oil for deep frying

→ Topping

10 - 1 cup powdered sugar

# Method:

01 - Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl until evenly combined.
02 - Whisk eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until fully incorporated.
03 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
04 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead gently for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
05 - Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into rectangles or diamond shapes measuring approximately 3 x 2 inches.
06 - Heat vegetable oil in deep pot to 350°F.
07 - Fry dough pieces in batches, turning once, until puffed and golden brown, about 1-2 minutes per side.
08 - Remove fried dough with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
09 - Generously dust warm dough pieces with powdered sugar on all sides.
10 - Serve immediately for optimal flavor and texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough comes together in under 10 minutes with ingredients you already have in your pantry
  • They fry up impossibly light and pillowy inside with that perfect crackle outside that only fresh dough achieves
  • The moment you bite through the crisp exterior into the warm center is worth every bit of oil splatter on your stove
02 -
  • Hot oil splatters when dough hits it, so keep your face at a distance and use long-handled utensils
  • The first batch always takes longest to cook as the oil temperature drops, so adjust your heat accordingly between batches
  • These are best within an hour of frying, though you can refresh them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes if needed
03 -
  • Pat your cut dough pieces lightly with paper towels before frying for extra crispiness
  • Set up a cooling rack over paper towels for better air circulation while draining

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