Sopaipillas

Every culture has a version of dessert bread. There are American donuts, New Orleans beignets, Polish Krullers, Indian fry bread, etc. The Mexican version of dessert bread is sopaipillas, usually served at the end of a meal with honey. Sopapillas have an awkward place in a dinner, because they are not really part of the meal and they are not really a dessert, they are something you serve to complete the dinner that could also be dessert if you were too lazy to make a tri leche cake.

Making sopaipillas is very similar to making beignets, the only difference if a few ingredients changes and how you treat the dough prior to deep frying. This makes a great addition to a Street Taco dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 TBL shortening
  • 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon warm water
  • Oil for deep frying – enough to fill a pot or fryer
  • For serving: Powdered sugar and honey or cinnamon sugar

Process

  1. Mise en Place – measure and prepare your ingredients prior to starting.
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Add the shortening and cut it in with forks or a pastry blender.
  3. Gradually stir in water until the mixture forms a dough. Knead the dough in the bowl for a few minutes until smooth.
    1. If you use a stand mixer, use a dough hook at speed 1 for two minutes to mix
    2. Run at speed 4 for four minutes to knead
  4. Cover the bowl with film and allow to rest for 20 minutes.
  5. While dough is rising, heat oil to 350 degree F.
  6. Roll the dough into a square about 1/8-inch thick. Cut three strips vertically and horizontally to make 9 pieces.
  7. Once the oil reaches temperature, lay squares of dough very carefully onto the hot oil. The dough will sink to the bottom and then begin to float to the top of the oil as it puffs up creating a hollow center.
    1. Once it floats to the top, lightly drizzle hot oil over the top of it as it cooks, which will help it to puff.
    2. Cook ~30 seconds and then flip to the other side and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
    3. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
  8. Serve as is or optionally dusted with powdered sugar or a sprinkle cinnamon sugar.
    1. Usually served plain with guest squirting honey into the hollow center.
  9. Store leftovers at room temperature for 1-2 days, microwaving a few seconds prior to eating.
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