Air Fryer Beignets

Jump to Recipe

Air fryer beignets are simple to make so that you can enjoy the sweet taste synonymous with New Orleans at home in your very own kitchen.  These fluffy beignets in air fryer are crispy, fluffy and coated with melted butter and powdered sugar. 

Post includes Weight Watchers points.

the completed air fryer beignets recipe

Beignets are a beloved café pastry. Beignets are typically deep fried, which makes them an occasional sweet treat indulgence for many of us. But good news, beignet fans: I have discovered Air Fryer Beignets

Making homemade beignets in air fryer is not only easy, but they come out perfectly in the air fryer.

*****Please click here to grab the Beginners easy air fryer recipes ebook!!!*****

No more hassle of heating oil and dealing with the mess of splattered grease. Thanks to this recipe, air fryer beignets are not only simple to make, but they also taste so good you will swear they were fried. 

Love the thought of making healthier versions of decadent fried treats like these air fryer beignets?

Then check out this recipe for easy Air Fryer Donuts, these perfect-for-all year round Air Fryer Apple Pie and you’ll definitely want to try these Air Fryer Fried Oreos.

You might also like this perfect Air Fryer Churros and easy Air Fryer Pineapple.

a plate of air fryer beignets ready to be served

Why Make This Recipe

  • Authentic Flavor – Air fryer beignets have that authentic flavor you’d find in New Orleans French Quarter, and you’ll find it hard to believe they weren’t deep fried. 
  • A Healthier Option – Who doesn’t love delectable pastries? Air frying beignets let you enjoy the same flavor and texture without all the oil that comes with deep fryer beignets.  
  • An Easy Breakfast – Let the dough rise overnight in the fridge, then enjoy the delicious air fried pastry in about 8 minutes. 

Air Fryer Beignets Ingredients Notes

  • Milk – Whole milk will create a silkier dough, but you can use 2-percent or skim milk or substitute plant-based milk. Non-dairy milk may slightly alter the taste of the beignets. 
  • Active Dry Yeast – You can use one packet of yeast or use 2 ¼ teaspoons of yeast from a larger container. 
  • Eggs – Bring the eggs to room temperature. 
  • Butter – Use unsalted butter to control the dishes’ saltiness. 
  • Sugar – We used regular white sugar, but you can substitute any granulated sugar.  
  • Flour – All-purpose flour works best in this recipe.  
  • Salt and Vanilla Extract – These enhance the flavor of the other ingredient.
  • Powdered Sugar  – Lightly dust with powdered sugar for the classic finish and sweet flavor. 
the ingredients needed for making air fryer beignets

Ready to make air fryer beignets? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Air Fryer Beignets

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. To make the dough, begin by combining yeast, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, and the milk in the bowl of a stand mixer. Set aside for at least 5 minutes. 
  2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small bowl and combine well with the eggs and the vanilla 
  3. Add the rest of the granulated sugar, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. 
  4. Beat on low speed for about 1 minute until just incorporated, then drizzle in the egg and butter mixture.
  5. Continue beating on medium speed for about 4 minutes until an elastic and smooth dough forms.
  6. Form the dough into a ball and place it into a large bowl that has been lightly greased. Cover and let the dough rise for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
  7. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C. 
  8. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it to a quarter-inch thickness. 
  9. Cut the dough with a round cookie cutter. You can also slice into rectangles using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. 
  10. Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray and add the beignets to the air fryer. Leave space between the beignets and coat them with cooking spray. 
  11. Air fry the beignets for 4 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until golden brown.
  12. Place the beignets on a cooling rack. Brush the warm pastries with melted butter, then dust with powdered sugar. 
image collage showing the steps for making air fryer beignets

Pro Tips

  • If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can mix with a wooden spoon and knead the dough by hand. 
  • Let the dough rest a minimum of one hour to rise properly, but this could take longer depending on local weather and elevation. 
  • Cut with a cookie cutter or use a pizza cutter to cut more traditional rectangle shapes. 
  • Don’t let the pieces of dough touch in the air fryer.
  • Brush the cooked air fryer beignets with melted butter so they come out golden brown and to help the powdered sugar stick. 
  • Cook the air fryer beignets in batches if needed. 
  • Cover the dough with plastic wrap between batches to keep it from drying out. 
  • Don’t stack the beignets, or they can become soggy. 
  • When cooking in batches, keep air fryer beignets warm by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet and putting in the oven on low while you air fry the rest.
  • Allow air fryer beignets to cool down before topping with powdered sugar.
close up view of the completed air fryer beignets

Delicious Variations

  • Dip Them – Air fryer beignets were made to be dipped and dunked! Dip them in melted chocolate, caramel sauce, Greek yogurt, or a hot cup of coffee. 
  • Cinnamon Sugar – Instead of powdered sugar, lightly coat the beignets with a cinnamon and sugar mixture. 
  • Fill Them – Pipe filling such as Nutella or jam into the center of the beignets before coating with powdered sugar. 

Prep And Storage

  • Prep Ahead – The dough needs a minimum of 1 hour to rise. 
  • Store – Do yourself a favor and eat these the day you make them. If you must, store them in an airtight container on the counter for an extra day or two, but they won’t be as good. 
  • Freeze – While you can freeze air fried beignets, the results aren’t great, so we don’t recommend it. You can freeze uncooked beignets. Here’s how:
    • Cut the beignets and place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment to flash freeze.
    • Transfer the frozen beignets to an airtight freezer-safe bag or container, and store in the freezer for up to three months.
    • When you’re ready, remove them from the freezer and place the frozen beignets in the air fryer.
    • Add a few minutes to the cooking time, then remove, top with confectioners sugar, and serve.
the completed air fryer beignets on a white platter next to a cup of coffee

FAQs

Can I Make Beignets In Advance?

If you want to make air fryer beignets for breakfast, you probably don’t want to get up an hour or so early to make the dough.

Fortunately, you can make the dough the night before and let it rise in the fridge. Then, roll and cut the beignets in the morning and air fry just before serving.

You can also freeze the shaped uncooked beignets for up to three months and then place the frozen dough straight into the air fryer when you’re ready to cook. Just make sure to add a few minutes to the cooking time. 

Are Traditional Beignets Cajun or French?

Traditional beignets originate in France and were first introduced in Louisiana in the 18th century. French Canadians who settled in Louisiana (known as Cajuns) brought the recipe with them, and Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans made the recipe famous.

What Do Beignets Taste Like?

Beignets taste very similar to a donut and have a light, fluffy texture that’s crispy on the outside with a powdered sugar coating.

side view of the finished air fryer beignets on a serving plate

More Recipes You May Like

Love beignets? Then try some of these sweet treat recipes;

Serving Suggestions

air fryer cheat sheet printable

Weight Watchers Points

There are 8 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

top down view of the completed air fryer beignets

Thank you for reading my Air Fryer Beignets recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. 

Get The Air Fryer Beignets Recipe:

Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Air Fryer Beignets! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.

the completed air fryer beignets recipe
Print Recipe
4.80 from 15 votes

Air Fryer Beignets

A healthier version of deep fried New Orleans style beignets.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Rising Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 23 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American, French
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 10 beignets
Calories: 225kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 package (8g) active dry yeast
  • 2 large eggs
  • 6 tablespoons (85g) butter
  • 6 tablespoons (75g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ½ cups (500g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (64g) powdered sugar

Instructions

  • To make the dough, begin by combining yeast, 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, and the milk in the bowl of a stand mixer. Set aside for at least 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small bowl and combine well with the eggs and the vanilla
  • Add the rest of the granulated sugar, the flour, and salt to the yeast mixture.
  • Beat on low speed for about 1 minute until just incorporated then drizzle in the egg and butter mixture.
  • Continue beating on medium speed for about 4 minutes until an elastic and smooth dough forms.
  • Form the dough into a ball and place it into a large bowl that has been lightly greased. Cover and let the dough rise for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
  • Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it to a quarter-inch thick.
  • Cut the dough with a round cookie cutter. You can also slice into rectangles using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
  • Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray and add the beignets to the air fryer. Leave space between the beignets and coat them with melted butter or canola spray.
  • Air fry the beignets for 4 minutes, turn and cook for an additional 4 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Place the beignets on a cooling rack. Brush the warm pastries with more melted butter, then dust with powdered sugar.
**EASY AIR FRYER RECIPE EBOOK**Get the easy Air Fryer Recipe Binder which includes 40 quick and easy recipes all under 30 minutes cook time.
** INSTANT POT DUMP AND DASH RECIPE EBOOK**Get the Instant Pot Dump And Dash Recipes Ebook with easy recipes for busy lives.

Video

Notes

  • If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can mix with a wooden spoon and knead the dough by hand. 
  • Let the dough rest a minimum of 1 hour to rise properly, but this could take longer depending on local weather and elevation. 
  • Cut with a cookie cutter or use a pizza cutter to cut more traditional rectangle shapes. 
  • Don’t let the pieces of dough touch the air fryer. 
  • Brush the tops with melted butter. 
  • Cook air fryer beignets in batches if needed. 
  • Cover the dough with plastic wrap between batches to keep it from drying out. 
  • Don’t stack the beignets, or they can become soggy. 
  • To keep warm, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet in a low oven while you cook the beignets air fryer in batches.
  • There are 8 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Nutrition

Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 189mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 278IU | Vitamin C: 0.002mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. 2 stars
    Definitely not enough liquid in the dough. The dough was extremely stiff – even after I Added a couple tablespoons of water. The taste was okay.

    1. Looked at the recipe and figured out the problem – the weight listed for the flour is wrong. 2.5 cups of flour should only be 300g, not 500g.