Description
Homemade Sopapillas are light, airy, and crispy fried pastries with a golden exterior and a soft, pillowy inside. This traditional recipe involves a simple dough made from flour, baking powder, salt, shortening, and warm water, which is rolled, cut into squares, and deep-fried until puffed and golden. Serve them warm drizzled with honey for a sweet and satisfying treat perfect for breakfast, dessert, or whenever a craving strikes.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup shortening
- 1 ½ cups warm water
For Frying
- Oil for frying (4-6 cups, about 2-3 inches deep)
For Serving
- Honey (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Mix Dough: Add the shortening and warm water to the dry ingredients. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix the dough until it comes together. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature for 20 minutes to hydrate and relax.
- Cut Dough: Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into approximately 3-inch squares. Precision is not required; rustic shapes work well.
- Heat Oil: Pour 1 ½ inches of oil into a Dutch oven or deep heavy pot and heat it to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain the fried sopapillas.
- Fry Sopapillas: Once the oil reaches temperature, carefully fry the sopapilla squares in small batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown and puffed up. Use a slotted spoon to remove them and transfer to the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain excess oil.
- Repeat Frying: Continue frying the remaining dough squares in batches until all are cooked.
- Serve Warm: Serve the sopapillas warm with a drizzle of honey for a deliciously sweet finish.
Notes
- Ensure the oil temperature stays steady at 375°F to achieve crispy, puffed sopapillas.
- Do not overcrowd the pot while frying; this drops the oil temperature and causes sogginess.
- The dough can be kept covered for up to 30 minutes if you want to prepare it in advance.
- Shortening can be substituted with unsalted butter for a richer flavor, though the texture may slightly vary.
- Sopapillas are best enjoyed fresh and warm for the ideal crispness and softness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Latin American
Keywords: sopapillas, homemade sopapillas, fried pastries, dessert, latin american dessert, honey sopapillas, fried dough
