Description
Enjoy a delightful homemade treat with this easy Sopapillas recipe. These golden, puffy fried pastries, lightly dusted with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with honey, make for a perfect sweet snack or dessert that’s crispy on the outside and soft inside.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp shortening
- ¾ cups hot water
Frying and Finishing
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
- ¼ cup confectioners sugar (for dusting)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for dusting)
- 4 tbsp honey (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the shortening and use your hands to thoroughly integrate it with the flour mixture until crumbly.
- Add Hot Water: Gradually pour the hot water into the bowl, mixing with your fingers to combine the dry ingredients and water until a dough forms.
- Knead Dough: On a clean surface, knead the dough for 4-5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Shape the dough into a ball and return it to the bowl.
- Rest Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen napkin and let the dough rest for at least 20 minutes. This resting period helps the gluten develop for easier rolling and shaping.
- Prepare Dough Pieces: After resting, lightly knead the dough again and form it into a ball. Flatten it slightly and cut into 4 equal pieces using a knife.
- Heat Oil: Pour vegetable oil into a large pot and heat over medium-low until it reaches approximately 350ºF, suitable for frying.
- Roll Dough Discs: Roll each dough piece into a ball. Working one at a time, roll out into a 6-inch diameter disc about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Cut each disc into four triangular pieces.
- Fry Sopapillas: Carefully place the dough triangles into the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding. The sopapillas will puff up quickly. Fry until the bottoms turn medium golden, then flip and cook until the other side is light brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes total.
- Drain Excess Oil: Remove the sopapillas from the oil with a slotted spatula and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Repeat the frying process with remaining dough.
- Finish and Serve: Dust the cooked sopapillas with confectioners sugar and cinnamon, then drizzle with honey before serving for a sweet, flavorful finish.
Notes
- Ensure the oil temperature remains consistent around 350ºF to get perfectly puffed and crispy sopapillas.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pot as it lowers oil temperature and affects puffing and crispiness.
- Resting the dough is essential for gluten development and easier handling.
- For a variation, drizzle piloncillo syrup instead of honey for a traditional flavor.
- Sopapillas are best enjoyed fresh and warm for optimal crispiness and taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 sopapillas
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Sopapillas, Mexican dessert, fried pastries, honey drizzled, cinnamon sugar, homemade sopapillas
