When it comes to光明节, most folks don’t think about beignets. But in our home these frieddonutsare a holiday tradition, and we love to fill them withNutella.
Our first experience with these sweet, often square-shaped donuts was during our honeymoon in New Orleans. We spent many an evening sitting outside theCafé Du Monde, people-watching while eating beignets and drinking café au lait. When we returned home we decided to make our own beignets for光明节. After all, beignets are fried and Jews eat fried food on Hanukkah. It was a perfect match.
That was in our pre-toddler days and having a little one to share this tradition with makes it even more special. Our almost-2-year-old loves working with dough and especially covering finished beignets in confectioners sugar.
How Kids Can Help:
Though there are parts of this recipe that are adults-only, kids can definitely help. Here’s how:
They can add ingredients to the mixing bowl (set everything out beforehand so you don’t have to search for ingredients).
They can knead the dough. You’ll have to do most of the work but the pressing and folding motions of kneading are fascinating for toddlers.
They can scoop nutella onto the cut squares of dough.
Older children can fold the dough over the nutella, brush water along the edges with their fingers, and press the dough together with the tines of a fork.
They can sprinkle confectioners sugar on the beignets after the grown-ups have finished frying them.
You’ll Need:
1 ¾ cups warm milk
1 tablespoon active-dry yeast
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
¼杯+ 1茶匙橄榄油
1 ½ teaspoons salt
2 cups bread flour
2 ½ to 3 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup Nutella
Vegetable oil for frying
Confectioners sugar for dusting
使大约18 - 20贝gnets
Make the Dough
1.In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer,combinethe warm (not hot) milk, yeast and sugar. Let this mixturestandfor a couple minutes.
2. Addthe vanilla extract, eggs, ¼ cup olive oil and salt andmixwell.Addthe bread flour and combine with a wooden spoon or with the paddle attachment of your mixer.Addthe remaining all-purpose flour ½ cup at a time until the dough starts to form a ball and pulls away from the sides of your bowl.
3. Turn the doughout onto a well-floured surface or switch to your dough hook.Kneadthe dough for 4-5 minutes, dusting with flour occasionally to prevent sticking, until you have a smooth, firm dough that bounces back when pressed with your thumb.
4.Greasea large bowl with the remaining 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Put your dough in the bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with saran wrap and allow the dough torisefor 1 hour.
5.In a large Dutch oven or heavy-duty pot,heat5 inches of vegetable oil to 345 – 350 degrees F. (Use a candy thermometer attached to the side of the pot to judge the temperature. Dutch ovens are best since they regulate the temperature better than regular pots.) Keep an eye on the temperature andadjustthe heat of your stove accordingly. You don’t want to temperature to rise above 350F or the beignets will burn. Likewise, you don’t want the temperature to drop below 345F or the beignets will not cook through.
Form the Beignets
6.While the oil is heatingroll outyour dough on a lightly floured surface until it is about 18 x 15 inches. With a pizza cutter or a sharp knife,cut the doughinto 3 x 5 inch rectangles.
7.Using a teaspoon measure,place一个球的nutella on one side of each rectangle. Center the nutella in the middle of that side.Wetyour fingers with a small amount of water, and then run them along one side of the rectangle.褶皱the dough over the nutella, pressing gently so that air doesn’t get trapped inside.Sealthe dough by pressing the edges together with the tines of a fork.
Fry the Beignets
8.When the oil reaches 345 – 350 degrees F,frythe beignets, two or three at a time. Fry until the underside is a deep golden brown, about 1 minute.Turn the dough overand fry until that side is golden brown. Keep an eye on the temperature andadjustthe heat as you go.
9.When finished删除the beignets from the oil with a slotted spoon and allow them todrainon a plate lined with paper towels.
10. Dustwith a generous amount of confectioners sugar andserveimmediately.
For more光明节treats, try out these traditionalsufganiyot(jelly donuts), non-traditionalcupcakes, and deliciouscookies.
