Mardi Gras Fried Dough (Printable)

Golden fried dough treats coated in cinnamon sugar for a festive indulgence.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1/2 cup whole milk
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ For Frying

09 - 3 cups vegetable oil (for deep frying)

→ Cinnamon Sugar Coating

10 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
11 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl until evenly combined.
02 - Beat eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until smooth and fully incorporated.
03 - Gradually pour wet ingredients into dry mixture, stirring continuously until a soft, pliable dough forms.
04 - Turn dough onto lightly floured surface, knead gently for 1 minute, then roll to 1/4-inch thickness.
05 - Cut rolled dough into 2x3-inch rectangles or any desired shape using a sharp knife or pastry cutter.
06 - Pour vegetable oil into deep pot and heat to 350°F, monitoring temperature with a kitchen thermometer.
07 - Fry dough pieces in small batches for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown and puffed, maintaining oil temperature.
08 - Remove fried pieces with slotted spoon and transfer to paper towel-lined tray to drain excess oil.
09 - Toss warm fried dough thoroughly in cinnamon sugar mixture until evenly coated on all sides.
10 - Serve immediately while warm for optimal texture and flavor, accompanied by hot chocolate or coffee if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent all day making something special
  • That perfect crunch outside meeting pillowy soft inside never gets old, no matter how many you eat
02 -
  • Oil temperature matters more than you think, too cool and they soak up grease, too hot and they burn outside while raw inside
  • The cinnamon sugar only sticks properly while the dough is still warm, so do not wait until they cool completely
03 -
  • A small pinch of nutmeg in the dough adds depth that makes people wonder what your secret is
  • Let the fried pieces drain on a wire rack over paper towels to keep both sides crispy

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