Can I use my air fryer instead of deep-frying the beignets?

Name: Beignets
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 9
Ingredients: Vegetable oil for deep frying; 1 can (13.8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Classic Crust Pizza Crust; Powdered sugar

No, we wouldn’t recommend air frying as the beignets won’t form properly. The oil flash-fries the dough, cooking it much faster and making it puff up.

Beignets

Prep time:10 min
Total time:20 min
Ingredients:3
Servings:9
Calories per serving:180

By Created by Joanna(Opens in a new tab)Updated 12/03/2025

Beignets

Prep time:10 min
Total time:20 min
Ingredients:3
Servings:9
Calories per serving:180

Beignets (pronounced “ben-yays”) are pillowy-soft pieces of fried pastry dough covered in powdered sugar. The official state doughnut of Louisiana, this sweet pastry was introduced there by French settlers who migrated from Canada. Today, beignets are one of the most famous foods to try in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where locals and visitors line up year-round to try this French-inspired, perfectly-fried treat.

Instead of booking a trip to New Orleans, you can enjoy homemade beignets in just 20 minutes with this easy recipe. Traditional beignets require lots of flour, active yeast, shortening, and a handful of other ingredients, but this no-fail shortcut version comes together using Pillsbury™ Classic Crust Pizza Crust and two other simple ingredients.

Start with this basic beignet recipe, then get creative and try our easy Biscuit Beignets or Espresso Hazelnut Beignets next! Plus, we’ve got easy dessert shortcuts for just about every other sweet treat out there, too.

Recipe Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to pull off these quick, café-style beignets.

Pillsbury™ Classic Crust Pizza Crust: The ultimate shortcut dough, giving you soft, fluffy texture without proofing or kneading. It holds its shape well and bakes up similar to the texture of a raised donut.

Vegetable Oil: You can use any oil you have on hand with a high smoke point, like canola oil. Refined avocado oil would also work but may be expensive. We wouldn’t recommend using olive oil for this recipe because of its lower smoke point.

Powdered Sugar: A dusting of this sugar gives the perfect sweet finish and is a must for authentic beignet flavor! If you want to coat your cooked beignets with even more powdered sugar, you could put about a cup of the sugar in a small paper bag, add a few pieces of warm cooked dough at a time, fold the bag shut, and shake to coat.

How to Make Beignets

With just a few easy steps, you’ll have warm beignets ready to enjoy. Here’s a quick overview. Look for the full recipe instructions below!

1. Heat the Oil

On the stovetop in a deep fryer or heavy pot, warm the oil to 350°F. Hot oil ensures light, crisp beignets. Make sure your pot has tall sides for safety so the oil doesn’t splash out.

2. Prep the Dough

Roll the pizza crust into a ball, flatten into a rectangle, and cut into even squares for uniform frying.

3. Fry Until Golden

Use tongs to carefully submerge each piece halfway and hold in the oil for a second. This allows the dough to puff up and float—otherwise, it might drop to the bottom and stick to the pot. Cook a few at a time, turning once, until each beignet is deep golden brown on both sides. Heads up, once you get a few cooking in the oil, you may need to increase the heat a little, as the cool dough brings down the temperature of the oil. If the temp gets too low, the beignets will soak up too much oil and be too greasy.

4. Drain, Dust, and Devour

Remove the beignets to paper towels to soak up any extra oil, then dust generously with powdered sugar while still warm. Enjoy!

How to Store (and Reheat) Beignets

These pastries are best enjoyed the same day, but you can revive them in a warm oven for a few minutes to bring back that fresh-from-the-fryer magic.

Room Temperature Storage

Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days.

Refrigerator Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezer Storage

We don’t recommend storing leftover beignets in the freezer, because the texture and powdered-sugar dusting won’t be as good after thawing.

Reheating

Reheat in a 325°F oven for 2 to 3 minutes or in the microwave on High in 20-second increments until warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beignets

Prep time:10 min
Total time:20 min
Ingredients:3
Servings:9
Calories per serving:180

Ingredient

Vegetable oil for deep frying
1 can (13.8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Classic Crust Pizza Crust
Powdered sugar

Instructions

Step 1
In deep-fat fryer or heavy saucepan, heat 2 inches oil to 350°F.

Step 2
Line a plate with paper towels; set aside.

Step 3
On lightly floured work surface, roll crust dough into a ball and pat into 8x6-inch rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick.

Step 4
Cut into 9 equal pieces using pizza cutter or knife.

Step 5
Fry 2 or 3 pieces of dough at a time in hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, carefully turning with slotted spoon, until deep golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels.

Step 6
Sprinkle tops with powdered sugar and serve warm.

Recipe Tips

Make ‘em mini! Cut dough into smaller pieces for bite-size beignets.
Always wear an apron and long sleeves when working with hot oil, and use oven mitts while turning and removing dough to protect your hands.
Be careful when deep-frying at home, especially if you’re using a gas cooktop with an open flame. It’s safer to deep-fry on an electric or induction cooktop, where there’s no danger of hot oil spilling on the fire. Use a deep pan for safety so the oil doesn’t splash out, and make sure to use long tongs to handle the beignets.
Instead of powdered sugar, you could try cinnamon sugar or add apple pie spice or pumpkin spice for a seasonal twist. Another tasty option: drizzle your beignets with chocolate or serve them with syrup or whipped cream.

Nutrition Facts

Calories
180
Total Fat
8g
Protein
3g
Total Carbohydrate
24g
Sugars
6g

Servings: 9

Serving Size: 1 Beignet

Amount Per Serving Calories : 180

Nutrition Facts
Food Component / Nutrient	Amount	% , Daily Value*
Total Fat	8g	13%
Saturated Fat	1&½g	7%
Trans Fat	0g	% Value Not Available
Monounsaturated Fat	1&½g	% Value Not Available
Polyunsaturated Fat	4g	% Value Not Available
Omega-3	0g	% Value Not Available
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Sodium	250mg	11%
Total Carbohydrate	24g	8%
Dietary Fiber	0g	0%
Soluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Insoluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Sugars	6g	% Value Not Available
Protein	3g	% Value Not Available
Vitamin D	Value Not Available	0%
Calcium	Value Not Available	0%
Iron	Value Not Available	6%
Potassium	0mg	0%
Vitamin A	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin C	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin E	Value Not Available	2%
Thiamin	Value Not Available	0%
Riboflavin	Value Not Available	0%
Niacin	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin B6	Value Not Available	0%
Folic Acid	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin B12	Value Not Available	0%
Pantothenic Acid	Value Not Available	0%
Phosphorus	Value Not Available	0%
Magnesium	Value Not Available	0%
Zinc	Value Not Available	0%
Manganese	Value Not Available	0%
Selenium	Value Not Available	4%
Copper	Value Not Available	0%
Beta-Carotene	Value Not Available	% Value Not Available
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Exchanges

Starch 1,
Fruit 0,
Other Carbohydrate ½,
Skim Milk 0,
Low-Fat Milk 0,
Milk 0,
Vegetable 0,
Very Lean Meat 0,
Lean Meat 0,
Medium-Fat Meat 0,
High-Fat Meat 0,
Fat 1&½,
Fruits 0c,
Vegetables 0c,
Grains 0oz-eq,
Meat & Beans 0oz-eq,
Dairy 0c,
Fats & Oils 2tsp

Carbohydrate Choice

Carbohydrate Choice1&½

Loading component...

Try These Next

Loading component...