Description
This Homemade Sopapillas recipe delivers light, fluffy, and golden fried pastries perfect for drizzling with honey. Made from a simple dough of flour, baking powder, shortening, and warm water, these sopapillas fry quickly to puff up beautifully. Ideal as a sweet treat or dessert, they are crispy on the outside and tender inside, offering a delicious taste of traditional Latin American cuisine.
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 and Serving
- 4-6 cups oil (enough for 2-3 inches depth in pot, for frying)
- Honey, for serving
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
- Add wet ingredients and rest dough: Incorporate the shortening and warm water into the flour mixture using a spatula or wooden spoon. Once combined, cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature for 20 minutes to hydrate fully.
- Roll and cut dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the rested dough into a rectangle approximately ¼ inch thick. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the dough into 3-inch squares. Precision isn’t critical; rustic shapes are perfectly fine.
- Heat oil: Pour 1 ½ inches of oil into a Dutch oven or heavy pot and heat it to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain excess oil after frying.
- Fry sopapillas: Carefully place a few dough squares at a time into the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding to maintain oil temperature. Fry each piece for 1-2 minutes per side or until they puff up and turn golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove them and place on the paper towel-lined baking sheet.
- Repeat frying: Continue frying the remaining dough squares in batches, maintaining the oil temperature by not overcrowding the pot until all sopapillas are cooked.
- Serve warm: Serve the warm sopapillas with a generous drizzle of honey for a sweet, crispy treat.
Notes
- Ensure oil temperature remains at 375°F to achieve the perfect puff and avoid greasy sopapillas.
- Use a thermometer to monitor the oil temperature accurately.
- Shortening can be substituted with vegetable shortening or solid coconut oil if desired.
- Serve immediately after frying for the best texture; sopapillas tend to soften as they cool.
- For a savory version, skip the honey and serve with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar instead.
