Sopapillas

Name: Sopapillas
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 2/3 cup warm water; 4 cups vegetable oil (for frying); 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 cup honey; 2 tbsp butter

Light, crispy fried pastry pillows dusted with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with honey. A beloved Mexican dessert that's sweet and indulgent.

35 minMediumServes 4320 cal/serving

Mexican-AmericanDessertStovetopVegetarian

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Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup warm water
4 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup honey
2 tbsp butter

Instructions

1

Whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt in a large bowl.
2

Gradually add 2/3 cup warm water, mixing with your hands until a soft dough forms. Knead for 2-3 minutes until smooth.
3

Cover dough with a damp towel and let rest for 15 minutes.
4

Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a thin square or rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick.
5

Heat 4 cups vegetable oil (for frying) in a deep skillet to 375°F. Carefully fry each sopapilla for 1-2 minutes per side until puffed and golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
6

Mix 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon in a shallow bowl. While warm, toss sopapillas in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
7

Warm 1/2 cup honey with 2 tbsp butter and drizzle over sopapillas before serving.

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Questions

How long does Sopapillas take?

As written, 35 minutes: 20 of prep and 15 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 3 (15 minutes): "Cover dough with a damp towel and let rest for 15 minutes."

How hot should the oil be for Sopapillas?

For Sopapillas, the frying oil is held at 375 F (about 190 C) in step 5. Hotter scorches the outside before the inside cooks, and cooler turns it greasy.

How do I know when Sopapillas is done?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 5: cook until puffed and golden brown.

Can I make Sopapillas dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Sopapillas is 2 tbsp butter. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Sopapillas gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Sopapillas is 2 cups all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Can I freeze Sopapillas?

It is not a good candidate. Fried dough is at its best within the hour. Leftover Sopapillas keeps a day at room temperature, loosely covered; a few minutes in a 350 F oven or an air fryer brings back some of the crispness. The refrigerator only makes it tough.

Serve it with

Cinnamon Horchata Latte drink
Vietnamese Coconut Coffee Smoothie drink
Michelada drink

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