Bugnes (Lyonnaise Beignets)

Tammy Smith

Bugnes are fried French pastries from the Lyon region, traditionally made around Mardi Gras and dusted generously with powdered sugar. The dough is enriched with butter and eggs and flavored with citrus zest, then rolled thin and fried until pale golden and crisp. A batch takes about 1 hour from mixing the dough to frying the last piece.

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Prep Time 1 30

Cook Time 15

Total Time 1 45

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings servings

Calories 1536 kcal

Equipment

Mixing Bowl
Rolling pin
Frying pan or deep fryer
Slotted spoon
Paper towels

Ingredients

For the Bugnes Dough:

2 cups all-purpose flour preferably organic
¼ cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs preferably free-range
½ cup unsalted butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 medium zest of a lemon preferably organic
1 pinch salt

For Frying:

2 cups vegetable oil for frying

For topping:

¼ cup powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt.
Add in the softened butter and eggs. Mix until a uniform, smooth dough forms.
Incorporate the vanilla extract and lemon zest, kneading briefly to distribute.
Cover the dough with a clean cloth and let it rest for about 1 hour in a cool place, allowing it to firm slightly.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a 1/4 inch thickness.
Cut the dough into diamond shapes, roughly 2 inches long, using a knife or pastry wheel.
Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan to 350°F (175°C).
Fry the dough pieces in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan, until they turn golden brown, around 1-2 minutes per side.
Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
Dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

Tammy’s Tips:

For an extra citrus kick, add orange zest along with the lemon zest.
If you prefer a softer texture, fold a little whipped cream into the dough before rolling it out.
For a deeper flavor, try using a mix of half milk and half dark chocolate chips scattered on top before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 1536kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 12gFat: 136gSaturated Fat: 32gPolyunsaturated Fat: 64gMonounsaturated Fat: 32gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 68mgPotassium: 165mgFiber: 2gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 918IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 4mg

Keyword Bugnes, Lyonnaise Beignets

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