Buttermilk Beer Beignets

Step 1

Combine flour, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.

Step 2

Pour in buttermilk, then pour in beer. Gently fold in with a baking spatula. DO NOT WHISK. A whisk will introduce too much air into the dough, which will make the beignets too tough.

Step 3

The temperature of the batter is important! Refrigerate 30 minutes before frying. The beignet will come out more airy and less dense if the batter is, as Foreigner reminds us, “cold as ice."

Step 4

When the beignets are ready to fry, bring a pot of oil up to 350°F over medium-high heat. Scoop up the dough with an ice cream scoop, drop in the pot of oil, and fry for about 4 1/2 to 5 minutes, constantly turning until the dough is a light golden brown.

Step 5

To sure the beignets are cooked through, stick them with a long skewer. The skewer should be clean when you remove it. If it’s not, continue to fry.

Step 6

Remove and shake off excess oil, then set aside.