Sopapillas

Sopapillas, a beloved treat in many Hispanic cultures, offer a delightful combination of crispy exteriors and fluffy interiors, all complemented by a touch of sweetness. This recipe invites you to create these iconic pastries at home, where the aroma of freshly fried dough will fill your kitchen with warmth and comfort.

With just a handful of simple ingredients and a few easy steps, you can indulge in the joy of homemade sopapillas, perfect for sharing with family and friends or savoring as a special treat for yourself.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

People will love this recipe for Sopapillas because it offers a taste of warm, homemade comfort. These golden-brown pillows of fried dough are light, airy, and irresistibly delicious. The dough is infused with just a hint of sweetness from honey, giving each bite a delightful flavor.

With a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior, Sopapillas are the perfect treat to enjoy on a cozy evening or as a special dessert for any occasion.

Plus, they are incredibly versatile and can be served with a variety of toppings, but drizzling them with honey adds an extra touch of indulgence that makes them truly irresistible. Whether enjoyed on their own or paired with your favorite dipping sauce, Sopapillas are sure to bring joy to anyone who tastes them.

Key Ingredients:

All-purpose flour: Provides the base for the dough, giving it structure and texture.

Vegetable shortening: Adds richness and helps create a tender and flaky pastry.

Baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent, contributing to the puffiness of the sopapillas.

Honey: Adds sweetness and flavor to the dough, enhancing its taste.

Warm water: Binds the ingredients together to form a smooth dough.

Vegetable oil: Used for frying the sopapillas, giving them a crispy exterior and fluffy interior.

Additional honey: Served as a topping to drizzle over the warm sopapillas, adding extra sweetness and indulgence.

How to make Sopapillas

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting (480g)

¼ cup vegetable shortening (51g)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon honey plus additional to serve

½ teaspoon salt

1½ cups warm water (105-110F) (360mL)

Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, shortening, baking powder, honey, and salt until combined.

Stir in the warm water until fully combined and smooth. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12×18-inch rectangle (about 1/4-inch thickness). Cut into 3-inch squares.

In a large Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 1 1/2-inches. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375F.

Line a baking sheet with paper towels.

Working in batches, carefully add dough squares to the oil. (Don’t overcrowd the pot.) Fry, turning as needed, until golden brown on both sides and puffed for about 1 to 2 minutes. (If your dough isn’t puffing in the oil, gently tap them with your strainer to quickly submerge them in the hot oil.

This should encourage them to puff.) Let drain on the paper towels. Serve warm, drizzled with honey.

Notes:

Preparation Time: The dough requires 20 minutes to rest at room temperature after mixing, allowing the flavors to meld and the gluten to relax, resulting in a more tender texture.

Dough Consistency: Ensure the dough is smooth and well-combined before letting it rest. This will help achieve a uniform texture in the sopapillas.

Rolling Out the Dough: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking. Aim for a thickness of about 1/4 inch and cut it into 3-inch squares for frying.

Frying Temperature: Maintain the oil temperature at 375°F (190°C) for optimal frying. This ensures that the sopapillas cook evenly and develop a golden-brown color without becoming greasy.

Frying in Batches: Avoid overcrowding the pot when frying the sopapillas to ensure they cook evenly and puff up properly. Frying in batches allows for better control over the cooking process.

Draining Excess Oil: Place the fried sopapillas on paper towels after frying to absorb any excess oil, ensuring they remain crispy and light.

Serving Suggestions: Serve the sopapillas warm and freshly fried, drizzled with honey for a delightful sweet touch. They are best enjoyed immediately after frying for the ultimate freshness and flavor.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1 sopapilla

Calories: 110 kcal | Total Fat: 4 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 80 mg | Total Carbohydrates: 17 g | Dietary Fiber: 1 g | Sugars: 1 g | Protein: 2 g

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different type of flour in this recipe?

Yes, you can experiment with different flours, such as whole wheat flour or a mix of flours, but keep in mind that it might affect the texture and taste of the sopapillas.

All-purpose flour is traditionally used for its versatility and ability to create a light and crispy result.

Can I use butter instead of vegetable shortening?

You can use butter as a substitute for vegetable shortening, but it might alter the texture and flavor slightly.

Shortening tends to create a flakier result, while butter adds a rich flavor. The choice depends on your preference.

What’s the purpose of letting the dough stand for 20 minutes?

Letting the dough rest allows the gluten to relax, making it easier to roll out and resulting in softer sopapillas.

It also gives the flour time to fully absorb the liquid, leading to a smoother and more cohesive dough.

Can I bake these instead of frying?

Traditionally, sopapillas are fried to achieve their characteristic crispy and puffed texture. Baking them might result in a different texture and flavor.

However, you could try baking them at a high temperature (around 400°F or 200°C) on a parchment-lined baking sheet for a lighter version.

What’s the best way to store leftover sopapillas?

Sopapillas are best enjoyed fresh and warm, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two.

Reheat them in an oven or toaster oven for a few minutes to restore some of their crispiness before serving.

Can I make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight?

While the dough is best prepared fresh, you can refrigerate it for a short time, like a few hours, before rolling and frying.

If left overnight, the dough might change in texture and not puff as well during frying.

What’s the ideal oil temperature for frying sopapillas?

The oil should be heated to around 375°F (190°C) for frying sopapillas.

Use a deep-fry thermometer to monitor the temperature and ensure that the sopapillas cook evenly and puff up properly.

Can I use a different sweetener instead of honey?

Yes, you can substitute honey with other sweeteners like maple syrup or agave nectar.

Keep in mind that it might slightly alter the flavor of the sopapillas.

Is there a gluten-free version of this recipe?

Creating a gluten-free version of sopapillas can be a bit challenging due to the nature of the dough.

You might need to experiment with gluten-free flours and binders to achieve a similar texture and taste.

Can I use a different method for cooking the sopapillas besides frying?

Frying is the traditional method for making sopapillas, but you can experiment with baking them at a high temperature for a healthier option.

However, baking might not yield the same crispy and puffed results as frying.