This recipe for Sopaipillas transforms simple pantry ingredients into a delightful treat. Crisp, golden pastries emerge from a buttery, airy dough, offering a wonderful contrast between a light, crispy exterior and a tender interior. A touch of powdered sugar or a drizzle of honey elevates their charm for any occasion.

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I always loved making my own sopaipillas at home because its so simple and wholesome. Using pantry staples like 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter means you can whip up something special any day.

I mix these with about 3/4 cup of warm water to create a dough that gets deep-fried in vegetable oil until its crispy and light. These treat is not only a delicious Mexican dessert recipe but it also delivers some quick nutrition through its carbs and fats so its perfect for an energy boost.

I eventually drizzle a bit of honey or dust with powdered sugar to enhance the flavor. Even though its similar to some New Mexico Sopapilla Recipe or Hispanic Food recipes, mine have a personal twist that calls back to some Mexican Bread Recipes Pan Dulce techniques.

Enjoy this recipe knowing its both nutritious and a delight to make.

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because it’s super simple and lets me make something delicious out of just a few ingredients I already have in my pantry. The whole process, from mixing in the butter to rolling out the dough, feel really satisfying and almost therapeutic when I’m stressed.

I also love that it gives me the freedom to play around with the toppings. I sometimes sprinkle powdered sugar and other times I drizzle honey, which makes every bite a little different and fun. It really makes it my own.

Another reason is how quick it is to whip up. Even though it’s fried, the dough doesn’t take too long to knead and the frying process is really fast. I like that I can enjoy a warm treat without spending all day in the kitchen.

Lastly, it reminds me of family gatherings and celebrations. The crispy, light texture and the sweet finish bring back memories of fun times and comfort food, making every bite feel extra special.

Ingredients

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All-purpose flour provides structure and carbohydrates; it’s essential for a hearty dough texture.
Baking powder helps the dough rise, resulting in fluffy, light sopaipillas.
Salt enhances flavor, balancing sweetness and boosting overall taste.
Unsalted butter adds richness and fat, creating a tender dough consistency.
Warm water melds ingredients together for a well-combined dough ready for frying.
Vegetable oil is used for deep frying, giving a crunchy and golden exterior.
Optional powdered sugar or honey adds a touch of sweet finishing flair.
The overall blend creates a crispy, tender treat beloved by home cooks everywhere.

Ingredient Quantities

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and diced

3/4 cup warm water (adjust as needed)

Vegetable oil for deep frying

Optional: Powdered sugar or a drizzle of honey for serving

How to Make this

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1. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

2. Add 2 tablespoons of cold, diced unsalted butter and mix it in with your fingers until it looks like coarse crumbs.

3. Slowly pour in 3/4 cup of warm water while stirring until a dough forms. You might need a bit more or less water depending on the flour.

4. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 2 minutes until it’s smooth then let it rest for 10 minutes.

5. Roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch thick then cut it into squares or triangles however you like.

6. Heat enough vegetable oil in a deep pan over medium heat until it reaches around 350°F.

7. Fry a few pieces at a time, turning them over once until they puff up and turn golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side.

8. Remove them with a slotted spoon and drain on some paper towels to get rid of any extra oil.

9. If you want, dust with powdered sugar or drizzle some honey over them while they’re still warm.

10. Serve immediately and enjoy these crispy, light, and delicious sopaipillas!

Equipment Needed

1. Large mixing bowl for whisking the dry ingredients together
2. Whisk to combine the flour, baking powder, and salt
3. Measuring cups and spoons for accurate measurements of all the ingredients
4. Knife for dicing the cold unsalted butter
5. Your fingers to mix the butter into the flour until it forms coarse crumbs
6. Rolling pin to roll out the dough evenly on a lightly floured surface
7. Cutting board or clean countertop to cut the dough into squares or triangles
8. Deep frying pan with enough vegetable oil for frying
9. Deep-fry thermometer to keep the oil at around 350°F
10. Slotted spoon to remove the fried pieces from the oil
11. Paper towels to drain off any extra oil after frying

FAQ

Q: Can i use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose?

A: You can, but the texture might be different. Whole wheat flour makes the dough a bit denser so you may need a tad more liquid.

Q: What temperature should the oil be for frying?

A: Ideally, you'll want the oil to be around 375°F. This helps the sopaipillas puff up and get crunchy on the outside without absorbing too much oil.

Q: My dough seems too sticky, what should i do?

A: If this happens, sprinkle in a little extra flour, a tablespoon at a time, until the dough becomes easier to handle.

Q: Can i store leftover dough?

A: Sure, you can chill it in the fridge for a day or two. Just cover it well with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.

Q: Should i serve my sopaipillas with anything special?

A: Most folks enjoy them dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled with a bit of honey, but you can also pair them with savory dips if you like.

The Perfect Sopaipillas Recipe For Home Cooks Substitutions and Variations

All-purpose flour: You can try using a gluten free all-purpose blend if you’re looking for a gluten free option but be careful cause it might change the texture a bit.
Baking powder: If you run out of that, mix 1/2 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar as a substitute. It works pretty well in most recipes.
Unsalted butter: You may substitute with an equal amount of margarine or even shortening. Some people even use vegan butter if you’re going dairy free.
Warm water: Instead of water, you might opt for warm milk for a richer flavor, though it might slightly modify the dough’s consistency.
Vegetable oil for deep frying: Canola oil or peanut oil are good alternatives for frying these if you have them on hand.

Pro Tips

1. When kneading and forming the dough, if it’s too sticky, try slowly adding a bit more flour until it handles like its supposed to so you dont get a mess when rolling it out.
2. Let the dough rest for the full 10 minutes – this helps relax the gluten a lot and makes it easier to cut into neat shapes without breaking.
3. Before you start frying everything, drop a tiny piece of dough in the oil to check if it reaches the right temperature; if it bubbles really fast and turns golden, you’re good to go and if not, adjust the heat a bit.

The Perfect Sopaipillas Recipe For Home Cooks

Recipe by Dan Coroni

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

140

kcal

Equipment: 1. Large mixing bowl for whisking the dry ingredients together
2. Whisk to combine the flour, baking powder, and salt
3. Measuring cups and spoons for accurate measurements of all the ingredients
4. Knife for dicing the cold unsalted butter
5. Your fingers to mix the butter into the flour until it forms coarse crumbs
6. Rolling pin to roll out the dough evenly on a lightly floured surface
7. Cutting board or clean countertop to cut the dough into squares or triangles
8. Deep frying pan with enough vegetable oil for frying
9. Deep-fry thermometer to keep the oil at around 350°F
10. Slotted spoon to remove the fried pieces from the oil
11. Paper towels to drain off any extra oil after frying

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and diced
3/4 cup warm water (adjust as needed)
Vegetable oil for deep frying
Optional: Powdered sugar or a drizzle of honey for serving

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Add 2 tablespoons of cold, diced unsalted butter and mix it in with your fingers until it looks like coarse crumbs.
Slowly pour in 3/4 cup of warm water while stirring until a dough forms. You might need a bit more or less water depending on the flour.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 2 minutes until it's smooth then let it rest for 10 minutes.
Roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch thick then cut it into squares or triangles however you like.
Heat enough vegetable oil in a deep pan over medium heat until it reaches around 350°F.
Fry a few pieces at a time, turning them over once until they puff up and turn golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side.
Remove them with a slotted spoon and drain on some paper towels to get rid of any extra oil.
If you want, dust with powdered sugar or drizzle some honey over them while they're still warm.
Serve immediately and enjoy these crispy, light, and delicious sopaipillas!

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.