Get ready to fall in love with Easy Sopapillas, a treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat! These golden, puffy pillows of fried dough are dusted with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with honey, making them completely irresistible. Whether you’re whipping up a batch for a family dessert night or sharing them with friends, Easy Sopapillas are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face with their delightful crunch and sweet, airy center.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best things about Easy Sopapillas is that you only need a handful of pantry staples to make magic happen. Each ingredient plays a key role, creating that signature puff and flavor that makes these treats unforgettable.
- All-purpose flour: This creates the sturdy yet tender base for your sopapillas, so don’t substitute with cake or bread flour for best results.
- Baking powder: Gives the dough its signature lift and helps each square puff up beautifully as it fries.
- Salt: Just a pinch enhances all the sweet flavors and keeps the sopapillas from tasting flat.
- Sugar: Adds a gentle sweetness to the dough itself, making each bite delicious even before the cinnamon sugar finish.
- Vegetable oil or melted butter: This adds richness and keeps the dough supple and easy to work with.
- Warm water: Helps bring the dough together smoothly and activates the baking powder for that perfect rise.
- Vegetable oil for frying: Essential for achieving that golden, crispy exterior—make sure it’s nice and hot before frying.
- Cinnamon sugar: A simple mix of sugar and cinnamon that clings to the hot sopapillas for a magical finishing touch.
- Honey for drizzling (optional): Adds a luscious, sticky-sweet note that’s absolutely classic with Easy Sopapillas.
How to Make Easy Sopapillas
Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients
Start by grabbing a large bowl and whisking together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. This ensures that the baking powder is evenly distributed, so every sopapilla gets that perfect puff. The sugar and salt also blend in smoothly at this stage, giving you a well-balanced dough.
Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients and Form the Dough
Pour in the oil (or melted butter) and warm water, then stir everything together until a soft dough starts to form. Don’t worry if it looks a little shaggy—once you knead it, it’ll become silky and smooth. The warmth of the water helps the dough come together quickly and activates the leavening for light, airy Easy Sopapillas.
Step 3: Knead and Rest
Turn your dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3–4 minutes, just until it’s smooth and elastic. This step develops the gluten slightly, giving your sopapillas their signature chew. After kneading, cover the dough and let it rest for 20 minutes—this rest period is the secret to rolling the dough out thinly without it snapping back.
Step 4: Roll and Cut the Dough
Once rested, roll the dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness. Don’t be afraid to use a little extra flour to prevent sticking. Cut the dough into 3-inch squares or triangles—classic shapes for Easy Sopapillas. Uniform pieces help them cook evenly, so use a ruler or bench scraper if you want perfect squares!
Step 5: Fry to Golden Perfection
Heat your frying oil in a deep skillet or pot to 375°F (190°C). Fry the dough pieces in batches, turning once, until they’re puffed and gloriously golden—about 1–2 minutes per side. Use a slotted spoon to remove them and drain on paper towels. The hot oil is key to getting that irresistible, airy puff that defines Easy Sopapillas.
Step 6: Add the Finishing Touch
While the sopapillas are still warm, sprinkle them generously with cinnamon sugar. If you like, drizzle them with honey just before serving for an extra hit of sweetness. Serve them up fresh for the ultimate treat—trust me, they’re at their absolute best while still warm!
How to Serve Easy Sopapillas
Garnishes
Classic cinnamon sugar is a must, but you can also get creative with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of chocolate sauce. A warm sopapilla with a touch of honey is pure bliss, and a handful of fresh berries adds a pop of color and tartness that beautifully balances the sweetness.
Side Dishes
Easy Sopapillas are wonderful alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. For a festive dessert spread, serve them with Mexican hot chocolate or a creamy café de olla—perfect for dunking those crispy, tender bites!
Creative Ways to Present
Turn your Easy Sopapillas into a dessert board with bowls of various dipping sauces, from caramel to fruit preserves. Stack them in a rustic basket lined with a colorful napkin for a cozy, family-style presentation. Or, try cutting them into bite-sized pieces for a fun, shareable party platter!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any sopapillas left (which is rare!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. They’ll lose a bit of their crispiness, but are still delicious for snacking or quick desserts.
Freezing
To freeze Easy Sopapillas, let them cool completely, then layer them between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep well for up to two months—just be sure to reheat before serving so they regain their signature texture.
Reheating
Pop sopapillas in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5–7 minutes to crisp them up again. Avoid the microwave, as it tends to make them chewy rather than crispy. A quick oven blast brings them right back to life!
FAQs
Can I make Easy Sopapillas without a deep fryer?
Absolutely! All you need is a deep, heavy-bottomed skillet or pot with a few inches of oil. Just use a kitchen thermometer to keep the oil at the right temperature for perfect puffiness.
Why didn’t my sopapillas puff up?
The most common culprit is oil that’s not hot enough. Make sure your oil is at 375°F (190°C) before frying. Rolling the dough too thick or not resting it long enough can also cause flat sopapillas.
Can I use whole wheat flour for Easy Sopapillas?
While you can substitute up to half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat, the texture will be heartier and they may not puff as dramatically. For the classic, airy result, stick with all-purpose flour.
Are Easy Sopapillas vegan?
Yes, if you use vegetable oil instead of butter and avoid honey, these sopapillas are completely vegan. Try agave syrup or maple syrup as a delicious plant-based drizzle.
What’s the best way to serve Easy Sopapillas at a party?
Pile them high on a large platter and let guests sprinkle their own cinnamon sugar or choose from a variety of sweet toppings. They’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and perfect for sharing!
Final Thoughts
I can’t say enough about how much joy these Easy Sopapillas bring every time I make them. There’s something magical about watching them puff up in the pan and then sharing that first bite with someone you love. Give this recipe a try—you’ll be surprised at how simple and satisfying homemade sopapillas can be!
Print
Easy Sopapillas Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 sopapillas 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy Sopapillas are light, airy Mexican fried pastries coated with cinnamon sugar and optionally drizzled with honey. This simple recipe yields golden, puffy treats perfect as a dessert or snack, made from a soft dough fried to perfection for a crisp yet tender bite.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
- 3/4 cup warm water
For Frying
- Vegetable oil for frying
Toppings
- 1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon (cinnamon sugar)
- Honey for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar until evenly combined.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the vegetable oil or melted butter and warm water, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3–4 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Rest the Dough: Cover the dough with a clean cloth or plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes to relax the gluten.
- Roll and Cut: Roll the dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness and cut it into 3-inch squares or triangles for frying.
- Heat Oil: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot to 375°F (190°C), ensuring the oil is hot enough for proper puffing.
- Fry Sopapillas: Fry the dough pieces in batches for 1–2 minutes per side or until golden and puffed, turning carefully.
- Drain and Coat: Remove the fried sopapillas with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Immediately sprinkle with cinnamon sugar while still hot.
- Serve: Serve the sopapillas warm, drizzled with honey if desired for extra sweetness and moisture.
Notes
- Ensure the frying oil is at the proper temperature (375°F/190°C) for sopapillas to puff up properly.
- Serve sopapillas fresh for the best texture; reheat briefly in the oven to regain crispiness.
- You can substitute melted butter for vegetable oil in the dough for a richer flavor.
- Honey drizzle is optional but adds a lovely sweetness complementing the cinnamon sugar.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sopapilla
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
