Bring the Cracker Barrel home with these light, crunchy beignets. Fluffy on the inside, ever so lightly crispy on the outside, and sprinkled with powdered sugar, they’re the ultimate sweet breakfast or dessert.
Indulge in the original Cracker Barrel taste with these homemade beignets! Light and fluffy, soft, and golden brown on the outside, they’re beautifully powdered with powdered sugar for a beyond deliciously tasty, melt-in-your-mouth dessert.
Quick and easy to prepare at home, these homemade copycat beignets are a phenomenal breakfast, brunch, or hot dessert that will have everyone coming back for seconds!.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Fluffy & Light – Airy, light beignets that dissolve in your mouth.
- Easy to Prepare – Easy steps and simple ingredients for speedy prep.
- Same Great Taste – Same as the beloved Cracker Barrel version.
- Ideal for Any Occasion – Ideal for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
- Crowd-Pleaser – Adults and children alike will have no problem wolfing down each bite!
Copycat Cracker Barrel Beignets Ingredients
- Milk: You can also use warm water, sour cream, or Greek Yogurt
- Sugar: Use white granulated sugar or even brown sugar
- Yeast: Use active dry yeast
- Flour: Use all-purpose flour or self-rising flour
- Salt: Use kosher salt for some added flavor
- Egg: Use a large, room temperature egg
- Butter: For best results, use unsalted butter that has been melted
- Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for added flavor
- Serving: Confectioners’ Sugar and Chocolate Sauce
How To Make Copycat Cracker Barrel Beignets
Step One: Add warm milk, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and yeast to a large bowl and mix with a whisk. Let sit for 3-4 minutes to allow the yeast to activate. After 5 minutes, whisk this mixture again. Add the salt, egg, vanilla, melted butter, and sugar to the mixture and mix thoroughly. In a larger bowl, add half of the flour to the wet mixture and combine. Combine flour and the second half, and whisk flour until a slightly sticky dough forms.
Step Two: On a floured surface, knead the dough for 3-4 minutes. Place this back into the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap, saran wrap, or a damp towel. Let sit at room temperature to rise for 2 hours. Remove the risen dough and place it again on a floured surface. Take a rolling pin and flour it before rolling out a rectangle of this dough, on a flat surface, to about ¼ inch thickness. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut out 1×2 inch pieces of dough or cut them into square shapes or square pieces.
Step Three: Spray the air fryer with cooking spray, or place parchment paper in the air fryer basket. Place the dough into the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving plenty of space around the dough. Brush the tops of the beignets with melted butter or spray with nonstick cooking spray. You can also brush with egg yolk; this will help you get the crispy exterior or a traditional fried beignet. Air Fry the beignets; set air fryer to 350 degrees F, and set cook time for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway during the cooking process.
Step Four: Place the beignets on a serving platter, brush with melted butter, and then dust with powdered sugar or drizzle chocolate sauce over the beignet. If you are cooking in batches, leave the cooked beignets in a warm area or in a 200-degree F, oven placing the cooked beignets on a cookie sheet.
Copycat Cracker Barrel Beignets Recipe Tips
- Employ Warm Milk: The milk should be warm (not hot) to effectively activate the yeast for light and airy beignets.
- Steer Clear of Over-Kneading: Knead only until dough is smooth and slightly sticky to prevent hard beignets.
- Let Dough Rise Completely: Let dough rise to double its size for soft, airy results.
- Cut Pieces Equal: Roll and slice the dough into pieces of equal size to ensure they cook evenly in the air fryer.
- Brush for Crispy Toppings: Brushing with melted butter or egg wash prior to air frying gives the beignets a golden, lightly crispy topping.
- Warm Serving: Beignets will serve best if they are freshly made and warm, with powdered sugar sprinkled over them just before serving.
Storing, Freezing & Reheating Instructions
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make sure the food cools to room temperature before sealing to maintain freshness.
- Freezing: Place cooled leftovers in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Label with the date for easy tracking and quick meal planning.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through, stirring occasionally for even heat. Ensure the food reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before serving.
Copycat Cracker Barrel Beignets Recipe Faqs
Can I make these beignets ahead of time? Yes! You can prepare the dough in advance and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Fry or bake them fresh when ready for the best texture.
Can I bake them instead of air frying? Absolutely. While frying gives the traditional golden exterior, you can bake them at 375°F until lightly golden, though they may be slightly less crispy.
Can I use self-rising flour instead of all-purpose flour? Yes, but reduce or omit the baking powder in the recipe since self-rising flour already contains leavening agents.
How do I make them extra fluffy? Make sure your yeast is active and the dough is allowed to rise fully. Gently handle the dough when shaping to retain the air pockets.
Can I make a smaller batch? Definitely. You can halve the recipe, just adjust the rising and cooking times accordingly.
More Cracker Barrel Copycat Recipes
air fryer copycat cracker barrel grilled chicken tenders
cracker barrel cinnamon roll pie
air fryer cracker barrel macaroni and cheese
broccoli cheddar chicken (cracker barrel copycat)
air fryer cracker barrel’s buttermilk biscuits
air fryer copycat cracker barrel fried apples
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Copycat Cracker Barrel Beignets
Description
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk, warm
- 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons dry active yeast
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 4 tablespoons butter, unsalted and meletd
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cup flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Add warm milk, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and yeast to a large bowl and mix with a whisk. Let sit for 3-4 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
- After 5 minutes, whisk this mixture again. Add the salt, egg, vanilla, melted butter, and sugar to the mixture and mix thoroughly.
- In a larger bowl, add half of the flour to the wet mixture and combine. Combine flour and the second half, and whisk flour until a slightly sticky dough forms.
- On a floured surface, knead the dough for 3-4 minutes. Place this back into the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap, saran wrap, or a damp towel. Let sit at room temperature to rise for 2 hours.
- Remove the risen dough and place it again on a floured surface.
- Take a rolling pin and flour it before rolling out a rectangle of this dough, on a flat surface, to about ¼ inch thickness. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut out 1×2 inch pieces of dough or cut them into square shapes or square pieces.
- Spray the air fryer with cooking spray, or place parchment paper in the air fryer basket. Place the dough into the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving plenty of space around the dough.
- Brush the tops of the beignets with melted butter or spray with nonstick cooking spray. You can also brush with egg yolk; this will help you get the crispy exterior or a traditional fried beignet.
- Air Fry the beignets; set air fryer to 350 degrees f, and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway during the cooking process.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
Nutrition
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