If you like fresh donuts, you’ll LOVE this homemade sopapilla recipe!
These little bundles are easy to make and the dough puffs up for a light and fluffy treat. Serve with savory fillings or sprinkle with powdered sugar, honey for dipping, or cinnamon sugar.
What is a Sopapilla?
These fried squares of dough puff up like pillows and can be served with savory fillings or sweetened for dessert (our favorite) with honey, sprinkled with powdered sugar, or cinnamon sugar.
Main Ingredients
BASICS Flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, and shortening are the basic ingredients for sopapillas.
FAT Lard can be substituted for the shortening. Shortening guarantees the ultimate pillow puff and perfect texture!
How to Make Sopapillas
- Whisk together dry ingredients. Cut in the shortening and combine. Slowly add the water and stir until the dough comes together.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Knead for about 5 minutes, adding flour when it gets too sticky.
- Cover with a towel, let the dough rest in the bowl.
- Roll the dough 1/4″ thick and cut into squares.
- Fry in oil until puffed and golden. Top with powdered sugar and serve with a drizzle of honey.
Tips for Perfection
- For the perfect puff every time, make sure the dough is rolled out in an even width so they stay closed when they puff up.
- Don’t roll the dough too thick (they’ll be doughy) or too thin (they’ll be empty).
- Make sure the oil is hot enough before dropping the dough in so it doesn’t soak up the oil instead of being properly fried.
- Fry only a few sopapillas at a time so they have enough space to move around in the fryer and can achieve maximum puffiness.
- Serve immediately.
- Sopapillas are so easy to make it’s a good idea to make them as you need them as they don’t store or reheat very well. However, while they may not be as puffy, they can be reheated in an oven preheated at 350°F for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Favorite Desserts
- Tres Leches Cake– so easy to make
- Churros – ready in 20 minutes
- Mexican Wedding Cookies – freezer friendly
- Easy Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe – a crowd favorite
Did you enjoy these Sopapillas? Be sure to leave a comment and a rating below!
Homemade Sopapillas
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- ½ cup hot water not boiling
- 6 cups vegetable oil for frying (48 ounces)
- ½ cup powdered sugar for dusting
- ¼ -½ cup honey for drizzling
Instructions
- Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together. Cut in the shortening and combine thoroughly.
- Add water and stir until the dough starts to come together.
- Sprinkle a bit of extra flour on a countertop and turn the dough out onto it.
- Knead it for about 5 minutes, adding a sprinkle of flour if it becomes sticky.
- Place the dough back in the mixing bowl, cover with a towel and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat oil to 350°F in a deep-frying pan over medium heat.
- While the oil is heating, roll the dough out to between 1/8" to 1/4" thickness
- Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 16-20 equal pieces.
- Carefully drop 4-5 pieces into the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until both sides have puffed up and turned a golden.
- Remove from the oil and drain them over a cookie cooling rack or a plate with a paper towel.
- Once cooled, sprinkle them with a bit of powdered sugar and serve with honey for drizzling.
Notes
- For the perfect puff every time, make sure the dough is rolled out in an even width so they stay closed when they puff up.
- Don't roll the dough too thick (they'll be doughy) or too thin (they'll be empty).
- Make sure the oil is hot enough before dropping the dough in so it doesn't soak up the oil instead of being properly fried.
- Fry only a few sopapillas at a time so they have enough space to move around in the fryer and can achieve maximum puffiness.
- Serve immediately.
- Sopapillas are so easy to make it’s a good idea to make them as you need them as they don’t store or reheat very well. However, while they may not be as puffy, they can be reheated in an oven preheated at 350°F for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American, Mexican© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Nice, not much sugar. Want more recipes like this. Too many recipes have way too much sugar. I’m going to use honey instead of the powered sugar. Thanks.
Thank you for trying our recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed it, Connie!
Can these be made in an air fryer?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure Sandy, but I think that should work just fine. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
Can I use cut up biscuit dough ????? Think that could work if I cut them right ????? These look so good.
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure Cindy. I don’t think the dough is exactly the same so I’m not sure it would work. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!