The Sweet Story Behind the Louisiana State Doughnut

What is a Louisiana State Doughnut?

A Louisiana State Doughnut is a deep-fried pastry that is generally round and covered with lots and lots of powdered sugar.

The most famous is the beignet, which is served at the renowned Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.

The dough is made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and milk, and is often flavored with vanilla or cinnamon. They are deep fried in oil, preferably, cottonseed oil.

Some variations of the Louisiana State Doughnut include fillings like fruit preserves or cream cheese. In fact, some like this delicious treat filled with shrimp and crawfish.

This delicious treat is so synonymous with Louisiana and New Orleans cuisine. It is enjoyed by almost everyone, both locals and visitors.

You are about to learn about the origins and flavors of the Louisiana state doughnut and why it is a delightful treat that you absolutely must try if you visit the state.

How the legend of the Louisiana State Doughnut began

The history of the Louisiana State Doughnut is a little unclear.

Many believe it was introduced in the French Quarters of New Orleans in the 18th century. French settlers brought their love of pastries and sweets to the city, and shared it with the locals.

This caught on very fast, and the doughnut quickly became a very popular treat, not only in New Orleans, but throughout the state.

Many bakeries and cafes modified the recipes, and prepared these treats with their own twists.

Although now considered a French pastry, the beignet is thought to have originated as far back as ancient Rome.

Today, the Louisiana State Doughnut is the first thing people want when they visit Louisiana, particularly, New Orleans.

Where to get the best Louisiana State Doughnuts

This is a no-brainer.

If you want beignets, New Orleans has the two best coffee and doughnuts stands in the world.

The original Morning Call coffee stand was established in 1870, in the French Quarters, by Joseph Jurisich.

The Original Cafe Du Monde coffee stand was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market.

I think it is accurate to say that they both are experts in beignets, considering the fact that they have both been around for over 150 years. And by-the-way, both are open 24/7.

I have enjoyed these delicious treats at both places, many times. They are both great. You can't go wrong with either of these landmark places. If you ever visit New Orleans, have the urge for beignets and don't know which one to visit, flip a coin. Whichever side the coin lands, I promise you won't be disappointed.

The two places are different when it comes to atmosphere. Cafe Du Monde is on the banks of the Mississippi River. It is usually crowded, but most enjoyable. Morning Call is in another part of town. It is crowded sometimes. The atmosphere there is a lot more peaceful.

Most people have heard about Cafe Du Monde, but not Morning Call. I assure you, they are both famous, and they are both outstanding.

If you prefer a variety of unique and delicious doughnuts, the best place to go is Blue Dot Donuts in New Orleans. I have never been there, but have talked to two people who have. They both assured me that the doughnuts are delicious, and Blue Dot Donuts is well worth a visit.

How to Make Louisiana State Doughnuts at Home

If you can't make it to Louisiana in the near future, don't worry! You can make them at home.

And guess what! We have an amazing beignet recipe for you.

This recipe is from our sister website, ShopGlad, and they taste just like the ones you would get at Cafe Du Monde.

Ingredients

* You can use vegetable oil. But for the best tasting Beignets, you may want to use cotton seed oil. However, there are three drawbacks. First, cottonseed oil is not very healthy. Second, it is very hard to find. And finally, it is very expensive. If you go with vegetable oil, you will not go wrong.

Preparation

In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, combine sugar, salt, butter, and 1 cup water. Bring to boiling: butter will melt. Quickly add flour all at once; beat with wooden spoon until flour is moistened. Cook over medium heat, beating vigorously until dough forms a ball and leaves side of pan. Remove from heat.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating with electric mixer at medium speed after each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is smooth, shiny and satiny and forms strands that break apart. It should hold its shape when beater is slowly raised. Beat in vanilla. Dough should be fairly stiff.

Roll dough 1/8 to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface, using flour liberally on dough. Cut into 2-inch squares.

In electric skillet large heavy skillet or deep fryer, heat 1 to 2-inches of oil to 370*F (185*C) on deep frying thermometer.

Fry 3 or 4 at a time until puffy and golden brown on both sides (do not crowd skillet). Remove beignets with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; transfer to a wire rack. While hot, sprinkle generously with powdered sugar. Keep warm in 225*F (105*C) oven as you continue frying the remainder.

Serve hot, and by all means, have yourself a cup of French Market Coffee to go with them. You can buy it at your grocery store. The ones we recommend are Community, CDM or Louisiane.

You will love these. ENJOY!

Conclusion

The next time you visit Louisiana, you now know where to go to get the most delicious doughnuts that you will ever taste in your life. If you love doughnuts, I promise you won't be disappointed.

I hope this article has made you excited. Those donuts, and especially the beignets, are something to get excited about.

AND:

Remember! At SurfSideSafe, we are here to make your life much better.

Images for Morning Call, Cafe Du Monde and Blue Dot Donuts courtesy of Creative Commons.