How to Make Spectacular Sopapillas from Scratch

Honey is the perfect ingredient to top off freshly fried sopapillas.

Sopapillas are a puffed, deep-fried dessert bread popular throughout much of Latin America and the American Southwest. They are simple and relatively fast to make and are best served hot, fresh, and with lots of honey.

Things You'll Need

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 and 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tbsp. butter/shortening, melted
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• Vegetable oil
• Sifted powdered sugar
• Honey
• Ground cinnamon
• Dutch oven
• Mixing bowl
• Knife

Instructions

1. Dissolve the yeast in warm water, then let it sit for 5 minutes. Stir the sugar and the melted butter/shortening into the mix.

2. Combine the flour and salt. Slowly stir this mixture into the yeast mixture, mixing well.

3. 

   Your dough should only require 2 minutes of kneading.

   Pour the combined mixture onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for roughly 2 minutes. Stop when the dough feels pliable and smooth.

4. Place the dough into a well-greased bowl, making sure to grease the top of the dough as well. Cover and allow it to rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.

5. Punch down the dough and roll it to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut it into squares, each 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches.

6. Pour oil 3 inches high in a large pot or Dutch oven and heat it to 375 F. Fry 2 or 3 pieces of dough at a time in the oil for roughly 1 minute on each side, or until the side puffs and turns golden brown.

7. Remove the sopapillas and sprinkle them with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Serve them hot with honey either poured onto them or on the side.

References

• Grandma's Cookbook: Sopapillas (from scratch)
• Homesick Texan; Sopapillas with a side of honey; Lisa (Homesick Texan); January 2007