Description
This easy Elephant Ears recipe features crispy, golden-fried pastry dough circles dusted with sweet cinnamon sugar. Perfect as a delightful dessert or treat, these elephant ears are quick to prepare and cook, offering a classic American fair treat experience right at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 cups Flour
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Baking Powder
- 1 cup warm water (adjust as needed)
Topping
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 tsp Cinnamon
For Frying
- Oil for frying (enough to fill 3 inches in a deep pot)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Slowly stir in the warm water until a dough forms, adding the water gradually as not all may be needed. Mix until the dough is cohesive.
- Rest the dough: Let the dough sit for 5 minutes to relax the gluten, which will make rolling easier and the texture tender.
- Divide and roll out: Roll the dough out slightly and cut it into 6 equal pieces. Then, roll each piece into approximately ½ inch thick circles to ensure even frying and fluffiness.
- Heat the oil: Pour enough oil into a deep pot to measure about 3 inches deep. Heat the oil over medium heat to frying temperature, around 350°F (175°C), ideal for frying dough.
- Fry the dough circles: Carefully place the dough circles into the hot oil. Fry them until golden brown and they puff up slightly on one side, then flip to cook the other side evenly, about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Drain excess oil: Remove the fried dough from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil and crisp up.
- Prepare cinnamon sugar topping: In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon thoroughly.
- Apply the topping and serve: While the elephant ears are still warm, sprinkle them generously with the cinnamon sugar mixture, allowing it to stick and melt slightly. Serve immediately for best taste and texture.
Notes
- The warm water used for the dough should be around 100-110°F to help activate any leavening and make mixing easier.
- You can adjust the oil temperature if you find the dough browning too fast or too slow to ensure crispy and fully cooked elephant ears.
- For added flavor, you can brush the elephant ears lightly with melted butter before sprinkling the cinnamon sugar.
- Serve elephant ears immediately after frying to enjoy the crunch; they may become soggy if stored for long.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Elephant ears, fried dough, cinnamon sugar pastry, fair food, American dessert, easy fried pastry
