Sopapillas are a traditional Mexican treat that is ubiquitous throughout Mexico and New Mexico, It’s a type of fried dough that is typically served as a dessert or a snack. This bakery-style traditional Mexican sopapillas recipe is incredibly quick and easy to make right in the comfort of your home using simple ingredients. Serve these traditional Mexican sopapillas with a splash of honey or a dash of powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar, they will be a family favorite.
Sopaipillas are made by preparing a simple dough that is traditionally made with flour, baking powder, salt, water, or milk, and shortening, I’ve also made this sopapilla recipe with lard, and butter and they turned out fantastic. Let’s move on, once the sopapilla dough is prepared, it is then rolled out and cut into small shapes, traditionally square or round before being deep-fried to a golden brown puffy delight.
One of the high light of this authentic sopapilla recipe is its versatility. These Mexican fried flatbreads can be served with a variety of sweet or savory toppings. Some of the most common and popular toppings include honey, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and jam. I’ve also made them filled with a sweet and savory filling, such as chocolate or cheese.
I still remember the first time I tasted sopapillas, it’s like it was yesterday. I was visiting a good friend of mine who is Mexican, and as I arrived at her home she was finished frying a batch for us to enjoy. Ever since that moment that I took my first bite, I was completely hooked. I loved the warmth of the fluffy dough coated in cinnamon sugar and drizzled with honey…WOW…It was truly a revelation.
In this recipe, I will show you how to make traditional sopapillas from scratch, as well as how to serve them with a delicious honey and cinnamon topping so you and your family get to experience the same feeling we did. I hope you love these sopapillas as much as we do!
Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Sopaipillas
Use the right flour: All-purpose flour is the traditional choice for sopaipillas, but you can use whole wheat flour for a healthier option. Also if you want to make gluten-free sopapillas, you can easily swap the ap flour with a gluten-free flour blend. keep in mind that you might need to adjust the liquid ratio.
Get the right consistency: Your sopapilla dough should be smooth and elastic with a nice sheen. If it’s too dry, add a bit more water or milk, and vice versa if it’s too, add a little more flour. The key to ensuring a consistent dough is to add the liquid a little at a time.
Roll it out thin: The thinner you roll out the sopapilla dough, the flakier and crispier the sopaipillas will be. I recommend a thickness of about 1/4 inch, this seems to work best for this type of fried dough.
Don’t overcrowd the fryer: This is a common mistake we all made to rush things along. When frying the sopaipillas, avoid overcrowding them in the fryer. If you add too many at once, the oil temperature will drop and the sopaipillas will not cook evenly and turn out greasy and hard.
Drain and dry: Once you remove the sopaipillas from the oil, place them on a paper towel-lined plate to remove any excess oil. If coated then cinnamon sugar let them drain for a few seconds, if served with honey or icing sugar allow them dry for a minute or two before serving.
Why You Will Love This Sopapilla Recipe
Quick and easy to make: This easy sopapilla recipe requires just a few simple ingredients that quickly come together, prepping takes a few minutes making it a great option for those busy days when you want a quick snack.
Delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors: The honey combined with cinnamon sugar or icing sugar makes these sopapillas sweet, while the fried dough adds a savory note.
Can be served as a snack or dessert: No matter whether you’re looking for a quick afternoon snack or a delightfully sweet dessert, this recipe fits the bill.
Fun to make with kids: Kids love to get involved in the kitchen, and they will love the hands-on experience of kneading the dough along with making and eating these treats. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to teach them about traditional Mexican cuisine.
Perfectly portioned: Cutting the dough into 2-inch squares make it easy to control portion sizes, it is also a perfect snack size.
Portable: These sopapillas are easy to bring along anywhere, making them great for picnics or potlucks, or family gatherings.
Affordable: Simple and sweet, you don’t need to break the bank to make this delicious treat.
Ingredients For Traditional Mexican Sopapillas
2 cups all-purpose flour (250 grams)
1/2 teaspoon salt (3 grams)
2 teaspoons baking powder (10 grams)
2 tablespoons shortening (30 grams), or use lard or butter
3/4 cups warm water (180 grams) or use warm milk
2 1/2 cups vegetable oil, (600 grams) for frying
1/4 cup icing sugar or cinnamon for topping
1/2 cup honey for drizzling or dipping
How To Make Traditional Mexican Sopapillas?
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add the shortening, butter, or lard, and using your fingers rub it into the flour mixture.
Slowly add in the warm water or milk, stirring until a dough forms. Depending on the quality of your flour and how long it’s been sitting in your pantry, you might not need all the liquid or you might have a little more to have the right consistency of dough.
Knead the dough inside the bowl or transfer it to a working surface for a few minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes, this will allow the dough to relax making it easy to roll.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle shape about 1/4 inch in thickness.
Using a knife or pizza roller, cut the dough into small 2-inch squares, you can also use a cookie cutter and cut them its round shapes or shape them into rectangles or triangles. Cover the dough pieces until ready to fry to prevent them from drying.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F (175°C).
Carefully add the sopaipillas to the hot oil and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
Remove the sopaipillas from the oil and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate.
Serve your sopaipillas warm, dusted with icing sugar, or coated with a sugar-cinnamon mixture. Another option dip or drizzle with honey.
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Sopapillas?
Sopaipillas are a traditional Mexican fried dough treat that is popular throughout Mexico and the United States, these treats are typically served as a dessert or a snack and are quite similar in appearance to French Beignet.
Why don’t my Sopapillas puff up?
The Sopapillas may not puff up as much if the dough is not rolled out thin enough, if the oil is not hot enough, or if the dough is not cut into the proper size and shape.
Can I Make these Sopapillas Gluten Free?
These Sopaipillas can be made gluten-free by swapping the flour with a gluten-free flour blend. You can prepare it at home from scratch or buy it from your grocery store.
What are Mexican Sopapillas made of?
Mexican sopapillas are made from a dough made of flour, baking powder, salt, and lard or shortening. They are typically fried and then dusted with icing sugar, cinnamon sugar mixture, or drizzled with honey.
Are sopapillas authentic Mexican?
Sopapillas are considered authentic Mexican food and are popular in New Mexico and Tex-Mex cuisine.
What is the difference between fry bread and sopapillas?
Fry bread and sopapillas are generally similar types of food, as they are both fried doughs that can be served with a variety of toppings. The only difference may be that the sopapilla dough is typically made with baking powder while fried bread instead contains yeast.
Discover the authentic taste of Mexican sopaipillas with our easy-to-follow homemade traditional sopapilla recipe. Made from scratch using simple ingredients such as flour, baking powder, salt, shortening, and water or milk, these fried dough treats are perfect for any occasion. This recipe is versatile, you can opt to make these sopapillas without shortening and with butter or lard for even more added flavor.
2tablespoonsshortening30 grams, or use lard or butter
3/4cupswarm water180 grams or use warm milk
2 1/2cupsvegetable oil(600 grams) for frying
1/4cupicing sugar or cinnamon for topping
1/2cuphoney for drizzling or dipping
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add the shortening, butter, or lard, and using your fingers rub it into the flour mixture.
Slowly add in the warm water or milk, stirring until a dough forms. Depending on the quality of your flour and how long it’s been sitting in your pantry, you might not need all the liquid or you might have a little more to have the right consistency of dough.
Knead the dough inside the bowl or transfer it to a working surface for a few minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes, this will allow the dough to relax making it easy to roll.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle shape about 1/4 inch in thickness.
Using a knife or pizza roller, cut the dough into small 2-inch squares, you can also use a cookie cutter and cut them its round shapes or shape them into rectangles or triangles. Cover the dough pieces until ready to fry to prevent them from drying.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F (175°C).
Carefully add the sopaipillas to the hot oil and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
Remove the sopaipillas from the oil and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate.
Serve your sopaipillas warm, dusted with icing sugar, or coated with a sugar-cinnamon mixture. Another option dip or drizzle with honey.