You may not be able to go to Disney this summer, but Disney can definitely come to you. Bake your own signature Mickey Mouse beignets at home.
As the whole country continues to stay at home in light of the ongoing outbreak, some of our vacation plans to Disney theme parks and resorts may have been canceled. Whether you were looking forward to riding Splash Mountain or getting a snap with your favorite Disney princess, this is a sad state of affairs for anyone who had summer plans that included heading to Disney. However, you can still indulge in a little Disney treat even if you're stuck at home. That's because they just released the recipe for their oh-so-delicious Mickey beignets, so you can make them at home too.
This is, of course, not the first recipe they've released since the pandemic began. In the recent past, they've shared recipes for some of their other signature treats, including churro bites, Dole Whip, grilled cheese, and cookie fries. If you've already tried all of those recipes out, here are your weekend baking plans - sorted. These Mickey Mouse-shaped beignets have been a staple at Disneyland’s Mint Julep Bar for several years now. More recently, they were added to the menu at Walt Disney World’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter. No matter where you grabbed one of these beignets, one thing is for sure: they're super fluffy, light, and airy. They're basically the perfect goodie for anyone who loves a decadent baked dessert.
While the original recipe only calls for powdered sugar, Disney has been known for going a little wild when certain holidays come around. Their seasonal varieties have included red-hot beignets and even hot chocolate beignets. Talk about yum! Now, if you're not the most proficient when it comes to baking, the task of baking these Mickey beignets in your own kitchen may sound a little daunting. However, they couldn't be easier. After all, they are just made of some fried dough and powdered sugar. If you take a look in your pantry, it's highly likely that you already have most - if not all - of the ingredients you need to make these sweet treats at home. That saves you a shopping trip so you can head out for just the essentials. For all those excited bakers out there, here's the highly anticipated recipe.
The Ingredients
You'll need half a teaspoon of dried yeast, a quarter cup of warm water (about 105 degrees Fahrenheit), a quarter cup of sugar, two tablespoons of vegetable shortening, half a teaspoon of salt, half a cup of heavy cream, one egg, four cups of all-purpose flour, half a cup of boiling water, some vegetable oil for frying, and, of course, powdered sugar to dust over your fried dough.
Directions
First off, fill a small bowl with your warm water and sprinkle some yeast into it. Stir the yeast so it fully dissolves. Let this mixture stand for five minutes. Then, combine the sugar, shortening, salt, heavy cream, egg, flour, and boiling water in a large bowl. Slowly add the yeast mixture into this large bowl. Now, grab your electric mixer and, with the dough hook attachment, mix the dough on medium until just combined and smooth. You'll need to let this dough rest for 30 minutes. Hey, good dessert takes some time!
Once you've let the dough rest, roll it out to a quarter-inch in thickness. If you have a Mickey Mouse-shaped cutter, whip it out and cut out individual beignets. Otherwise, you can simply cut the dough into two-and-a-half or three-inch squares (you could also use other cutter shapes if you'd like to). Again, you'll need to let these shapes rest for a bit. Cover the individual beignets with a towel and let the dough rise until it's doubled in size. Make sure to leave the dough in a warm, draft-free area, otherwise it might dry up and crack. A big no-no! This process should take about one to one-and-a-half hours.
Finally, heat three inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit in a deep, heavy pot over a medium-high flame. Using caution, drop your individual beignets into the oil and deep fry them until they are golden brown. This should take about two to three minutes; turn them over once they are golden brown on one side. Once they're done in the pot, remove them from the oil using a pair of tongs and place them on paper towels to drain. You could also use a wire cooling rack for this. For the best results, it's best to dust powdered sugar on them and serve them immediately. Warm beignets are obviously the best beignets. Just remember that Disney makes these delicious beignets in large batches; they've converted the recipe for a smaller batch so it's easier for you to make them in your home kitchen. Therefore, the flavor profile may vary the slightest bit. Nonetheless, these are the perfect baked treat for a sumptuous, treat-yourself breakfast or an indulgent snack to reward yourself for getting through another week of self-isolation. You deserve it!
