Description
Bunuelos are a traditional crispy fried dough treat, perfect for a sweet snack or dessert. This recipe creates thin, golden rounds that are light and crunchy, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar for a delightful flavor. Ideal for festive occasions or whenever you crave a comforting homemade sweet.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon butter (softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup warm water
Frying
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
Garnish
- Cinnamon sugar (for garnish)
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt until well combined.
- Add wet ingredients: Add the egg, softened butter, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. Mix until the mixture looks like a coarse meal. Gradually add the warm water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing and kneading continuously until the dough becomes soft and completely smooth, about 3-4 minutes.
- Rest the dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and allow it to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to relax the gluten and make rolling easier.
- Prepare for frying: Set up your work area with a flat surface for rolling, a rolling pin, a plate lined with paper towels, some flour for dusting, and a bench scraper or knife. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F, ensuring that the oil is about 1 to 1.5 inches deep to allow for proper frying.
- Shape the bunuelos: After the dough has rested, divide it into 12 equal balls. Dust your work surface with flour and roll each ball out thinly into almost transparent circles without tearing the dough.
- Fry the bunuelos: Carefully fry each rolled dough circle in the hot oil. Cook for about 60 seconds, flipping halfway through, until the bunuelos are golden and crispy.
- Drain and garnish: Remove the fried bunuelos and place them on the paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Repeat until all are fried. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar while still warm, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Ensure the oil temperature stays around 350°F to achieve crispy bunuelos without absorbing too much oil.
- Be careful when rolling the dough thin to avoid tearing, which can cause oil splattering.
- Use a slotted spoon or frying spider to safely remove bunuelos from hot oil.
- For a gluten-free variant, substitute flour accordingly, but expect texture changes.
- Serve bunuelos warm for the best taste and crispness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Latin American
Keywords: Bunuelos, Fried Dough, Cinnamon Sugar Dessert, Latin American Dessert, Crispy Sweet Treat
