Last Updated on March 26, 2022 by Anne-Marie
A recipe for Tiana's famous New Orleans beignets from The Princess and The Frog, Tiana's Cookbook Recipes for Kids.
Why this recipe?
Why am I sharing Tiana's beignets recipe from Princess and the Frog? Well, many years ago, we were sent a copy of Princess and the Frog to watch.
I enjoyed the animation, Randy Newman’s music, and references to the culture and food of New Orleans, especially the beignets!
My daughter Lucie loved Tiana, the princess story, and funny characters like Louis the trumpet playing gator. What child wouldn't?
We both loved how Tiana’s dream was about cooking her special beignets recipe, and her dream of opening up a restaurant. So fun!
Not since Ratatouille has a Disney movie appealed to the cook in me.
How to make Tiana's famous beignets recipe from Princess and the Frog
1. In a medium bowl, combine 2 3/4 cups of the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.
2. Whisk everything together.
3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, water, egg, and vanilla extract.
4. Stir in the flour mixture.
5. Use some of the remaining flour to dust your work surface.
6. Place the dough on it and pat it into a large 1/2 -inch-thick square. Dust the top with more flour if it gets sticky.
7. Next, slice the dough into 2 1/2 -inch squares.
8. Now it’s time to fry the beignets (be sure to ask an adult to help you). Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy saucepan on the stovetop until the temperature reaches 325° on a deep-fat thermometer.
Check the temperature with a cooking thermometer every so often while cooking. If it gets too hot, temporarily turn the heat down, or off.
9. Carefully drop 3 dough squares at a time into the hot oil. Fry them for 3 minutes, turn them over, and continue frying for 3 more minutes.
10. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beignets to a wire rack set atop paper towels to drain.
11. Dust the beignets with confectioners’ sugar, and enjoy!
Bring on Tiana’s beignets!
One of Tiana’s specialties is her beignets recipe. Beignets are popularly served in New Orleans at breakfast or as a snack with powdered sugar on top.
(Wondering if that old bag of powdered sugar in your pantry is OK to use on your beignets? Read: How does powdered sugar go bad?)
Beignet recipes were brought to New Orleans in the 18th century by French colonists and became a large part of Cajun or Creole cooking.
If you go to New Orleans, you must go to Café du Monde to try their famous beignets with powdered sugar and a cup of their chicory coffee served café au lait style.
In fact, beignets are so popular in Louisiana that they were made the official state donut.
I also recommend the beignets at Disneyland at the Mint Julep Bar. Best snack in the park!
Can I make Tiana's beignets recipe gluten free?
If you want to make gluten free beignets, I would try it using an all-purpose gluten free flour like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour.
This is my favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour and it cooks and bakes up just like regular flour.
This type of gluten-free flour blend has white rice flour, xanthan gum, potato starch, etc. so it bakes up just right and you don’t have to buy extra specialty ingredients.
However, I haven’t tried it, so I can't say how well it would work. But if you do try it, let everyone know in the comment section below.
Learn how to measure flour correctly for the best results in your everyday cooking and baking.
Check out my Best Gluten Free Products List to find more terrific gluten free baking products!
Can I make Tiana's Princess and the Frog beignets sugar free?
Part of the fun of beignets is all that powdered sugar, right? But we may not feel so great about giving our kids so much sugar for breakfast or snack time.
Well, there’s a delicious, natural, sugar free alternative – Swerve Sweetener!
You can add Swerve to the batter and use Swerve Confectioners Sweetener instead of powdered sugar.
Swerve is natural sugar replacement that doesn’t have the bitter aftertaste associated with other sweeteners like stevia.
I’ve seen it sold at some grocery stores, but you can also find it online.
Make Princess and the Frog beignets for Mardi Gras!
Celebrate Mardi Gras! If Mardi Gras is coming up, why not watch Princess and the Frog via streaming rental on Amazon?
Make some beignets, and some other delicious Cajun dishes to get into the spirit like:
- Easy Mardi Gras King Cakes Recipe
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- Instant Pot Jambalaya
- One Pot Andouille Sausage Jambalaya
- Any of these 60 Best Cajun Recipes
- and a side dish of Skillet Cornbread
- Wash it down with some Iced Tea Sangria (mocktail)
Visit your local dollar store for inexpensive Mardi Gras decorations and beads and have a party with the kids.
Get into the spirit of New Orleans: After enjoying your homemade beignets and Cajun feast, put on some Louis Armstrong New Orleans style music.
Get the cookbooks!
Order a used copy of the companion cookbook, The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Cookbook Recipes for Kids. It's adorable!
Both you and your child will love the easy recipes. (I have a copy, trust me.)
It shows you how to make Tiana’s recipe for beignets and other fun recipes like Swamp-Water Smoothies and Banana French Toast.
Another Disney cookbook: If you and your children love cooking Disney inspired recipes, check out The Disney Princess Cookbook.
This fun, Disney themed cookbook features a Princess and the Frog inspired recipe for Tiana’s Baked Caramel French Toast!
Looking for more easy breakfast recipes?
Try these easy muffin, crepes, casserole, and breakfast sandwich recipes:
● If you love crepes, try Easy Gluten Free Crepes Recipe Without Flour or Easy Rice Flour Crepes Recipe (Gluten Free)
● If you like making breakfast casseroles, try Blueberry French Toast Casserole Recipe or this Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe
● This Quick and Easy French Toast is a special treat that can be made in 10 minutes
● If you love muffins, bake up this Gluten Free Applesauce Muffins Recipe or this Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins Recipe
● Love bagels? Try this Ultimate Breakfast Bagel Sandwich Recipe.
Yield: 16 SERVINGS
Tiana’s Famous Beignets Recipe from Princess and the Frog
A recipe for New Orleans beignets from The Princess and The Frog - Tiana's Cookbook Recipes for Kids.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Total Time36 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine 2 3/4 cups of the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Whisk everything together.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, water, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture from Step 1.
- Use some of the remaining flour to dust your work surface. Place the dough on it and pat it into a large 1/2 -inch-thick square. Dust the top with more flour if it gets sticky. Next, slice the dough into 2 1/2 -inch squares.
- Now it’s time to fry the beignets—be sure to ask an adult to help you! Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy saucepan on the stovetop until the temperature reaches 325° on adeep-fat thermometer. Check the temperature with acooking thermometerevery so often while cooking. If it gets too hot, temporarily turn the heat down, or off.
- Carefully drop 3 dough squares at a time into the hot oil. Fry them for 3 minutes, turn them over, and continue frying for 3 more minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beignets to a wire rack set atop paper towels to drain. Dust the beignets with confectioners’ sugar, and enjoy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 143Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 201mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 3g
Nutritional information is automatically calculated per the ingredients list. Serving size may not be accurate. Please double-check with your preferred nutritional app for the most accurate information.
Recipe and pictures used with permission from Disney.
Originally published on March 26, 2010 and February 9, 2017. Updated with new pictures.
