End your Mexican-inspired feast with our golden and crisp Sopapillas. They’re also lovely served as a snack!
When I was a little girl, there was a Mexican restaurant across the street from my house called Mexico Lindo. Every Friday night, my dad would book us a table and take the four of us out to an authentic Mexican feast. I still remember the excitement, even though that cozy little restaurant soon started to feel like home.
The evening would start with a bowl of their crisp, homemade tortilla chips and salsa: the chips still hot from the fryer and redolent of the aroma of sweet corn and the salsa perfectly spiced, never too hot for our young palates. We would then order tacos or enchiladas and either enjoy the music from the jukebox or, if we were lucky, a serenade from a real mariachi band as we ate. I relished every moment.
But the best part was when dessert came around. They didn’t have a lot of choices on the menu, but the few things they had were absolutely delicious. Usually, I went for either the fried ice cream or the sopapillas. For those who don’t know, sopapillas are pillows of dough fried until crisp, golden brown, and puffed and served either plain or with a variety of delectable toppings (though personally, I always ordered mine with a drizzle of honey).
Our recipe for sopapillas captures all that goodness without requiring special cooking skills or ingredients. With a simple dough made with flour, baking powder, salt, water, and butter, you too can make these fried treats. They’re perfect as a fun snack and the ultimate way to end a Mexican-inspired feast.
Dressing up your sopapillas
“Versatile” does not begin to describe sopapillas. You can use them in myriad delicious ways. Here are some tasty suggestions:
Stuffed sopapillas: Take a fried sopapilla and cut a small slit on the side. Stuff it with something sweet, like chocolate sauce, fruit preserves, or whipped cream.
Savory sopapillas: You can also stuff them with savory fillings such as refried beans, cheese, or shredded meat for a more substantial appetizer instead of a dessert.
Sopapilla cheesecake bars: Yes, cheesecake in sopapilla form! Make a cheesecake filling of choice and pour it over a layer of sopapilla dough lining a baking dish. Put a layer of sopapilla dough on top of the filling and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake until golden brown, cut into bars, and enjoy!
Sopapilla churros: Shape the dough into long, thin sticks like churros. Roll them in cinnamon sugar, fry them up, and serve them with chocolate sauce for dipping.
How do I store leftovers?
Let the sopapillas cool completely. Place them in an airtight container or a resealable bag. They can be stored in a cool, dry place at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you don’t think you’ll eat them in that time, you can freeze them for up to 1 month in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag. When you want to eat them, let them thaw at room temperature.
Serving suggestions
You’ll love these sopapillas as a snack or after a dinner full of spicy Mexican flavors. Great ideas include starting the meal with our rich and utterly velvety White Queso Dip served with a basket of hot tortilla chips or crudités. For your main dish, opt for our hearty Taco Bake or these deliciously spiced Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas.
Sopapillas
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 cup butter melted, or vegetable shortening
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- Canola oil enough to fill 3 to 4 inches of the bottom of the pan
- Chocolate sauce, chocolate crumble, honey, maple syrup, powdered sugar, or cinnamon and sugar optional toppings
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, butter, and water until it forms a smooth dough. Do not over-mix (once it comes together, you can stop mixing).
- Allow the dough to rest for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of flour on a smooth surface and roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thick. With a sharp knife, cut rectangles out of the dough.
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat until it reaches 375°F. You want the dough to sizzle when it goes in. Drop the dough in several batches and fry the sopapillas for 2 minutes per side.
- Once done, place them in a bowl lined with paper towels to soak up excess grease. Serve with your favorite toppings.
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