Breakfast,  Dairy Free,  Dessert,  Recipe,  Vegan,  Vegetarian

Lavender Vanilla Bean French Beignets (Vegan)

These beignets are officially the bane of my existence…..

Okay, that’s being a little dramatic, but it’s ridiculous that they have been such a pain. Don’t get me wrong, taste and recipe wise they are 100% dope, but photogenically I think they were a fail…..both times that I made them. That’s right, I made and photographed these 2 separate times and neither time did I like the results! Somethings are just way harder for me to make look good.

The real kicker is that at the end of the day I decided that the first pictures were by far better than the second, how dumb is that? I’ve got serious issues. When I reach a point of perfect photographer’s confidence I’ll let you know. Well, no I won’t but you’ll figure it out when I stop ratting on my own pictures. Hey, don’t scoff at me! It could happen, someday.

You know, sometimes I think that I probably shouldn’t be so open with the fact that photography is not a talent of mine because then I make you focus on the flaws in my pictures that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. I should just play it cool like I know exactly what I’m doing (ha!), but then I start thinking about how much I don’t like the pictures I’m writing about and I that little voice that we all have inside our heads forces me to come clean and be honest about it. They say honesty is the best policy, but they also say less is more and if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all. So which is it? Clearly I’m conflicted about this.

I trust you guys to keep my secret though, cause we’re friends and that’s what you do for your friends. Something else you do for your friends is make them yummy food that they know they shouldn’t but do anyways because they get to use your friendship as their excuse. These fall into that category.

These are doughnut’s cousins with a snoody French name, but they are basically just squared doughnuts. My grandma likes to make natural lye soaps and recently our friend brought her this huge bag of lavender to use in them. It was more than she needed so, of course, my first thought was to use the extra for something edible! And what better to pair with it than vanilla bean, yum!

I’ve always liked the smell of lavender in lotions and things but I’ve never tasted it, so I was very pleasantly surprised that it’s delicious, especially with a beignet and a load of vanilla frosting! If you aren’t a big fan I guess you could skip it but I think it really sets these off. At the very least you should try adding just a tiny bit. It is very strong and if you add too much it will probably make you feel like you’re eating shampoo, but if you get the right balance it’s so good with these.

So don’t look at these pictures. Okay yes, look at them, but only a glance to get an idea how amazing these are and know that they taste better than they look. I say that a lot don’t I?

 

 

Lavender Vanilla Bean French Beignets (Vegan)

Is there anything quite like a doughnut? I don't think so.....unless it's a beignet. These lavender beignets are the most delicious cousin that you never knew doughnuts had!

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Rising Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 20 beignets

Ingredients

Lavender Vanilla Bean Icing:

  • 1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
  • scrapings from 1 large vanilla bean
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened plant-based milk I used almond
  • 4 cup powdered sugar

Lavender Vanilla Bean Cream:

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cashew yogurt
  • 1/4 cup 1/2 stick vegan butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup coconut cream
  • 1/2 cup prepared lavender icing from above

Beignets:

  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened plant-based milk lukewarm (I used almond)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Instructions

  1. First make your icing and filling, Whisk together the ingredients for the icing in a medium bowl until smooth. and set aside. Combine yogurt and butter in a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat together until creamed and fluffy. Add cream and 1/2 cup of icing then mix until combined. Cover and place mixture into the fridge until ready for it.

  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl if doing by hand), dissolve yeast in water and allow to sit for about 5 minutes until bubbly. Stir in coconut milk and sugar, then and salt until combined. Add flour a cup at a time until it comes together into a smooth dough. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and place in warm place to rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours. (Alternatively, you can refrigerate the dough overnight.)
  3. When dough is ready divide it in half. Roll one half out into a square, roughly 10x10, and cut into 16 squares. Place the squares on a tray and allow them to rise for 30 to 45 minutes.
  4. Heat about 3 inches of oil in a large high-sided pan to 350 degrees F (180 C) and line a plate with paper towels. Drop dough squares, a few at a time, gently into oil and fry on each side for about 30 seconds or until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on prepared plate.
  5. Now fill a pastry bag fitted with a long narrow tip with the lavender cream and pipe into the centers then spread about 1 tablespoon of icing on top of each. Serve asap.

 

If you’d like to try making your own almond milk check out this recipe and video here – >>>

—>>HOMEMADE ALMOND MILK <<—

 

 

For the nut milk bag I used you can get it HERE -> It’s not absolutely necessary but it makes things so much simpler and I really enjoy having it.

 Use the the code “sincerelytori” for a discount!

 



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