Name: Vanilla French Beignets Recipe – Air Fryer Desserts Easy Recipes You’ll Love
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 26 min
Ingredients: 1 cup warm milk (not hot, like a cozy bath); 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp salt; 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; Powdered sugar (for dusting); Cooking spray (for the air fryer basket)

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I’ve got a confession. I made these vanilla French beignets on a random Tuesday, and my kitchen still smells like a Parisian bakery. Ever found yourself craving something light, golden, and just a little too easy to eat ten of? Yeah, me too. Beignets are like the love child of a donut and a cloud – and this air fryer version? It’s got that perfect crisp shell with a pillowy center that honestly made me question every boring dessert I’ve ever tolerated. We’re talking sweet easy recipes that don’t leave you with a sink full of greasy dishes. The vanilla gives it that classic flavor, while a dusting of powdered sugar makes you feel like you’ve got your life together – even if you just burned your first batch (been there). Whether you’ve got a sweet tooth the size of Texas or you just want to make something that feels a little fancy without the drama, these air fryer beignets hit the mark. Now, before we pretend we’re all pastry chefs, just know: if I can make these, so can you. Just don’t blame me if you eat the whole batch before anyone else gets a taste.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Vanilla French Beignets Recipe
3) Ingredients for Vanilla French Beignets
4) How to Make Vanilla French Beignets
5) Tips for Making Vanilla French Beignets
6) Making Vanilla French Beignets Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Vanilla French Beignets
8) Try these Desserts next!
9) Vanilla French Beignets Recipe
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Simple pantry ingredients bring the magic
No deep fryer needed thanks to the air fryer
Light, fluffy, sweet—classic beignets, made easier
Perfect for brunch, snacks, or just because you deserve one

2) Easy Vanilla French Beignets Recipe

Let me start by saying this: air fryer desserts easy recipes are what keep my sweet tooth from staging a rebellion on weekdays. These vanilla French beignets? Oh, they’re soft little pillows of joy. I whipped them up after a long day of answering emails and wrangling a very dramatic sourdough starter that has since been evicted from my counter. It was a good decision.

What makes this recipe stand out is how low-maintenance it is. There’s no vat of oil threatening to bubble over. No need for a candy thermometer. Just a little dough, a little patience, and a willingness to eat six in a row while pretending it’s all “recipe testing.”

This is one of those sweet easy recipes that feels like a cheat code. It uses simple ingredients you probably have already. The vanilla makes them feel a little fancy, even if you’re wearing mismatched socks and your kitchen looks like it lost a fight with powdered sugar.

3) Ingredients for Vanilla French Beignets

Warm Milk: Think warm—not hot. Like a baby bottle or a cat on a sunny windowsill. It helps the yeast do its thing.

Active Dry Yeast: This is the stuff that makes our beignets rise. If it doesn’t bubble in warm milk, toss it and try again with fresher yeast.

Granulated Sugar: A little sweetness goes into the dough. Plus, it helps feed the yeast early on. Win-win.

Eggs: Two large ones. They bring richness and structure to the dough, so you don’t just end up with flat little pancakes.

Unsalted Butter: Melted and glorious. This adds a soft, tender texture to the final beignet.

Vanilla Extract: Here’s where the flavor kicks in. Go for pure vanilla if you can—it really makes a difference.

Salt: Just a bit to keep things balanced. Sweet needs a wingman.

All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of our dough. Add it slowly and mix well to avoid flour clouds in your kitchen.

Powdered Sugar: This is your snowy finish. Generously sprinkle it over the top when they’re warm, not hot.

Cooking Spray: This keeps our beignets from sticking to the air fryer basket. You only forget once before you learn.

4) How to Make Vanilla French Beignets

Step 1: Mix the warm milk and yeast. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. It should start to bubble and smell like it means business.

Step 2: Stir in sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and salt. Mix it until smooth and convincing.

Step 3: Add flour one cup at a time. Don’t rush it. Dough should form and come together like a happy little lump.

Step 4: Knead it for 5 minutes on a floured surface. You’re looking for a soft, elastic dough—like a stress ball with a dream.

Step 5: Let the dough rise in a greased bowl covered with a towel. Give it 1 to 2 hours. This is your snack break window.

Step 6: Punch it down. (Gently. No grudges.) Roll it out and cut into squares—or fun shapes if you’re feeling wild.

Step 7: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Spray the basket. Place beignets in, but give them space to puff up. No overcrowding, please.

Step 8: Cook them for about 6 minutes until golden and puffed. They should look like slightly toasted clouds.

Step 9: Remove, let them cool a little, then snowstorm them with powdered sugar.

5) Tips for Making Vanilla French Beignets

First, don’t skip the rise. I’ve tried shortcutting it in the name of impatience. Let’s just say, flat beignets don’t hit the same. Give that dough time to puff up and do its thing.

Use fresh yeast. If it doesn’t bubble when you mix it with the warm milk, it’s time to grab a new packet. Dead yeast is nobody’s friend in an air fryer desserts easy recipes adventure.

Keep your beignets the same size. I learned the hard way that uneven dough pieces lead to overcooked edges and raw centers. That’s a mouthful of regret. Cut them as uniform as possible.

6) Making Vanilla French Beignets Ahead of Time

You can absolutely prep these ahead. I’ve done it more than once, especially when I knew I had guests coming. Make the dough the night before and let it rise slowly in the fridge.

The next day, roll it out, cut the shapes, and let them come to room temp before air frying. I call it the “lazy baker’s hack.” Still fresh, still fluffy, less stress before coffee.

Just don’t coat them in powdered sugar until you’re ready to serve. You want that powder to sit light and dry on the surface—not melt into a glaze.

7) Storing Leftover Vanilla French Beignets

If—big if—you don’t polish off the whole batch, you can store the leftovers. Just pop them in an airtight container on the counter for a day or two.

If you need more time, refrigerate them. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to bring back the crisp outside and soft inside. Trust me, it works better than the microwave.

And please, give them a fresh sprinkle of sugar when you warm them up. That little touch makes it feel like the first time all over again.

8) Try these Desserts next!

9) Vanilla French Beignets Recipe