There is nothing I like more than dessert than an easy dessert! As long as you have something to deep fry in, these are easy, quick, and delicious. The pastry is tender and pillowy with perfect hollows in the center to hold honey or chocolate sauce.
Table of Contents
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🗝️ Key takeaways
- Sopapillas are quick and easy to make.
- They're the perfect ending to any Tex-mex meal.
- Using water instead of milk as the liquid in the recipe makes the outside of the sopapilla crispier.
What are sopapillas? I'm glad you asked!
Basically, Sopapillas are squares of pastry dough that are rolled and deep fried. As they fry, they puff up with air like pillows. The centers become hollow—they have to be hollow because that, my friends, is where the honey drizzle goes when you eat them.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. The full measurements and instructions are in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🍴 Equipment
- deep fryer
- thermometer
- ladle with strainer
- rolling pin
🥫 How to store leftovers
Do not, under any circumstances, try to save these sopapillas for later. Make only as many as you will eat in an hour or so. As they cool and stand, they will lose their crispness and become soggy and greasy.
Ick.
Marye's Tip
The best way to drain sopapillas is to put them on a wire rack set over paper towel or a brown paper bag. They'll be crispier and tastier!
💭 Things to know
- Don't overload the fryer. Just add 3-4 sopapillas at a time.
- Don't flip the sopapillas while they are frying. Gently spoon the hot oil over the top.
- When the sopapillas come out of the fryer, drain them quickly and then roll them in the cinnamon mixture.
- If you are not allergic to peanuts please, please, please use peanut oil. It is more expensive than the other types but it is the best that I have found. It is light, flavorless, and leaves the outsides crispy.
👩🍳 FAQs
You may be over mixing the dough. Also, roll the dough out gently to between ⅛-inch and ¼-inch.
You can but milk makes the sopapilla more tender and less crispy - so it's a matter of taste. Try it both ways and see which you like better.
📞 The last word
There are a couple of schools of thought on how to serve them. I like them rolled in cinnamon and sugar - my daughter likes them plain.
Either way, they make a great snack or the perfect way to end a Southwestern dinner. You can make them in large squares or small - it's sort of up to you.
Once you get this recipe down you can throw them together in just a few minutes.
If you haven't done much deep frying because you are a bit afraid of it take a deep breath and give these a try. Get an electric deep fryer. With one of those, you can be sure that the oil is at the right temperature, and it is so much easier than frying on top of the stove.
Ready to try this sopapilla recipe? Sure you are!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Spicy Sopapillas
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
Sopapillas
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ -1 teaspoon ground ancho chile, optional - adds a little heat
Instructions
Sopapillas
- Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Cut in the butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Stir in the water until the dough is smooth.
- Let stand for 20 minutes.
- Roll out on a floured board to about ¼ inch thick.
- Cut into squares.
- Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F.
- Add a few of the dough squares to the hot oil - do not over crowd.
- Fry until golden brown on both sides, pushing the dough under the oil occasionally.
- Drain on paper towels, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- Mix the ingredients and gently roll the hot sopapillas in the mixture.
Notes
- Drain on a wire rack over paper towels or a brown paper sack.
- Don't overload the fryer. Just add 3-4 sopapillas at a time.
- Don't flip the sopapillas while they are frying. Gently spoon the hot oil over the top.
- When the sopapillas come out of the fryer, drain them quickly and then roll them in the cinnamon mixture.
- If you are not allergic to peanuts please, please, please use peanut oil. It is more expensive than the other types but it is the best that I have found. It is light, flavorless, and leaves the outsides crispy.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published May 2008. Last updated April 8, 2024, for editorial improvements.
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Marjorie S says
Love this site and Marye
Claudia Dempsey says
Can these be made in the air fryer?
Marye says
I've not tried so I am unsure. They should be ok but since i haven't done it I can't guarantee.
Sherri Rochester says
I am so beyond excited about this recipe! I lived in Houston for a few years after high school. Texas knows how to do Sopapillas! Here in my part of Ohio, they make FLAT sopapillas. FLAT! How can you poke a hole and dribble a bit of honey in a flat sopapilla? Plus since there are just two of us, I can break down the recipe for just us. Yay!!! Thanks, again! 😎
Healing Tomato says
I love this recipe. What a fun idea to spice up sopapillas
Kimmie says
Finally, an easy sopapilla recipe! I just found your blog, and have already pinned numerous items. I also love that you're a Texas gal like me! I grew up eating sopapillas at Pancho's. Though it's still just down the road from me, I haven't eaten there in years because, um, Pancho's. But I miss those sopapillas, so now I can make my own!
Terri Esham says
Love anything will cinnamon and sugar. These look yummy. Thanks for sharing all your great recipes.
Heather C says
Have so enjoyed you site! =)