This Sopapilla Recipe makes light and golden fried dough pillows topped with sweet honey. A simple traditional dessert that’s crispy on the outside, soft inside, and easy to make at home.
Sopapillas are a light, fluffy fried dough dessert that puff up beautifully when cooked and are best served warm and drizzled with honey. Crispy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside, this simple treat is a classic favorite that comes together with just a few basic ingredients.
You are going to love being able to enjoy this easy Sopapilla recipe at home. It is fabulous and very simple to make. It is perfect for a sweet treat topped with a drizzle of honey.
This recipe is one of my favorites in this list of 31 Delicious Cinco de Mayo Desserts. My family also enjoys Traditional Mexican Cookies.
What Are Sopapillas?
Sopapillas are a traditional fried pastry made from a simple dough that puffs up into light, airy pillows when cooked. They are typically served warm and drizzled with honey, creating a sweet, crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside dessert.
Popular in Southwestern and Mexican-inspired cuisine, sopapillas are often enjoyed as a comforting treat after meals or shared at family gatherings and celebrations.
Ingredients
- Flour: Use plain all-purpose flour, and spoon it into your measuring cup instead of scooping to avoid packing in too much.
- Sugar: Regular granulated white sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the dough.
- Oil: Used for frying the sopapillas until golden and puffed.
- Honey: The classic topping that adds sweetness and completes this traditional dessert.
Get the complete ingredients for this recipe at the bottom of the page.
Variations and Substitution
- Powdered sugar: Lightly dust sopapillas with powdered sugar for a simple, sweet finish.
- Cinnamon sugar: Coat with a cinnamon-sugar mixture for a warm, spiced flavor. You can still drizzle honey over the top for extra sweetness.
- Fresh fruit & whipped cream: Top with strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream for a fresh, dessert-style twist.
- Savory option: Skip the sugar and use sopapillas as a base for taco meat and your favorite savory toppings.
- Honey dipping: Instead of drizzling, serve honey on the side for dipping—especially fun for kids.
- Chocolate sauce: Drizzle or dip in chocolate sauce for a rich, indulgent variation that isn’t traditional but is delicious.
- Different shapes & sizes: Cut the dough into squares, triangles, or fun shapes. Just keep the thickness even so they fry consistently.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. First, get out a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, salt and baking powder and combine together.
Step 2. Next, add the shortening and mix this together with the flour mixture. I normally just use my hands to mix it together.
Step 3. Now gradually pour the warm water into the large bowl. Make sure to do this slowly.
Step 4. Keep working the dough with your hands until all the water has been added.
Step 5. Then cover the dough. It needs to rest for about 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
Step 6. Meanwhile, get your pan and oil ready while the dough is resting. You need to heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot. Finally, roll the dough out and cut the dough into 3-inch squares using a pastry cutter.
Step 7. Once cut, put the squares into the hot oil. I would do about 3 to 5 at a time depending on the size of your pot that you are using. Then fry for 1 to 2 minutes per side.
Step 8. Once they are cooked, place the sopapillas on a plate covered in a paper towel. This will help drain any excess grease. I like to use a slotted spoon to remove from the grease. These are best served warm, and we like to drizzle them with honey. My kids like a lot of honey. Feel free to use the amount you prefer.
Storage
Best served fresh: Sopapillas taste best warm, right after frying and drizzling with honey.
Short-term storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1–2 days.
Reheating: Warm in the oven or air fryer for a few minutes to bring back some crispiness.
Avoid the microwave: Microwaving can make them soft and chewy instead of crisp.
Freeze if needed: Freeze cooled sopapillas in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or air fryer until warmed through.
Add honey after reheating: For best texture, drizzle honey after reheating rather than before storing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they can be made in advance. You can make the dough a day before you plan to use it. Store in the fridge up to 24 hours.
Then take out and allow to come to room temperature when ready to use. Roll and cut the sopapillas as normal and cook as instructed.
This is especially helpful if you are making these for an event. It will save you a bunch of time.
I usually use canola oil or vegetable oil. However, you can use any oil you prefer as long as it has a high smoke point.
Oils like this are best for frying sopapillas and fry bread. It is also good for frying because they have a neutral taste and won’t alter the flavor of the food.
More Easy Desserts
- Fried Ice Cream Recipe
- Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe
- Homemade Brownie Recipe
- Easy Microwave Fudge Recipe
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars
Make a batch of these homemade sopapillas and enjoy a warm, golden dessert that’s crispy, fluffy, and perfect with a drizzle of honey! They’re simple to prepare and always a crowd favorite. If you try them, leave a review and share your favorite way to serve them!
Sopapilla Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups Flour
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 3 Tbsp Vegetable Shortening
- 1 cup Warm Water
- Oil for Frying
- Honey for topping
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Instructions
- In a large bowl mix together the flour, salt and baking powder. Then add in the shortening and use your hands to mix the shortening into the flour mixture.
- Then gradually pour the warm water into the bowl and work the dough with your hands until all the water has been added.
- Cover the dough and let the dough rest for 20-30 minutes.
- While the dough is resting, heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot to approximately 350 degrees F.
- Then roll the dough out into approximately ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Then cut the dough into approximately 3 inch squares. I find that it’s easiest to use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into smaller pieces.
- Then place the squares into the oil (3-5 at a time depending on the size of your pot). Fry for 1-2 minutes per side (use tongs to flip the dough) until they are a light golden brown.
- After the cook time, move the sopapillas to a plate covered in a paper towel.
- Repeat the process with all the remaining dough.
- Serve warm drizzled with honey and enjoy!
