Easy Homemade Sopapilla Recipe

This traditional Sopapilla recipe is fried to perfection and drizzled in honey. The dough is very simple to make and tastes delicious.

What is a sopapillas?

This is a deep fried dough or pastry. Traditionally it is topped with honey or sugar after it is cooked.

Let’s make Sopapilla recipe.

Don’t be hesitant to make homemade dough. It is actually very simple to make.

After you make the dough, it is fried until golden brown. It is so amazing.

Frying takes just minutes and they are best served warm. My favorite part is drizzling the honey all over the warm sopapillas.

The honey really takes these to the next level and makes this dish even better. Each bite is heavenly.

The honey melts into the warm dough and makes it just amazing.

Ingredients: 

• Flour 
• Sugar 
• Baking Powder
• Salt 
• Vegetable Shortening 
• Warm Water 
• Oil for Frying 
• Honey (for topping) 

How to make sopapillas:

• First, get out a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, salt and baking powder and combine together.

• Next, add the shortening and mix this together with the flour mixture. I normally just use my hands to mix it together.  

• Now gradually pour the warm water into the large bowl. Make sure to do this slowly. Keep working the dough with your hands until all the water has been added. 

• Then cover the dough. It needs to rest for about 20 minutes to 30 minutes.

• Meanwhile, get your pan and oil ready while the dough is resting. You need to heat 3 inches of oil in a deep pot. Heat the oil to about 350 degrees.

• Finally, roll the dough out. It should be about ¼ inch thick and it helps to lightly sprinkle flour on the counter to roll this out. Once you have rolled it out, cut the dough into 3 inch squares.
  
  I find it is easiest to do this using a pizza cutter to cut the dough into pieces.  However, just use what is easiest for you.

• 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.
  
  If you have tongs, they are helpful to easily flip the dough. The dough should be a light golden brown.  

• Once they are cooked, place the sopapillas on a plate covered in a paper towel. This will help soak up any excess grease.

• Keep repeating the process with all of the remaining dough. 

• 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.

Variation ideas:

• You can also dust the sopapillas with powder sugar before serving.

• Another idea we love is to use a cinnamon sugar mixture on top of the sopapillas. This is tasty alone or you can also drizzle honey on top with this.

• Top with fresh fruit and whipped cream. Strawberries and blueberries are delicious.

• These can be enjoyed as a savory dish instead of sweet. They are tasty stuffed with taco meat. Then add your favorite toppings.

• Dip in honey instead of drizzling the honey. Sometimes the kids like to dip instead.

• Not as traditional but chocolate sauce is delicious with these and great for dipping. I bet your kids will love this idea.

• Make the dough into different shapes. You can do any shape or size you prefer. The key is just making sure the dough is rolled into the same thickness. This will help them to cook evenly in the oil.

Can you make these in advance?

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.

How to Store:

These can be stored up to 4 days in the fridge or in the freezer up to 2 months.

Just make sure to use an airtight container.

To reheat, bake for 4 to 5 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Spread them out on a baking sheet.

Be careful not to overcook them or they will get dry. You just want them warm when reheating.

What oil is best to fry Homemade sopapillas?

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.

Print this easy Sopapilla recipe:

More easy dessert recipes:

• Fried Ice Cream Recipe
• Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe
• Homemade Brownie Recipe
• Easy Microwave Fudge Recipe
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars