Elephant Ears Cinnamon Sugar (Printer Version)

Crispy fried dough sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, offering a deliciously golden, sweet treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
02 - 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 2 1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour

→ For Frying

07 - 3 cups vegetable oil (for deep frying)

→ Topping

08 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
09 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (optional, for brushing)

# How to Prepare:

01 - Dissolve yeast in warm milk along with 2 tablespoons of sugar in a large bowl. Allow mixture to stand until foamy, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Incorporate melted butter and salt into the yeast mixture. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups of flour, mixing thoroughly. If sticky, add additional flour up to 1/2 cup, one tablespoon at a time, to achieve a soft, smooth dough.
03 - Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes until elastic. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm environment until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
04 - Combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow dish; set aside for later use.
05 - Punch down risen dough and divide into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball, then stretch or roll out each into an oval approximately 8 inches in length.
06 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C).
07 - Fry one or two pieces at a time, turning once, until golden brown and puffed, about 1 minute per side. Drain briefly on paper towels.
08 - Optionally brush fried dough with melted butter, then immediately dredge both sides in cinnamon sugar. Serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The dough is forgiving and stretches beautifully even if youve never worked with yeast before.
  • They fry up in under two minutes, so you can feed a crowd without standing over the stove forever.
  • The cinnamon sugar crust gets just crispy enough to crackle when you bite in.
  • Theyre best eaten warm, which means you get to taste them right out of the pan.
02 -
  • If the oil is too hot, the dough will brown before it cooks through, so keep a thermometer handy.
  • Stretching the dough thin is the secret to that airy, delicate texture, thick spots will turn chewy instead of crisp.
  • Coat them in cinnamon sugar while theyre still hot and slightly oily, thats when it sticks best and forms that perfect crust.
03 -
  • Let the dough rest for a few minutes after dividing it into pieces, it makes stretching much easier.
  • Fry only one or two at a time so the oil temperature stays steady and they cook evenly.
  • If the dough resists stretching, cover it and let it rest for 5 more minutes before trying again.
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