Okay, so yesterday I was feeling kinda adventurous in the kitchen, decided to tackle some Cajun desserts. I mean, I love Cajun food, but never really explored the sweet side of things, ya know?
First up, I figured I’d try my hand at Beignets. I remember having these in New Orleans once and they were amazing, so I googled a recipe. Found one that seemed easy enough – basically a yeasted dough, deep-fried, and covered in powdered sugar. Sounded simple, right? Well, not exactly.
I started by mixing the yeast with warm water and sugar. It foamed up nicely, so I knew the yeast was alive and kicking. Then, I added the milk, melted butter, egg, and flour. The recipe said to knead it until it was smooth and elastic. Let me tell you, my arms got a workout! It took a good 10 minutes of kneading before the dough finally came together. I put it in a greased bowl, covered it, and let it rise for like, two hours.
After the dough had doubled in size, I punched it down (which was kinda satisfying, not gonna lie) and rolled it out on a lightly floured surface. The recipe said to cut it into squares, about 2-3 inches each. I fried them in hot oil until they were golden brown and puffy. They looked pretty good, I gotta say! But… they were a little greasy. I think the oil wasn’t hot enough. Next time, I’ll definitely make sure the oil is hotter before frying.
Anyway, I piled them high on a plate and doused them in powdered sugar. They were still warm and fluffy, and even though they were a bit greasy, they tasted pretty darn good! Especially with a cup of coffee.
Next, I decided to try Sweet Potato Pie. Now, I’ve made pumpkin pie before, but never sweet potato. Figured it couldn’t be too different. I boiled some sweet potatoes until they were soft, then mashed them with butter, sugar, eggs, and spices. I used cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little bit of ginger. The filling smelled amazing!
I poured the filling into a pre-made pie crust (I wasn’t feeling ambitious enough to make my own crust) and baked it in the oven until it was set. The top was a beautiful golden brown. I let it cool completely before slicing into it. It tasted really good! The sweet potatoes gave it a unique flavor that was different from pumpkin pie, but just as delicious. It was rich and creamy and the spices added a nice warmth.
Overall, my Cajun dessert adventure was a success, even with the slightly greasy beignets. I learned a few things, had some fun in the kitchen, and ended up with some yummy treats. I’d definitely make both of these desserts again!
- Beignets – next time, hotter oil!
- Sweet Potato Pie – nailed it!
Maybe next time I’ll try pecan pralines! Gotta keep experimenting, right?
