Servings
Font
Back
Authentic Sopapillas Recipe
5 from 33 votes

Authentic Sopapillas Recipe

Authentic Sopapillas are airy, crisp fried pastries made from a dough of flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, vegetable shortening, warm water, and milk. Rolled and fried in hot oil, they puff up to form hollow pockets with light, crisp exteriors. Sprinkled with a cinnamon sugar mix, sopapillas offer a distinctive sweet and airy treat.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Additional Time
30 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 28 pieces
Calories: 91 kcal
Course: Dessert

Ingredients

Sopapillas:
  • 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
  • 3/4 cup water lukewarm
  • 1/2 cup milk lukewarm, whole
  • vegetable oil or canola oil
Cinnamon Sugar:
  • 1 cup white cane sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Sopapillas:
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large bowl add dry ingredients: 3 cups of flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Whisk to combine.
  2. Add shortening and using your fingers or a pastry blender, combine it with the flour mix until it is fully rubbed in and the mixture resembles sand.
  3. Scoop a well in the center of the flour and shortening mix and add warm water and warm milk. Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until well combined.
  4. Once combined, use your hands to knead the dough, for about 5 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add the remaining 1/3 cup of flour a little at a time. The dough should be just lightly sticky, easy to work with, soft and smooth.
  5. Knead the dough into a smooth ball. If needed, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface while you knead it. Once you form a ball, place the dough on a lightly floured surface and cover it with a damp towel. Let it rest for 30 minutes. The dough can also be wrapped in plastic food wrap and refrigerated for 24 hours.
Roll and slice:
  1. After 30 minutes, cut the dough into 4, and roll each piece into a small, smooth ball. You can also skip cutting the ball into pieces, and just roll the entire piece, it's just harder to work with it this way.
  2. One by one, roll out each ball on a floured surface into an imperfect rectangle that is about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Cut into 3-inch squares and arrange them on a tray that has been covered with parchment paper.
Fry:
  1. Add oil to a deep pan, saucepan, or deep-fryer. If using a pan/saucepan, you need to fill it with at least 4 inches of oil.
  2. Once the oil is hot, 375 degrees F, add Sopapillas a few at a time, and fry until golden brown on both sides.
  3. Cook only until golden brown on each side. Remove and place on a cooling rack that has been placed inside a baking dish. This is done to drain any remaining excess oil.
Cinnamon Sugar:
  1. Add cinnamon and sugar to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Toss one by one, the still hot Sopapillas into the Cinnamon Sugar mixture or just sprinkle it on top.
  2. Serve warm drizzled with honey.

Notes

  • Use vegetable shortening for a dough that holds shape and crisps well during frying.
  • Fry sopapillas in small batches to allow them to puff fully without crowding.
  • Handle flips gently to avoid poking holes and losing puffiness.
  • Refrigerate dough for up to 24 hours if preparing in advance; it holds well.
  • Maintain frying oil temperature with a thermometer for even cooking.

Nutrition Information

Calories 91kcal (5%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 0g (0%) Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 86mg (4%) Potassium 85mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 35IU (1%) Calcium 45mg (5%) Iron 1.1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 28 pieces

Amount Per Serving

Calories 91

% Daily Value*

Calories 91kcal 5%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 86mg 4%
Potassium 85mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 35IU 1%
Calcium 45mg 5%
Iron 1.1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.