Heart-Shaped Valentine's Beignets Recipe With Delicious Filling (2024)

Getting ready for V-day? Then you don’t want to skip these delicious, romantic, and flavor-filled Valentine’s beignets. These do take some time to make but are still super easy with my step-by-step guide today. They are uber soft and fluffy, and some of them are loaded with a rich, creamy Nutella filling.

And you can serve them with any one of my other Valentine’s day-inspired meals! You can try thisValentine’s Day Vegan Smoothieor theseValentine’s Day Oreo Pops.

What Are Valentine’s Beignets?

Simply put, beignets are a classic type ofFrench pastrythat closely resembles a donut.

The yeast-leavened dough is super fluffy, soft, and slightly spongey to create a classic donut texture and flavor. What makes them slightly different is that they are usually filled with a super creamy filling (of any flavor) and heavily dusted with powdered sugar.

These are the perfect snacks to make for Valentine’s day. While the process takes some time, it’s still incredibly easy if you follow my guide. Check out my other beignets recipes, like Beignets Princess and The Frog (No Yeast) or Princess Tiana’s Famous Beignets.

Ingredients

Here is a breakdown of each ingredient in the beignet recipe and why they create an amazing end result!

For the beignet dough

Lukewarm Water: Lukewarm water helps to activate the yeast, which is essential for the dough to rise.

Yeast: Yeast is what gives beignets their fluffy, airy texture. The yeast reacts with sugar and water to produce carbon dioxide bubbles which help the pastries rise during baking.

Flour: Flour adds structure to the pastry and helps give it its bouncy texture. All-purpose flour is specially formulated with high protein levels to enable the dough to rise during frying or baking.

Salt: Adding salt to this recipe helps bring out the sweetness of other ingredients as well as give it that classic beignet taste. Salt also evens out any bitterness from the yeast in the batter.

Sugar: Sugar is essential for activating the yeast, allowing it to react and rise, which makes for a light, airy pastry. It’s also important for creating sweetness without adding too much extra liquid or fat to the batter.

Buttermilk: Buttermilk gives the dough a light, velvety texture and also adds flavor.

Vanilla Extract: A little bit of vanilla extract adds an extra level of flavor complexity to your beignets.

Melted butter: Melted butter adds flavor and moisture to the dough while also giving it a buttery richness when fried.

Eggs: Eggs add richness and depth of flavor as well as create a lightness and tender texture when added to beignets.

For the filling and garnishes

Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is what makes your beignets creamy and rich! You can add this directly into your filling or whip it up separately for a different type of garnish on top.

Nutella: Nutella is a delicious addition to any pastry. Be sure not to go overboard with it though! It’s great in small amounts as part of your filling or even as an extra drizzle on top once they’re done baking.

Powdered Sugar: Sprinkle some powdered sugar over your finished beignets before serving for an extra sweet touch!

How To Make Heart-Shaped Beignets

To make heart-shaped beignets, start by preheating your oven to 200ºF (93ºC). In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl, combine lukewarm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Stir gently and leave to rest for 10 minutes until the yeast starts foaming.

Next, add beaten egg, buttermilk, melted cooled butter, vanilla extract, salt, and mix well together.

Add in a small portion of the sifted flour while the mixer is running or while you are mixing with your hands. Knead until a smooth surface area is reached.

Transfer the dough to an oiled oven-proof bowl and cover it with plastic or cloth. Leave it inside the cooling oven with the door slightly open for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Remove the dough from the oven and roll it out on a lightly floured surface till 1/4 inch thick. Use a 2-inch heart cookie cutter to form the beignets.

Place them on a lined baking tray and put them back into the cooling oven for 20 minutes or until they double in size.

Preheat the frying oil to 360ºF (180ºC) and fry the beignets in batches for 30-60 seconds per side until golden brown. Place the beignets onto paper towels to drain excess oil before leaving them to cool for a few minutes.

If you go for the filling as well, prepare the Nutella filling by whipping heavy cream until light and fluffy, then combine it with a beaten Nutella mixture.

Place the resulting creamy filling into a piping bag and fill each heart-shaped beignet with it through a small hole poked in the side.

Add some powdered sugar on top and either serve them warm or let them cool down.

Tips And Tricks For These Valentine’s Beignets Recipe

• If your dough is still too sticky after adding the initial amount of flour, add a tablespoon extra at a time. Don’t add too much or it will get too dense.
• It helps to lightly dust your cookie cutter with flour before cutting the beignets. This simply prevents the dough from sticking to it and creates a beautiful, clean shape.
• You must avoid over-filling the pot when frying the beignets. If you do, they will cook unevenly and may not even puff up at all. You need that instant high heat that helps the treats get that lift during the initial 10-15 seconds. The remaining cooking time just helps the dough cook and the exterior get a crispy texture.
• You can technically use any type of filling that you’d like. I love a classic chocolate filling for a romantic Valentine’s day beignet. But a custard-based filling (like creme patisserie) will also work great! And, if you want to go all-in, you can color it red or pink to portray that Valentine’s Day theme!

Variations

More Delicious Desserts

• Homer Simpson’s Donuts
• Princess Tiana Beignets
• Valentine’s day Oreo Cookie Pops
• Heart Shaped Berliners

FAQs