Want more of my bakery favorites? Try our Homemade Scones, Cinnamon Roll Biscuits, Strawberry Crepes, or Buttermilk Biscuits!
How to make Sopapillas:
Make Dough: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add shortening then cut it in with forks or a pastry blender. Gradually stir in water until the mixture comes together. Knead dough in the bowl for a few minutes until smooth. They’re often served as dessert, topped with honey, powdered sugar, or cinnamon sugar, but they can also be served savory style and stuffed with meats and cheeses. They are absolutely heavenly and so easy to make. Rest: Cover bowl tightly then allow the dough to rest for 20 minutes – this is an important step so they “pillow up”. Roll dough into a square about 1/8-inch thick. Cut three strips vertically and horizontally to make 9 pieces. Fry: Add about 1-2 inches of oil to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil is lightly bubbling, lay a square of dough very carefully onto the hot oil. It will sink to the bottom and then begin to float to the top of the oil. Once it floats to the top, lightly drizzle hot oil over the top of it as it cooks, which will help it to pillow-up. Cook for about 30 seconds then flip to the other side and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Serve homemade sopapillas warm, with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of honey, or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Store leftover sopapillas at room temperature for 1-2 days.
Freezing Instructions:
To Freeze Dough (recommended method): Make the dough and freeze dough in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter until it comes to room temperature, then roll out the dough and fry as instructed. To Freeze Fried Sopapillas: Freeze cooled pastries for up to 2 months. To reheat, allow them to thaw completely then bake at 300°F for about 5-8 minutes (turning halfway through) until warm. I originally shared this recipe February 2020 . Updated August 2024.
This post contains affiliate links.
