This irresistible Sopapilla recipe makes golden, puffy pockets of fried dough that are soft and airy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Whether you enjoy with honey and powdered sugar or your favorite savory toppings, these golden pastries are so easy to make and unbelievably delicious!
Love sopapillas? You’ll love these tasty donut recipes too: Jelly Donuts, Glazed Donuts and Raspberry Cheesecake Donuts.
What Are Sopapillas?
Ever heard of sopapillas? If not, you’re in for a treat! These little crispy pockets of fried dough are a beloved delicacy that originated in Spanish and Latin America cuisines. They’re typically made with a simple dough of flour, water, shortening or butter, and salt. The dough is rolled out and cut into squares or triangles and then deep-fried until they’re crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.
Sopapilla – Sweet and Savory Options
This Sopapilla recipe is extremely versatile and can be enjoyed as a sweet treat or as a savory dish. If you go the sweet route, they taste absolutely amazing when topped with honey and powdered sugar or cinnamon! Looking for something more savory? Try this sopapilla recipe with taco toppings like meat, cheese, beans, sour cream, etc.
They’re the perfect way to satisfy your sweet (or savory) tooth, whether you’re enjoying them for breakfast, dessert, or just a little mid-day snack. They’re a delicious and easy-to-make treat that’s sure to become a family favorite. I highly recommend giving them a try!
Get creative with your toppings! My family loves honey and powdered sugar, but you could also try a drizzle of hot fudge sauce, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream. Have fun with it!
How to Make Sopapillas
Sopapillas are incredibly easy to make. Because it isn’t a yeasted dough, it doesn’t require time to rise, which means you can make this delicious treat in less than 30 minutes! As always, you can find the full printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
- Use a pastry blender or fork to cut in the shortening.
- Stir in warm water until a dough forms.
- Knead for 2 to 3 minutes until dough is smooth.
- Cover with plastic wrap and rest for 15 minutes.
- Heat oil to 350°F to 360°F.
- Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface .
- Cut the dough into 12 squares or rectangles.
- Fry in batches for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider and place on a paper towel lined plate.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar and drizzle with honey if desired.
- Enjoy!
Sopapillas are best enjoyed fresh and hot as this is when they are the most crispy and fluffy!
Storage Information
Sopapillas are best enjoyed fresh. Due to their fried nature, they tend to become soggy and lose their crispiness when they are stored. Although, if you absolutely don’t want to part with those leftovers (if you even have any!), you can try the following:
- Room Temperature: Wrap cooled sopapillas in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
- Refrigerator: To make them last slightly longer, they can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-4 days.
- Freezer: Sopapillas can also be frozen. Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat them in a preheated oven at 350F until warmed through.
Topping Ideas
Sopapillas are often served as dessert, but they can also be served savory style too! These would be some fun sweet and savory toppings to try.
Sweet Toppings:
- Honey
- Cinnamon Sugar
- Fresh Berries
- Whipped cream
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Powdered Sugar
- Maple Syrup
- Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate Syrup or Hot Fudge
Savory Toppings:
We like to treat these like you would a tostada with taco toppings but these sopapillas are so versatile so be creative!
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, etc.)
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Sour Cream
- Ground Beef
- Bacon or Sausage
Can I make sopapillas ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the sopapilla dough ahead of time and let it rest in the refrigerator. However, it’s best to fry them fresh when ready to serve.
Can I make this sopapilla recipe in the air fryer?
Yes, you can make sopapillas in an air fryer. Simply preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C), spray the basket with olive oil spray, and cook the sopapillas for 8 minutes (flipping the sopapillas after 4 minutes.)
Trish’s Tips
- Make sure your oil is heated to the right temperature. This will ensure your sopapilla has a crispy exterior without it burning.
- After frying, place the sopapillas on a layer of paper towels. This helps to remove excess oil.
- If you’re planning on making sopapillas for a party or gathering, you can make the dough ahead of time and let it rest in the refrigerator. Just fry right before serving!
More Dessert Recipes to Try
- Giant Cinnamon Roll Cake
- Apple Pie Tacos
- Blackberry Turnovers
- Churro Cannoli
- Caramel Apple Empanadas
Sopapilla Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons shortening
- ½ cup warm water
- 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
Garnish (Optional)
- powdered sugar
- honey
Instructions
- Whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.1 ½ cups all purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Use a pastry blender or fork to cut in the shortening until the mixture is crumbly and well combined.1 ½ tablespoons shortening
- Slowly stir in the warm water until a dough forms.½ cup warm water
- Knead in bowl for 2 to 3 minutes until dough is smooth. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
- Place dough in clean bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Rest the dough for 15 minutes.
- Add the oil to a heavy bottomed skillet or dutch oven, about 2 inches deep. Heat oil to 350°F to 360°F.3 cups vegetable oil
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle, 9 x 12 inches.
- Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the dough into 12 squares or rectangles. You can make the sopapillas large or smaller if you prefer.
- Fry dough in batches being careful not to crowd the skillet or dutch oven.
- Fry each sopapilla for 1 to 2 minutes per side, just until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon or spider and place on a paper towel lined plate.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar and drizzle with honey if desired.powdered sugar, honey
Notes
- Room Temperature: Wrap cooled sopapillas in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
- Refrigerator: To make them last slightly longer, they can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-4 days.
- Freezer: Sopapillas can also be frozen. Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat them in a preheated oven at 350F until warmed through.
Cheri McNealy says
What is meant by “shortening”? Are we talking about butter? Or the shortening that comes in a can? Is it replaceable? I don’t use real shortening anymore so going out to be a can of it for one recipe isn’t likely to happen.
Thanks!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Shortening, like Crisco, and in this recipe it can be replaced with lard. Butter has a different melting point so it will yield different results. Hope that helps!
Bri says
I never used shortening in anything that calls for it and will swap out lard/bacon fat (real lead lard)