These sopapillas with honey are puffy, golden pillows of fried dough that you drizzle with warm honey and eat right away, ready in about 75 minutes including a 30 minute rest.
The dough uses flour, baking powder, butter, and warm water, and it rests before rolling. When the squares hit the hot oil they puff up with hollow centers, which is ideal for honey to run into.
Table of Contents
Why This Sopapillas with Honey Recipe Works
Resting makes them puff. A 30 minute rest relaxes the gluten, so the dough rolls thin and puffs into hollow pockets in the oil.
Butter keeps the dough tender. Rubbing it into the flour coats the grains and gives a soft, flaky bite.
They take only pantry ingredients. Flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, butter, water, and honey are all you need, plus oil for frying.
Ingredients for Sopapillas with Honey
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for frying
- 1/4 cup honey, for drizzling
All purpose flour. Provides structure. Measure it by spooning it into the cup and leveling it off.
Baking powder. A small amount helps the squares puff and stay light.
Butter. Softened butter rubbed into the flour makes a tender dough.
Warm water. Warm water, about 110 degrees F, hydrates the flour and relaxes the dough.
Honey. Warm honey drizzled over hot sopapillas is the classic finish.
How to Make Sopapillas with Honey
1. Mix the dry ingredients Stir the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together in a large bowl.
2. Cut in the butter Rub the softened butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture looks crumbly.
3. Form the dough Pour in the warm water gradually, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
4. Knead the dough Knead on a lightly floured surface for 3 to 4 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
5. Rest the dough Cover the dough with a clean towel and rest for 30 minutes.
6. Roll and cut Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut it into 3 inch squares, about 16 pieces.
7. Heat the oil Heat the oil in a deep pot to 350 degrees F, checking with a thermometer.
8. Fry the squares Fry a few squares at a time for 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning once, until puffed and golden.
9. Drain and serve Drain on paper towels and drizzle with honey while hot.
How to Serve Sopapillas with Honey
Serve the sopapillas hot with a warm bowl of honey for drizzling, plus a dusting of cinnamon sugar. They pair well with fresh peach cobbler and baked cinnamon rice pudding on a dessert table. Add ricotta cannoli cookies and dark chocolate mousse for a bigger spread. They also work as a side with spicy savory meals.
How to Store and Reheat Sopapillas with Honey
Sopapillas are ideal when eaten within an hour of frying. Cool leftovers completely and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Warm them in an oven set to 350 degrees F for 5 minutes to refresh the crunch. Freeze cut, unfried squares between sheets of parchment for up to 1 month, then thaw before frying.
Tips and Variations for Sopapillas with Honey
Keep the dough thin. Rolling to 1/4 inch gives pillows that puff fully.
Use a thermometer. Hold the oil at 350 degrees F, since oil that is too cool makes greasy sopapillas and oil that is too hot burns them before they cook through.
Fry with care. Keep water away from the hot oil and never leave the pot unattended.
Drizzle honey at the end. Warm honey spreads better and sinks into the hollow centers.
Skip the raw dough. The dough contains raw flour, so do not taste it before frying.
Keep honey from young children. Honey is not safe for children under 1 year of age.
Flag the allergens. Sopapillas contain wheat and dairy, so label them for guests with allergies.
Frying safety. For general guidance on safe oil temperatures and handling hot food, see the Texas AgriLife Extension food safety guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sopapillas with Honey
Why did my sopapillas with honey not puff?
The oil may be too cool or the dough rolled too thick. Keep the oil at 350 degrees F and roll the dough 1/4 inch thick.
Can I make sopapillas with honey ahead of time?
Make the dough up to a day ahead and refrigerate it, then roll and fry fresh. Fried pieces are ideal when eaten the same day.
Can I bake sopapillas with honey instead of frying them?
Baking gives a flatter, drier result, so frying is the way to get the hollow, puffy centers.
Can I use shortening instead of butter?
Yes. Vegetable shortening is traditional and makes a slightly crisper sopapilla.
What oil should I use for frying?
Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as canola, vegetable, or peanut oil.
Sopapillas with Honey
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Rolling Pin
- Heavy pot
- deep fry thermometer
- Paper towels
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cup all purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup warm water
- 4 cup vegetable oil for frying
- ¼ cup honey for drizzling
Instructions
Cooking
- Make the dough. Mix the dry ingredients, rub in the butter, add the warm water, and knead for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth.
- Rest. Cover and rest the dough for 30 minutes.
- Cut. Roll 1/4 inch thick and cut into 3 inch squares.
- Heat the oil. Warm the oil to 350 degrees F in a deep pot.
- Fry. Fry in small batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until puffed and golden.
- Serve. Drain on paper towels and drizzle with honey while hot.
