administratorPet de Nonne, which literally translates to “nun’s fart” 😉, are light, airy French pastries made from choux pastry and then deep-fried to golden perfection. Similar in concept to Spanish or Mexican churros (also featured on the blog), these little delights have been enjoyed in France since the Middle Ages. After frying, they are traditionally tossed in cinnamon sugar or dusted with powdered sugar.
With Mardi Gras just around the corner in France, and Poland’s Fat Thursday coming up in a couple of days, these treats are perfect for celebrating! They’re surprisingly simple to make, and most of the ingredients are likely already in your kitchen.
Ingredients
125 ml water
125 ml milk
80 g butter, cut into small pieces
1 packet of vanilla sugar
1/2 tsp salt
130 g all-purpose flour
4 eggs
Oil for deep frying (I used sunflower oil)
For dusting:
Powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, combine the water and milk. Add the butter, vanilla sugar, and salt, and bring to a boil.
Once the butter has melted, add all the flour at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a smooth dough that pulls away from the sides of the pan.
Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl or stand mixer. While beating, add 3 of the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
Beat the fourth egg separately and gradually add it to the dough until the consistency is slightly looser than warm pudding.
Frying
Fill a deep pan or pot with oil to a depth of 3–4 cm and heat to 170°C (340°F).
Form walnut-sized balls of dough. There are several ways to do this:
Using two spoons to shape the balls
Using a small ice cream scoop
Using a piping bag and cutting the dough with a knife
Tip: If using spoons, dip them in the hot oil before each scoop to prevent sticking.
Fry the dough balls in batches, turning them until golden brown. Keep in mind that they nearly double in size while frying.
Transfer the fried pastries to a plate lined with paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar while still warm.
These airy, crispy little treats are perfect for celebrations or as a sweet indulgence with coffee or tea.
