How to Make Sopapillas (a fail-proof recipe!)

Have you ever wondered how to make sopapillas from scratch?  I’ve used my 30+ years of sopapilla eating experiences to create the perfect fail-proof recipe for you!

I’ve been eating sopapillas my whole life.  The first time I had sopapillas was at Leal’s Restaurant in Clovis, New Mexico.  I loved the warm, crispy crunch of the sopapillas drenched in sweet gooey honey.

I also loved that most of the New Mexican restaurants I frequented as a child would automatically serve sopapillas after the meal.  Plus, I didn’t have to spend any effort convincing my parents to order dessert – they were freely provided!

For the longest time, it never occurred to me that I could learn how to make sopapillas.  I thought it was some magical skill that was exclusive to New Mexican restaurants.

That’s why when I finally tried to experiment with homemade sopapillas, I was amazed at how easy they were!  Even on my first try, the batch of sopapillas turned out perfectly fluffy, crisp and delicious.

I wanted to make sure all sopapilla lovers are able to make these wonderful treats at home, so I am sharing my recipe with you!

How to Make Sopapillas

To make homemade sopapillas, you’ll need:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp butter, melted
• 3/4 cup water
• oil for frying

You’ll start by combining all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.  Once mixed, add in butter and water, and mix the dough with your hands until it’s smooth.

This sopapilla dough sits in the bowl and gets covered with a towel for about 20 minutes.

Once the sopapilla dough has rested, roll it out into a thin sheet, about 1/4″ thick.  Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut it into small 3″ squares.

Heat 4″ of oil in a sturdy pot over medium-high heat, until temp reaches 375 degrees.  Add sopapilla dough, one square at a time, until it crisps up and turns golden brown.

If your oil is hot enough, this takes about 15 seconds per side.

If your homemade sopapillas are not fluffing up (like the video above), try rolling them out to make them more thin.

Once they’re golden brown, remove them with metal tongs and place in a paper-towel lined bowl.

If you like traditional tortillas, serve warm with pure honey.

If you want variety, you can sprinkle the sopapillas with cinnamon and sugar when they’re just out of the oil.

You can also make stuffed sopapillas by topping them with cooked ground beef, beans, tomatoes, green chile, and cheese!

There’s really no wrong way to eat a homemade sopapilla.

Homemade Sopapilla Recipe

3.81 from 51 votes

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How to Make Sopapillas

Homemade fresh sopapillas made from scratch.

Course Dessert

Cuisine New Mexican

Keyword flour, sopapillas from scratch

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 16 sopapillas

Calories 136 kcal

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp butter melted
• 3/4 cup water
• oil for frying

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Ad melted butter and water then mix the dough until it is smooth.
2. Return dough to the bowl and cover with a towel for 20 minutes.
3. Turn dough out onto a clean surface and use a rolling pin (or sturdy cup) to roll into 1/4" thickness. Use a knife or pizza roller to cut into 3" squares.
4. Heat 4" of oil in a sturdy pot over medium-high heat, until temperature reaches 375 degrees. Add sopapillas, one at a time, and fry until puffy and golden brown, about 15 seconds per side.
5. Remove from pot and transfer to a paper-towel lined bowl.

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Sopapillas

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 136 Calories from Fat 84

% Daily Value*

Fat 9.3g14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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