Thera’s Canadian Fried Dough

by

Description

If you have ever been in Canada, especially Ottawa, Ontario, we have a pastry called BeaverTails® — a whole-wheat pastry, fried and covered in an assortment of goodies. The Indians originally made these, but they were called pigs’ ears. Over the years I have perfected the recipe to the point where I and my friends no longer go out to get them. I just make ’em at home! Enjoy, EH!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • 5 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 pinch white sugar
  • 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 beaten eggs
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 5 cups whole-wheat flour, divided
  • 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste

Instructions

  1. Mix warm water
  2. yeast
  3. and 1 pinch of sugar in a large bowl
  4. and let stand until the yeast begins to foam and form a creamy layer
  5. about 5 minutes. Stir in milk
  6. 1/3 cup sugar
  7. salt
  8. vanilla extract
  9. eggs
  10. and 1/3 cup vegetable oil until the sugar has dissolved. Mix in about half the whole-wheat flour
  11. and stir until the dough is too stiff to add more flour. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface
  12. and knead in more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Knead until smooth and elastic
  13. about 10 minutes. Form the dough into a ball
  14. place into an oiled bowl
  15. and cover. Let rise until the dough has doubled in size
  16. about 1 hour.
  17. Punch down the dough
  18. knead a few times to reshape it
  19. and pinch off a piece of dough about the size of an egg. Roll the dough ball out into an oval shape about 1/4 inch thick. Place finished fried dough on a cloth and cover while you finish rolling out the pastries.
  20. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large
  21. deep skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil should be at least 4 inches deep. Combine 2 cups of sugar with cinnamon to taste in a shallow dish or pie plate
  22. and set aside.
  23. Gently lower the pastries
  24. one at a time
  25. into the hot oil
  26. and fry 1 to 2 minutes per side until golden brown. Blot excess oil from fried pastries with paper towels; gently press each pastry into the cinnamon sugar while still warm. Shake off excess sugar.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins

Servings: 20

Leave a Comment