By Laurel Perry
Published May 3, 2025
Homemade sopapillas are deliciously fried pillows of dough from New Mexico. Whenever I want a sweet treat, I whip these up with simple pantry ingredients and enjoy them with a drizzle of sweet honey. The puffed dough is crispy and airy, and so easy to make. Whether dusted with cinnamon sugar, served plain or with traditional honey, they’re always a hit in my kitchen!
For me, making homemade sopapillas is like a little trip to the Southwest. These golden, puffed-up beauties are quick bread that fries up light and hollow, begging to be drizzled with honey or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
I grew up eating fried dough and churros at fairs with a heaping coat of powdered sugar. These sopapillas remind me of those carefree days, but with a delicious Southwestern twist. Their light, crispy exterior, and hollow center make them perfect for soaking up sweet honey or carrying a dusting of cinnamon sugar, creating a treat that’s both simple and irresistible.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ▢ 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
- ▢ ¼ cup shortening
- ▢ 1 ½ cups warm water*
- ▢ oil for frying** 4-6 cups, 2-3 inches of oil in the pot
- ▢ honey for serving
Video
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt to combine. 4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt
- Add in the shortening and warm water. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix. Cover and let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. ¼ cup shortening, 1 ½ cups warm water*
- Lightly flour your surface and roll the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 3-inch squares. They don’t have to be perfect.
- Heat 1 ½ inches of oil in a Dutch oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. oil for frying**
- Once hot, fry the sopapillas in batches until golden and puffed, about 1-2 minutes per side. Fry only a few pieces at a time to avoid overcrowding the pot, which can lower the oil temperature and result in soggy sopapillas. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
- Repeat until all the sopapillas have been fried.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of honey. honey
Equipment
- 1 Deep Frying Thermometer
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Homemade Sopapillas Step by Step
Gather all your ingredients.
Combine the Ingredients: Grab a large mixing bowl and whisk together 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp salt. Add ¼ cup shortening and 1 ½ cups warm water to the dry ingredients.
Form the Dough: Using a spatula or spoon, mix the ingredients together until a dough forms. Cover the mixing bowl and set it aside to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Roll out the Dough: Place the dough on a lightly floured, clean workspace. Roll the dough into a ¼-inch thick rectangle.
Portion out the Dough: Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 3-inch squares. Don’t worry about them being perfect.
Heat the Frying Oil: Heat up 1 ½ inches of frying oil in a Dutch oven. The oil should reach 375°F before frying. Use a thermometer to check the temperature. Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
Fry the Dough: Once the temperature of the oil has reached 375°F, fry the sopapillas in batches until they’re golden and puffed. Fry only a few pieces at a time to avoid overcrowding the pot, which can lower the oil temperature and result in soggy sopapillas. This should take about 1-2 minutes per side. When frying in batches, allow the oil to return to 375°F before frying the next batch.
Drain the Fried Dough : Remove the sopapillas from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on the lined baking sheets to drain.
Finish the Sopapillas: Repeat until all the sopapillas are fried. Serve warm with a drizzle of honey or cinnamon sugar. Enjoy!
How to Store and Reheat
If you have leftover sopapillas, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a day. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to restore crispness.
Serving Suggestions
Traditional sopapillas are drizzled with honey, but you can also dust them with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or even a drizzle of melted chocolate for a dessert twist. My family loves these all the same ways we’d enjoy fried dough at the fair, and we love them for Cinco de Mayo . I’ve also tried this recipe with a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough for a subtle twist. We love to enjoy them with cups of hot drinking chocolate !
More Dessert Recipes to Try
Dutch Baby
Rocky Road Fudge
Mini Cinnamon Rolls
Deep Fried Brownie Bites
Homemade Sopapillas
Equipment
- 1 Deep Frying Thermometer
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup shortening
- 1 ½ cups warm water*
- oil for frying** 4-6 cups, 2-3 inches of oil in the pot
- honey for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt to combine. 4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt
- Add in the shortening and warm water. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix. Cover and let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. ¼ cup shortening, 1 ½ cups warm water*
- Lightly flour your surface and roll the dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 3-inch squares. They don’t have to be perfect.
- Heat 1 ½ inches of oil in a Dutch oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. oil for frying**
- Once hot, fry the sopapillas in batches until golden and puffed, about 1-2 minutes per side. Fry only a few pieces at a time to avoid overcrowding the pot, which can lower the oil temperature and result in soggy sopapillas. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
- Repeat until all the sopapillas have been fried.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of honey. honey
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
