Shipley Donuts Face-Off: Beignets vs. Donuts (2024)

A scrumptious little puff of sweetness with dusted sugar over it or soft, pillowy, flavored, fried dough? It is a dilemma to choose between beignets and donuts at Shipley Donuts.

Considering both beignets and donuts are each other’s modification, it should not be this hard.

But it is.

And now we are split between the two.

Honestly, for Shipley Donuts, it is like choosing your favorite offspring.

No matter what we say, we have a sweet spot in our hearts for both.

However, we are incredibly excited to get into this battle of the favorites, and we hope to come up with a winner by the time we are done with this blog.

Let’s dive right in:

Shipley Donuts’ Anatomy of Beignets

Beignets are French donuts. No wonder they are so suave and have a 100% chance of stealing your girl.

The French term ‘beignet’ translates to ‘fried dessert,’ which pretty much sums up the anatomy of these sweet delights.

Beignets are mostly square pieces of dough deep-fried and dusted with powdered sugar.

These delicious snacks from Shipley Donuts are airy, soft, and fluffy enough to melt in your mouth as soon as you wrap your lips around them.

So the first and foremost difference between a donut and a beignet is the shape.

A Donut is usually available in their old-school circular shape with a hole in the middle (btw, if you want to know the unique story behind the inception of holes in the donuts, click here).

A Beignet, on the other hand, is a more stylish version of a donut. Think of it as donut’s edgy little cousin who thinks it is too cool for the world.

The ingredients Shipley Donuts uses in beignets are also slightly different.

Beignets are made with more yeast and fewer eggs, which makes these little delectable pastries puffy and soft in the middle.

Beignets are also lighter in taste and weight compared to their hefty cousins.

But that does not mean beignets are any less fulfilling than donuts, especially considering how we serve them with chocolate or caramel dips. Yum!

Shipley Donuts’ Dissection of Donuts

Shipley Donuts, as we have all come to know and love, are fried circular-shaped dough with a hole in the middle.

The best thing about Shipley donuts is that they come in innumerable varieties. In fact, you can consider beignets as a variety of donuts.

Shipley Donuts are glazed. Shipley Donuts are flavored. Shipley Donuts are filled with jelly. Shipley Donuts are covered in chocolate.

And sometimes, Shipley donuts taste tangerine. (Try our lemon filled donuts, and you will know what we are talking about)

You can probably keep eating a different variety of donuts every day for an entire year and never repeat one.

Donut making process differs according to the kind of donut you are making.

Ideally, donuts are made with dough mixed with eggs, nutmeg, baking powder, cinnamon, and several other ingredients.

The dough is then shaped into a donut and deep-fried until it is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

Batters vary too and can include chocolate, lemon, fruits, or dry fruits, according to the type of donut you are making.

Donuts are more of an old-school type of snack, sticking to their roots, regardless of their evolution over the years.

So far, during more than 100 years of evolution, there’s only been one fundamental change to the design of donuts: the inception of holes in them. Even that was accidental if you believe the old sailor story.

The Face-Off

Alright, the time has come to pitch these two toothsome pastries against each other.

Puff vs. Hole. Round vs. Square. Edgy vs. Old school. Donuts vs. Beignets.

At Shipley Donuts, we swear by the taste and flavor of both of these pastries.

Therefore, it is not easy for us to choose a winner.

But, we can’t always play the middle ground. This time, we have to choose a clear winner.

So, we have decided to judge these two contenders on three bases: taste, flavor, and variety.

Taste

In terms of taste, both beignets and donuts are a treat to your mouth. We serve them hot, delicious, and ready to consume.

Our beignets are served fresh and sweet but not overwhelmingly so. They are airy, tender, and delightful to the last bite.

Our beignets also have a distinct texture, which allows them to melt in your mouth as soon as you take a bite.

Our donuts, on the other hand, are a yardstick for the representation of our taste. The Shipley Donuts menu has your favorite donuts of all time.

We have been serving ready-to-eat donuts since 1936. Since Lawrence Shipley Sr. came up with the gourmet receipt for donuts, our donuts have been one of our most proud products.

As Lawrence Shipley Sr. once said, “When they bite into that hot donut, it will bring them back every time.”

  • Flavor

Beignets are available in one single flavor, but they often come with different sauce and dips.

For instance, beignets served with chocolate dip have a different flavor compared to beignets served with sour cream.

So when it comes to flavors for beignets, they are as good as the products they are served with.

Donuts come in several flavors. From fresh lime to butterscotch, you can practically have a donut in every flavor you can think of.

Shipley Donuts has a flavor of donuts for your every mood.

  • Variety

When it comes to variety, beignets are way past their cousins. Beignets mostly come in a single variety and you can serve them with other snacks to add to their flavor.

On the flip side, donuts have as much variety as there are emotions. Shipley Donuts’ menu itself has more than 60 varieties of donuts.

That means you can eat different donuts for the next two months without having to repeat unless you want to try out your favorite again and again.

The Shipley Donuts Decision

According to the set perimeters, donuts have come out of the contest victorious. Hurray!

But that does not mean beignets are not worth it.

It is all subjective. Whether you want to bite into hot, pillowy beignets or wrap your lips around soft Shipley donuts, it is your choice.

Some people like beignets, some prefer donuts, but everyone knows Shipley Donuts is the best place to get your hands on the tastiest beignets and donuts.

Shipley Donuts offer 24*7 drive-thru and delivery.

Shipley Donuts prices are also low and easy on your pocket. So you know you can buy a weekend’s worth of donuts and beignets without worrying about your dough if you catch our drift.

So whether you choose beignets or donuts or both, you can visit your nearest Shipley Donut outlet or order online through myshipleydonuts.com to satiate your hunger for these mouth-watering pastries.

Shipley Donuts Face-Off: Beignets vs. Donuts (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between beignets and doughnuts? ›

Donuts Are Denser

The texture of donuts and beignets is different due to the ingredients used. While both of these pastries fall on the side of light and fluffy, donuts are typically more dense than beignets. This is in part because of the difference in the dough; donuts aren't made with choux pastry like beignets.

What makes beignets different? ›

Beignets are different than doughnuts in a few ways. First, the dough is made with a single rise. This creates a chewy texture rather than a fluffy one. Because of this, the doughnuts taste best hot from the fryer.

Are beignets just donuts? ›

As for what it is, beignets can most simply be described as French doughnuts. Beignets are made with a yeasted, sweetened dough that, after being allowed to rise, is cut into squares, fried, and liberally doused in powdered sugar. They are light, airy, pillowy pastries.

What are the two main types of doughnuts? ›

While cake doughnuts and yeast doughnuts are both delicious, they are made with different ingredients and unique methods. It's helpful to understand how to make doughnuts to know just what makes them different.

Why are beignets sold in threes? ›

You might be wondering, why are beignets served in threes? This tradition varies from place to place, but many believe it's simply because three is the perfect number for a satisfying treat!

Are beignets the same as Italian donuts? ›

The main difference between a beignet and a zeppole is the dough as well as the shape. Zeppoles are looser than beignets, and the dough tends to be stickier.

Why are my beignets not fluffy? ›

Do not add too many pieces to the oil or else the oil temperature will drop and your beignets will be fry up flat. They will not puff up. The only other reason the dough does not puff up would be if you rolled the beignet dough too flat. Try rolling the dough a little thicker.

What is the cousin of a beignet? ›

Beignets are one of New Orleans' signature sweet treats. But this powdered-sugar-dusted-delicacy has a lesser-known cousin, the cala, with a fascinating and unique history.

Why are my beignets raw in the middle? ›

Why are my beignets raw in the middle? Oil that's too hot will quickly brown the beignets before the centers have a chance to cook. Make sure to check your oil temperature, and reduce the heat if your beignets are browning too quickly.

Are beignets just funnel cake? ›

The texture of a good beignet is also juicier and the individual doughs balls are less splintered than the funnels of a funnel cake. A beignet looks more similar to a powdered donut than a funnel cake.

Are Malasadas like beignets? ›

When I lived in Honolulu, I was obsessed with Malasadas - Hawaii's version of the Beignet. Fat Tuesday is Malasada Day in Hawaii. A malasada is a fried, sugar-coated Portuguese donut and it is meant to use up all the fat and sugar in the house before Lent begins.

What's the difference between beignets and bomboloni? ›

“I do think a major difference between beignets and bombolini is yeast. But, it's not only yeast. The biggest difference is that traditional bombolini contains more fat (i.e. egg yolks, milk) than most beignet doughs. Beignet doughs are typically leaner, which is why they fry into a poofy crisp.”

What is a donut without a hole called? ›

In fact, there are various types of doughnuts that do not have a hole, such as beignets, fritters, and cake doughnuts. These doughnuts are usually denser and have a different texture and taste compared to traditional doughnuts.

What is the most ordered donut? ›

Glazed donuts are the most popular donut flavor because of their simplicity and sweetness. They are perfect for breakfast or as a snack.

What is the rarest donut? ›

The priciest doughnut on the planet is filled with champagne and topped with 24-karat gold. It's called the Golden Cristal Ube, and a dozen will set you back $1,200.

What are New Orleans doughnuts called? ›

Beignets are deep-fried, soft, donut-like square pastries that are served warm with powdered sugar. This is a traditional New Orleans-style beignet recipe that's easy to make and can't be beat! Grab a café au lait and you're set!

What do the French call a donut? ›

noun. le beignet masc. a jam doughnut un beignet à la confiture.

What is the difference between French beignets and New Orleans beignets? ›

The difference between classic French beignets and the New Orleans-style fritters seen can be found in the preparation of the dough. The former is made from pâte à choux, while those from the Big Easy are made from leavened dough that's cut into squares and fried until crispy on the outside and airy within.

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