Guest Post - Sopapillas

ByBluebonnet Baker
34 Comments

This week, I’m visiting my home state of Texas. Several of my blogging friends agreed to do guest posts for me. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Kristen from Dine & Dish is one of the most genuine and lovely bloggers I have had the pleasure of meeting. She has a passion for helping other bloggers find their voice, and it makes me incredibly grateful to know her. Her equal dedication to family is what makes her blogging style so special to me. Happy Valentine's Day!

My Grandma Wogan lived in Union Star, MO... a tiny little sleeper town in northwest Missouri. As tiny as the town was, I remember it being full of magic spots when I was a little girl. She lived in a log cabin (that always smelled like coffee), which was about as far different from our suburban ranch home as it could be. She had huge trees all over her lot, with a big tire swing in her backyard. My sister and I would spend hours just swinging on that swing, feeling like we were flying up to the highest tree branches.

I remember the underground walking path too... to get from one side of the road to the side where the elementary school was, you'd walk down through a tunnel that went under the road. Really, is there anything cooler than a tunnel to a little kid? I'm sure it wasn't very long, but I remember it being so unique and mysterious. When we went to visit Grandma, the first thing I always wanted to do was go to the tunnel.

I have so many fond memories of going to Grandmas. Unlike most of you, I don't recall my Grandma ever doing much cooking. I do remember every time we went to her house we would head into town and go to Barbosas, a Mexican restaurant located in a huge castle. It was at Barbosas that I first fell in love with Sopapillas... pillowy puffs of fried dough, sprinkled with brown sugar and filled with honey. I always called them Barbie pillows because to me, that's exactly what they would have been perfect for!

As I was making up a batch of Sopapillas this morning, my mind was wandering to time spent with my Grandma Wogan, and I began missing her very much. Those of you who still have your grandparents alive... treasure that relationship and spend as much time with them as you can. Love them fiercely now so you can have the most wonderful memories when they are no longer here to make memories with.

Puffy Pillowy Sopapillas

    2 Cups Flour
    1 teaspoon baking powder
    ½ teaspoon salt
    2 Tablespoons shortening
    ¾ cup warm water
    Oil for frying
    ¼ cup sugar
    2 Tablespoons cinnamon
  1. In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
  2. large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt and shortening. Stir in water; mix until dough is smooth. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes.
  3. Roll out on floured board until ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Cut into 3 inch squares. Heat oil in deep-fryer or large dutch oven to 375 degrees F . Place dough into the hot oil, 2 at a time, and cook until golden brown on both sides, approximately 3 minutes.
  4. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of each sopapilla with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  5. Serve warm. If desired, break open and drizzle with honey or maple syrup.

[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Guest Post - Sopapillas - - - [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]

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34 Comments

  1. I have never had sopapillas but it is guranteed I would love 'em. Fun guest post with the lovely Kristin 🙂 Hope you are having fun in Texas!

  3. I love sopapillas but have never made them. Not sure why...but they are a surefire draw to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. More than the sopapillas though is the reminder of Grandma. Mine was a good cook and we did share some of those memories but it was just her presence, her love...those are what I cherish and will never forget though she has been gone 30 years.

  4. for those who don't have a fryer, a friend of mine swears by the dutch oven method. cast iron so it can take the heat, enameled so it won't discolor, and high sides to keep the splatter under control. cheers!

  5. A fabulous guest post! Ever since I had these at NOPA in San Fran, I've been obsessed. They served them with this buttery caramel sauce... I'm drooling right now as I think about it. This brings back such wonderful memories.

  7. Never heard of a sopapilla, but they sound and look super tasty. Another grandma-inspired one is leftover pie dough scraps brushed with butter and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Similar to this but not as puffy. Yum!

  8. I love sopapillas! The first time I made them I smoked up the house though, and all the fire alarms went off. 😛 I need to try them again using your recipe!

  11. ooooh, I haven't had these in years, and I don't think I've ever made them!! they look Amazing!!

  13. LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. I had a grandma Rosemary who was a secretary. She was divorced and lived in an apartment and took the bus to the city to her job. I SOOO wanted to be like her!! I remember waiting for her at the bus stop to get home from work, so we could go for a walk or cook together. I always admired her independence and how talented she was in the kitchen.

    The sopapillas look amazing. I've never had one before!!

  14. Just lovely, Kristen! I first had sopapilla's in New Mexico and was instantly enamored. Now I can make my own? Perfect!

  15. Barbie pillows! So cute. Kristen, neither of my grandmothers were known for their cooking either. Glad it's not just me! 🙂

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