Easy Elephant Ears Recipe (2024)

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Easy Elephant Ears Recipe makes a great treat to enjoy at home. The pastry dough is fried to perfection and topped with cinnamon sugar.

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Easy Elephant Ears Recipe

No need to wait to enjoy this fabulous treat. We are going to show you how to make elephant ears at home. Don’t let the idea of making these fried pastries intimidate you.

It is very simple and we give you step by step instructions. The results are the best elephant ears.

Each bite is soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The topping takes it to the next level for a delicious treat.

Are elephant ears and fried dough the same thing?

They are made with very similar ingredients and both are fried. However, the dough is prepared differently.

You roll out Elephant ears such as a thin pizza before frying. Fried dough is not normally rolled out.

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Ingredients:

  • Flour
  • Salt
  • Baking Powder
  • warm water
  • Oil- Peanut, vegetable or canola oil work best for frying.
  • Sugar
  • Cinnamon

How to make elephant ears:

  • First, get out a medium size mixing bowl. Add the flour, salt and baking soda.
  • Second, slowly stir in the milk until a dough forms.
  • Next, gradually add in the water until the dough is formed. It is important to do this gradually because you may not need all of the water.
  • Once everything is combined, let the dough sit for 5 minutes.
  • After the 5 minutes, roll the dough out slightly into thin sheets and cut it into 6 pieces. Next, take each of those pieces and roll into balls of dough.
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  • Then flatten into ½ inch thick circles.
  • Now, add 3 inch of oil to 375 degrees in a large pot over medium heat. Place the dough circles in the hot oil and fry until the puff pastry is golden brown. It will poof up slightly and then you flip the dough after just a minute per side or more depending on your stove.
  • Fry the other side until the puffy pastry is puffed and golden. They should be golden brown. Remove from heat.
  • Line a plate with paper towels and put the fried dough on it to drain on paper towels. This will help to absorb any excess grease.
  • Finally, mix together the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.
  • Lay the elephant ears out on a baking sheet. Then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar while still warm.
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How to store elephant ears:

I store the leftovers in the refrigerator in an air tight container. They will stay fresh for up to 2-3 days.

You can reheat them in the microwave or in the oven. If you stored them without the cinnamon sugar you can brush them with melted butter and then sprinkle with cinnamon.

I normally just use a small saucepan to melt the butter.

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What to top on Elephant ears:

Traditionally, cinnamon and sugar goes on top. However, the possibilities are endless for this treat.

Other ideas include:

  • Caramel sauce. You can use store bought or make this easy recipe.
  • Nutella. My kids love this.
  • Powdered Sugar. Simple but delicious.

Whatever you decide to use, it will be delicious. I think your friends and family will love elephant ears.

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Print this elephant ears recipe:

Easy Elephant Ears

5 from 95 votes

Easy Elephant Ears Recipe makes a great treat to enjoy at home. The pastry dough is fried to perfection and topped with cinnamon sugar.

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 6

Cuisine American

Course Dessert

Calories 251

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Slowly stir in the warm water until a dough forms. Gradually add in the water until the dough is form (you may not need all the water).

  • Let the dough sit for 5 minutes.

  • Then roll the dough out slightly and cut it into 6 pieces.

  • Then roll out each piece into a ½ inch thick circles.

  • Heat 3 inches of the oil in a deep pot. Fry the dough circles in the oil until the dough is golden brown and poofs up slight. Then flip the dough to fry the other side.

  • Set the fried dough on a plate lined with paper towels.

  • Stir together the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture onto the dough while still warm.

  • Serve immediately while warm and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 251kcal, Carbohydrates 36g, Protein 4g, Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat 3g, Monounsaturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 1g, Sodium 230mg, Potassium 48mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 4g, Vitamin A 2IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 33mg, Iron 2mg

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About the Author

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Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Easy Elephant Ears Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between elephant ears and fried dough? ›

Yes, they are both fried dough covered in sugar but they are two completely different items. An Elephant Ear is a huge piece of dough stretched out to be as big as an elephant's ear then it's deep fried and topped with cinnamon sugar.

What is an elephant ear dessert made of? ›

Elephant ears are crispy, cinnamon-sugar fried bread confections!

What goes on an elephant ear? ›

There's nothing better than a cinnamon sugar fried dough kind of treat! Light, chewy on the inside, and crispy on the outside, these Elephant Ears Recipe are a special dessert. Sprinkled with cinnamon sugar or dusted with powdered sugar, it's the perfect touch to complete this special dessert.

What is Milanese style elephant ear? ›

It is traditionally prepared with a veal rib chop or sirloin bone-in and made into a breaded cutlet, fried in butter. Due to its shape, it is often called oreggia d'elefant in Milanese or orecchia d'elefante in Italian, meaning 'elephant's ear'.

What is the toxic substance in elephant ears? ›

Elephant ear is a common name for several genera of plants. These plants contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals similar to other plants in the Araceae family. Chewing or biting into this plant will release these crystals causing tissue penetration and irritation the mouth and GI tract.

What is the real name for elephant ear pastry? ›

A palmier (/ˈpælmieɪ/, from French, short for feuille de palmier 'palm tree leaf'), pig's ear, palm heart, or elephant ear is a French pastry in a palm leaf shape or a butterfly shape, sometimes called palm leaves, cœur de France, French hearts, shoe-soles, or glasses that were invented in the beginning of the 20th ...

Are elephant ears a Midwest thing? ›

Elephant ears are more of a Midwestern thing than funnel cakes, the oldest local county fair insiders used to tell me — repeatedly.

What is the difference between taro and elephant ears? ›

Taro can be distinguished from elephant ears by the attachment of the leaf from the petiole. In taro, the petiole attaches to the leaf several inches from the base of the 'V' of the leaf, while the petiole is attached directly at the base in elephant ears.

What goes well with elephant ears? ›

Elephant ears combine well with caladiums. Chinese hibiscus and mandevillea, but they also provide wonderful textural contrast with more typical temperate bedding plants, ferns, or ornamental grasses. Pair dark-leaved varieties with any white, yellow, or orange-flowering plant for vivid contrast.

Are elephant ears and beavertails the same thing? ›

Elephant ears are frequently called beaver tails (especially in Canada), otter tails, scones, fry bread, fry dough, and a handful of other names. What is this? Perhaps most commonly, elephant ears are simply referred to as “fried dough” as that's exactly what it is.

Is fry bread the same as an elephant's ear? ›

Elephant ears can also be called fry bread, bunuelos, doughboys or Palmiers (although these are shaped a little differently). When the yeasted dough hits the hot oil, it bubbles and wrinkles and comes out looking somewhat like a big old elephant ear - hence the name.

What is another name for fried dough? ›

Fried dough is also known as fry dough, fry bread (bannock), fried bread, doughboys, elephant ears, beaver tails, scones, pizza fritte, frying saucers (in the case of smaller pieces).

What is another name for elephant ears pastry? ›

A palmier (/ˈpælmieɪ/, from French, short for feuille de palmier 'palm tree leaf'), pig's ear, palm heart, or elephant ear is a French pastry in a palm leaf shape or a butterfly shape, sometimes called palm leaves, cœur de France, French hearts, shoe-soles, or glasses that were invented in the beginning of the 20th ...

Is fried dough and funnel cake the same thing? ›

Fried dough and funnel cake are the fraternal twins of fried food: similar but with their own distinct characteristics, their common bond a vat of oil. Fried dough doesn't put on airs or pretend to be something it isn't. It's simply fried dough.

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