ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Beignet

Beignet is a delicious French pastry that is very similar to a donut in both appearance and taste.

Imagine that you have a ball of dough, kind of like playdough, that you can flatten out into a little pancake. Then, you sprinkle some magic powder on top (this is actually called powdered sugar) and it makes the dough very sweet and a little bit powdery on the outside.

The dough is fried in oil, which makes it crispy and golden brown on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside. When you take a bite, it is like a warm hug from a sweet, yummy pastry friend.

Beignets are often served with a hot drink, like coffee or tea, and are especially popular in the southern United States, where they are a famous dessert from New Orleans.