Happy Friday! Earlier this week, I went to see the new Disney/Pixar movie Hoppers and loved it! It was funny, cute, and just everything I had hoped from seeing the trailers. To celebrate the new movie, and the adorable King George and his beaver friends, I’m excited to share these Hoppers Beaver Tails! These beaver tail shaped pieces of fried dough are coated in cinnamon sugar and topped with Nutella and banana slices!
One of my favorite things about our local movie theater, Nitehawk Cinema, is that they serve food during showings and will design special menu items for new releases. It was here that I was able to try their version of a beaver tail, which was fried dough with cinnamon sugar, maple syrup, and bananas. I love any kind of fried dough so I was hooked and knew I wanted to make my own version at home.
Since these freshly fried dough pieces are best eaten immediately after serving, I made a small scale batch (4 pieces). But you can definitely double or triple the recipe if you need to make more!
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In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar for the topping. Set aside. Line a plate with paper towels and place a wire rack over a sheet pan. Set both aside.
Make the dough by combining the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and warm milk and stir until a slightly sticky dough forms. Cover the bowl with a piece of plastic wrap and let rest for 10 minutes.
While the dough is resting, pour 2-3 inches of neutral oil (canola, vegetable, peanut, etc.) into a dutch oven or other heavy bottomed pot. Add an oil/candy thermometer to the side of the pot to monitor the temperature. Once it reaches 350 F, you’re ready to fry the dough!
After the 10 minute rest, transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into 4 portions and roll it in the flour so that it’s lightly covered and easier to handle. Shape each dough piece into a oval/rounded rectangle, reminiscent of a beaver tail. Flatten it to about 1/4 inch thickness. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
When the oil is at 350 F, place one beaver tail into the oil and fry for 1-2 minutes per side. Place the freshly fried dough on the paper towel lined plate. Once the excess oil has been absorbed, transfer the dough to the wire rack. Sprinkle a few spoonfuls of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of it. Repeat with remaining dough pieces.
You can either enjoy the beaver tails as is, or you can top with a drizzle of Nutella and/or slices of banana!
Enjoy these Hoppers Beaver Tails!
Hoppers Beaver Tails
Inspired by King George, these Hoppers Beaver Tails are freshly fried dough pieces covered in cinnamon sugar and topped with Nutella and banana slices!
Ingredients
Dough
- ¾ cup milk, warmed to about 110 F
- 1 ½ cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- neutral oil (canola, vegetable, peanut), for frying
Topping
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Nutella
- banana slices
Instructions
-
In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar for the topping. Set aside. Line a plate with paper towels and place a wire rack over a sheet pan. Set both aside.
-
Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and warm milk and stir until a slightly sticky dough forms. Cover the bowl with a piece of plastic wrap and let rest for 10 minutes.
-
While the dough is resting, pour 2-3 inches of neutral oil (canola, vegetable, peanut, etc.) into a dutch oven or other heavy bottomed pot. Add an oil/candy thermometer to the side of the pot to monitor the temperature. Once it reaches 350 F, you’re ready to fry the dough!
-
After the 10 minute rest, transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into 4 portions and roll it in the flour so that it’s lightly covered and easier to handle. Shape each dough piece into a oval/rounded rectangle, reminiscent of a beaver tail. Flatten it to about 1/4 inch thickness. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
-
When the oil is at 350 F, place one beaver tail into the oil and fry for 1-2 minutes per side. Place the freshly fried dough on the paper towel lined plate. Once the excess oil has been absorbed, transfer the dough to the wire rack and sprinkle a few spoonfuls of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of it. Repeat with remaining dough pieces.
-
You can either enjoy the beaver tails as is, or you can top with a drizzle of Nutella and/or slices of banana!