These pastries are hand rolled into flat breads that resemble the ears of an elephant or the tails of a beaver. That’s why they are sometimes called Elephant Ears or BeaverTails, especially in Canada. They have a delicious flavor that is a mix of bannock and doughnut.
Elephant Ears Pastry
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 5 teaspoons dry yeast
- 1 pinch sugar
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1⁄3 cup sugar
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil
- 5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- vegetable oil (for frying)
- granulated sugar (optional)
- cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the yeast, warm water and pinch of sugar. Let it sit for a few minutes until the yeast is foamy or dissolved. Add the rest of the sugar, milk, vanilla, eggs, oil, salt, and most of the flour. Mix well to form a soft dough.
Knead the dough for 5-8 minutes, adding more flour as needed, until it is smooth, firm and elastic.
Put the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a plastic wrap. (You can store the dough in the fridge if you are not using it right away). Let it rise in a warm place for about 30-40 minutes or until doubled in size.
Punch down the dough gently. (If the dough was in the fridge, let it warm up for about 40 minutes before continuing).
Take a small piece of dough, about the size of a golf ball, and roll it into an oval shape. Cover it with a cloth and set it aside while you work on the rest of the dough.
Heat about 4 inches of oil in a deep fryer or a large pot (a wok is also good for this). The oil should be about 385°F.
Stretch the dough ovals into long, thin shapes, like beaver tails. Fry them in the hot oil, one or two at a time, turning once, until they are golden brown on both sides. Use tongs to remove them from the oil and drain them on paper towels.
Put some sugar in a large bowl and toss the fried pastries in it. You can also add some cinnamon if you like. Shake off the excess sugar.
Enjoy your elephant ears with any of these toppings, but they are delicious plain too!:
- peanut butter
- peanut butter and chocolate
- Nutella and bananas
- blueberry jam
- melted milk chocolate
- strawberry jam
- ham and cheese
- whipped cream
- apple and cinnamon
- maple butter
- garlic butter and cheese
- maple butter and drizzled chocolate
- strawberry cream cheese
- caramel spread with crushed walnuts
- icing
- cinnamon sugar with squeezed lemon
- butter and jam
- butter and honey
The Author:
Pioneerthinking.com – Ingredients for a Simple Life.
Photos. Pioneerthinking.com