Carnival Beignets

Mardi Gras and the tradition of beignets

The carnival beignet is a speciality with deep roots in European and Alsace traditions. Its history can be traced back to celebrations leading up to Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent - a time for fasting and self-denial observed over the 40 days preceding Easter. During the carnival weeks, families come together to prepare decadent beignets that have become a symbol for the last bit of indulgence before entering the period of restrictions and resisting temptation.

In Alsace, this tradition has been passed down from generation to generation. Beignets are made using simple but rich ingredients — flour, eggs, butter and sugar — and are deep-fried to create a cloud-like dough with a gorgeous, golden exterior. Each family has their own, more or less secret recipe and making beignets has become a cherished activity, giving loved ones a chance to enjoy quality time and share a sweet moment together.

To this day, the carnival beignet hasn’t lost this decadent and celebratory aspect. Our Maison is honouring this tradition by offering our customers a range of beignets, lovingly crafted using ancient techniques, to celebrate Mardi Gras in classic Alsace style.

Our range of carnival beignets

Our Maison offers a range featuring five beignets, embodying the diversity and generosity of this tradition:

The Classic Beignet

Made with a brioche dough justly dosed with a touch of vanilla, deep-friend and then finished with a generous dusting of sugar, the Classic Beignet is edible joy, in its simplest, most comforting form.

The Apple & Damson Plum Beignet

The Apple & Damson Plum Filled Beignet brings together the melt-in-the-mouth sweetness of apples with the fruity acidity of damson plums, elevated by a warming dusting of cinnamon. An indulgent beignet filled with the flavours of Alsace and its orchards.

The Chocolate & Hazelnut Beignet

Filled with a velvety chocolate & hazelnut spread, the Chocolate & Hazelnut Filled Beignet is a decadent creation, with intense cocoa notes and an exquisitely creamy centre, delivering sweet comfort in every bite.

The Raspberry Beignet

The Raspberry Filled Beignet hides a fruity centre with a refreshingly acidic touch. With its raspberry preserve, this beignet delivers a tantalising contrast between the rich brioche dough and the vibrant notes of the fruit.

The Schenkele

The Schenkele — or Schankala — is a carnival beignet with a unique history and an equally singular recipe. Traditionally gifted by young girls to their loves on the second Sunday after Ash Wednesday, this beignet is made with almond paste and organic spelt flour, flavoured with kirsch and coated in a cinnamon sugar, carrying a romantic tradition in every delicious bite.

How we make our carnival beignets

Our beignets are crafted using traditional expertise, perpetuated by our skilled pâtissiers in our Colmar Atelier. It all starts with the preparation of an expertly kneaded brioche dough, delicately elevated with vanilla to add a subtle, aromatic sweetness. This dough is then hand-shaped and deep-friend — an ancient technique that allows the beignet to perfectly expand and reveal its cloud-like, melt-in-the-mouth texture, with a beautifully fluffy interior and a golden-brown exterior.

Once cooled, our beignets are filled — with an apple & damson plum compote, a creamy chocolate & hazelnut spread or a raspberry preserve — before being expertly coated in a dusting of sugar or cinnamon. As for the Schenkele, this speciality follows a different recipe: its dough incorporates almond, organic spelt flour, lemon peel and Alsace kirsch, before it’s friend and then gently rolled in a cinnamon sugar mix.

Each step is carried out with the utmost care, reproducing the well-honed techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Why choose Maison Alsacienne de Biscuiterie for your carnival beignets?

Our craft centres around a rigorous ingredient selection process. For our beignets, we’ve hand-selected only the highest quality of ingredients: flour, butter, eggs, cane sugar and vanilla. For our Schenkele, we’ve chosen organic spelt flour and Alsace kirsch, anchoring our creation in our beloved region.

Our pâtissiers perpetuate traditional methods — hand-shaping, perfected frying technique, delicate fillings — whilst ensuring that each beignet conserves its fluffy texture and faithfully carries the flavours of its filling. The care taken over each detail guarantees the respect of ancient traditions and gives our beignets the unique quality that has become our Maison’s signature.

In stores: immerse yourself in the carnival experience

Our beignets are specialities exclusively found in our 13 stores in the Alsace and Lorraine regions, during the carnival period. If you visit one of our stores at this time, you’ll be able to discover our entire range, and our teams will be delighted to advise you and guide you through these decadent, symbolic treats.

The carnival beignet is ideally enjoyed right there in stores, amidst the vibrant atmosphere of Mardi Gras celebrations, or you can take some of the festivities and decadence home with you. An authentic experience, deeply rooted in Alsace tradition.

Our serving suggestions for your carnival beignets

Carnival beignets are best enjoyed warm or at room temperature in order to fully savour their fluffy texture and rich aromas. Serve them alongside a hot drink — coffee, hot chocolate, black tea or a fruit infusion — for a moment of unadulterated comfort, perfect for sharing with friends and family over an afternoon catch-up or as a dessert.

The Classic Beignet pairs particularly well with a hot chocolate or coffee. The Apple & Damson Plum Beignet, with its warming cinnamon notes, goes beautifully alongside a black tea or fruit infusion. The Chocolate & Hazelnut Beignet makes the perfect pairing with a rich, full-bodied coffee, whilst the Raspberry Beignet is delectable when enjoyed alongside a green tea or red fruit infusion for sweet refreshment. As for the Schenkele, its kirsch and cinnamon flavours lend themselves very well to black tea or spiced infusions.

For those with a particularly sweet tooth, our filled beignets can also be enjoyed warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, for a an indulgent dessert.