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.

Easy Elephant Ears Recipe (1)

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

Easy Elephant Ears Recipe (18)

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 is an elephant ear dessert made of? ›

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

How to make elephant ears for costume? ›

Make the Ears

Cut two outer ears from light gray felt and two inner ears from white felt. Topstitch an inner ear to each outer ear, with the straight edges aligned and reversing one set. Fold the top of each ear down 2 inches. Align the folded straight edges and pin them in place.

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

Heavenly scented and mouth-watering FRIED DOUGH is the specific name for a variety of fried bread made of yeast dough, also known as: fry dough, fry bread, doughboys, elephant ears (smaller versions called mouse ears), scones and frying saucers.

What is another name for elephant ear dessert? ›

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 ...

What is the origin of the elephant ear recipe? ›

Inspired by the fry bread of Native Americans, elephant ears get their name from their big, “ear”-like shape. Fry bread was invented by the Navajo tribe of the southwestern United States in 1864 using the flour, sugar, lard, and salt given to them by the U.S. government.

What are the two types of elephant ears? ›

There are two types of elephant ears: alocasias and colocasias. Colocasias display their leaves with tip of the heart pointing down. They prefer full sun and consistent moisture. Alocasias hold the tip of their leaves out or upward and they prefer more well drained soil and a little shade.

What is similar to elephant ears? ›

Elephant's ear is a common name given to plants of several genera—including Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma—with large leaves resembling the ears of elephants. These plants are also commonly known as taro, cocoyam, and dasheen. Native to tropical Asia, they are all members of the arum family (Araceae).

What is the difference between Indian fry bread and elephant ears? ›

Description. In my experience (eating at fairs and rodeos), fry breads are thick and 6 to 8 inches, topped with just about anything and are even turned into tacos, whereas elephant ears are thin and bubbly and about 10 to 16 inches and always served with cinnamon and sugar.

What can you do with elephant ears? ›

Elephant ears can be grown as annuals, starting with new plants each year, or may be kept over the winter (most are hardy only to zone 8). Plants that have formed bulbs can be dug, dried and stored like cannas or dahlias after frost has killed the foliage. Illustris with other tender annuals.

How to make an elephant costume for adults? ›

Instructions:
  1. Cut off the hood of the sweatshirt. ...
  2. Make ears out of the body of the sweatshirt and your pink knit material. ...
  3. Place one grey/one pink ear right sides together. ...
  4. Cut a tube for the trunk. ...
  5. Measure the skinny end.
Sep 14, 2012

Is a churro like an elephant ear? ›

A churro is much like an elephant ear, just smaller. Sort of an elephant earring.

What is the elephant ear Italian dish? ›

It's called “elephant ear” because it's very big and the bone kind of reminds people of the elephant's trunk." The big chop of meat is pressed until very thin. It's then battered in six eggs, Parmesan, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and breadcrumbs. Then the cotoletta is cooked in butter until the crust is golden.

What is an elephant ear? ›

Elephant ears is the common name for a group of tropical perennial plants grown for their large, heart-shaped leaves. “Elephant ears” is the common name for a group of tropical perennial plants grown for their large, heart-shaped leaves.

Is elephant ear a type of taro? ›

Wild taro is commonly confused with elephant ear (Xanthosoma sagittifolium). Both elephant ear and taro are herbaceous perennials with large leaves up to 6 feet in length. Taro can be distinguished from elephant ears by the attachment of the leaf from the petiole.

Is elephant ear yam edible? ›

The primary use of Elephant's ear is the consumption of its edible corm and leaves. In its raw form, the plant contains an irritant which causes intense acridity discomfort to the lips, mouth and throat. This is due to the presence of calcium oxalate and microscopic needle-shaped raphides in the plant cells.

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