Puff Puff (Sweet Nigerian Doughnuts)
Pillowy, golden-fried sweet dough balls. the snack at every Nigerian party. Dust with sugar, eat warm.
- Total time:
- 1 hr 45 min
- Servings:
- 6
- Per serving:
- 280 kcal
- Cost per serving:
- $0.60
- Difficulty:
- easy
Step-by-step
Whisk flour, sugar, yeast, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.
Add warm water, mix into a thick, sticky batter. Cover with a towel. Rest 60–90 minutes until doubled and bubbly.
Heat oil in a deep pot to 350°F (175°C).
Scoop batter with a wet hand or small ice cream scoop. Drop golf-ball-sized portions into oil.
Fry 3–4 minutes per side, turning, until deep golden brown.
7 min timer
Drain on paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar while warm. Serve immediately.
Cook's tip
Batter should be thick enough to scoop but not stiff. Adjust water by tablespoon if needed.
Storage
Best the day they are made. Refresh leftovers in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes.
Freezer: Freeze cooked, reheat in oven from frozen.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280
- Protein
- 4g
- Carbs
- 40g
- Fat
- 12g
- Fiber
- 1g
- Sugar
- 14g
- Sat Fat
- 1.5g
- Sodium
- 210mg
Estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. See our nutrition disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
My puff puff turned out flat. why?
Yeast was either dead or the dough did not rise long enough. Test yeast in warm sugary water; it should bubble in 10 minutes.
Can I bake them?
Texture changes considerably. they become more biscuit-like. Frying delivers the authentic chewy interior.
Reviews
Tola O.
3 days ago
Made this for Sunday lunch — the smoky bottom turned out perfect. Family demolished the pot in twenty minutes.
✓ Would make again
Marcus B.
1 week ago
First time cooking this and the timing notes saved me. Did not lift the lid once. The crust at the bottom was the best part.
✓ Would make again
Aisha K.
2 weeks ago
Loved it but added an extra scotch bonnet — we like it spicy. Recipe scales well, made a double batch.
✓ Would make again
Reviews shown are illustrative pre-launch. Real user reviews appear here as the community grows.
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