Have you been craving some light and fluffy puff puff lately? This recipe is going to show you how to make the perfect puff puff, just like the kind you get from street vendors and restaurants in Nigeria.

Puff puff is a popular Nigerian snack made of fried dough balls. The ingredients are simple, but the key is getting the technique, ingredients, and measurements just right so your puff puff turns out airy on the inside with a golden crispy shell. Read on to learn the right Puff Puff ingredients and measurements.

What Is Puff Puff?

Puff-Puff is a popular street snack in most West African countries and is known by several names depending on the country. Ghanaians refer to it as Bofrot (togbei), whereas Cameroonians and Nigerians refer to it as Puff-Puff (Puff) or beignet in French.

Puff Puff is a simple and quick recipe with several variations.

Nutrition Information

2 Puff Puffs Contains:

Calories: 351 kcal (18%)| Carbohydrates: 75g (25%)|
Protein: 9g (18%)| Fat: 1g (2%)|
Saturated Fat: 0.1g (1%)|
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g|
Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g|
Sodium: 291mg (13%)|
Potassium: 99mg (3%)|
Fiber: 3g (13%)|
Sugar: 12g (13%)|
Vitamin C: 0.003mg|
Calcium: 14mg (1%)|
Iron: 4mg (22%)

Puff Puff Ingredients and Measurements

To make puff puff, you’ll need just a few basic ingredients:

Flour: The main ingredient in puff puff is flour, typically all-purpose flour or bread flour. For this recipe, all-purpose flour works great.

Yeast: Yeast is essential for leavening the puff puff and giving it a light, airy texture. Rapid rise or instant yeast is very convenient to use.

Sugar: A little sugar is added as food for the yeast to help activate it. Either granulated sugar, cane sugar, or brown sugar will work.

Warm water: Warm water, not hot, is needed to properly activate the yeast. The water should be between 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 to 43 degrees Celsius.

Oil: Vegetable, canola, peanut, or sunflower oil is used for deep frying the puff puff balls. You want an oil with a high smoke point so it can handle the high heat needed for frying without burning.

Salt: A little salt is added for flavor. Table salt or kosher salt will work.

Optional: nutmeg, vanilla

For extra flavor, you can also add a little nutmeg, vanilla extract, or almond extract. These are optional but add a nice touch.

Puff Puff Measurements

This measurement is for 10 Servings.

2 cups (+1-2 tablespoons
(475ml) warm water
2¼ teaspoon (7g) active dry yeast (1 packet)
3½ cups (420g) flour
½-¾ cup (100-150g) sugar
½ tablespoon (8-9g) salt
Oil for deep frying

So there you have it, the basic ingredients for delicious, light, and airy Nigerian puff puff balls. With just a few staples from your pantry or fridge, you’re all set to make this popular treat.

How to Make Puff Puff

Puff Puff Ingredients and Measurements — Puff-Puff been fried

Be sure to have all ingredients measured and ready before starting.

Instructions:

To activate the yeast, combine the salt, water, sugar, and yeast in a mixing bowl. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
Mix in the flour, and mix with your hands or a mixer until you have a smooth batter. Then, cover to allow the dough to rise.
Allow the mixture to rise for about 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
Pour vegetable oil into a large saucepan until it’s about 3 inches (or 5 centimeters) high (too little will result in flatter balls), and place on low heat to preheat the oil.
To ensure that the oil is heated enough, drop a drop of batter into it. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the batter will sink instead of rising to the top.
Using your hands or a tool, take a small amount of the mixture and drop it into the oil. If the oil is hot enough, use a spoon to serve the batter and another spoon or spatula to drop it in the shape of a ball.
Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and drop into the oil, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Use a large spoon or a slotted spoon to take it out of the oil, then drain the oil on paper towels.
Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm (Optional).

Puff puff can be enjoyed on its own as a snack or served as a side to a main dish. No matter how you eat them, these sweet fried dough balls are sure to satisfy you! Adjust the recipe by adding extras like vanilla, nutmeg, or cinnamon to suit your own tastes.

Tips for Making the Perfect Nigerian Puff Puff

To make light, fluffy puff puff that melts in your mouth, follow these tips:

Use bread flour or all-purpose flour. These have the right amount of gluten to give Puff Puff its signature chewy texture. Whole wheat flour will make them heavy.
Chill the dough. Place the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before frying. Chilling allows the gluten to relax so puff puff can expand more when fried.
Do not overmix the dough. Mix just until the ingredients come together. Overmixing can make puff puff tough.
Dough Consistency. The dough should be smooth and elastic. Add water a little at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl but still sticks to your fingers. If the dough is too thin, it won’t hold air bubbles. But dough that’s too stiff won’t puff at all.
The oil temperature is key. If the oil is not hot enough, the dough won’t puff up and will absorb too much oil, becoming heavy. But oil that’s too hot will burn the outside before the inside cooks. Aim for 350-375°F. You can use a kitchen thermometer to monitor the oil temperature.
Do not crowd the pot. Fry puff puff in batches, so they have room to expand. Overcrowding the pot will prevent them from puffing up properly.
Turn puff puff only once or twice while frying. Turning them frequently can release the expanding air and prevent them from puffing.
Drain on paper towels. Let puff puff drain on paper towels after frying to absorb excess oil.

If you follow these tips, your puff puff will be light, airy, and perfectly puffy every time.

How to Customize Your Puff Puffs With Different Fillings

When making your puff puffs, you can customize the flavor and fillings. Here are some ideas to mix it up:

Sweet fillings: Try filling some puff puffs with sweetened condensed milk, jam, or Nutella for a dessert-like treat. You can also top them with powdered sugar, cinnamon, and sugar, or honey for extra sweetness.
Combination fillings: For the best of both worlds, try a sweet-salty filling like chocolate and peanut butter, banana and Nutella, and cheese.
Make puff puff sandwiches: Hollow out some puff puffs and fill them with your favorite fillings to make little sandwiches. Press the tops back on and dust with powdered sugar or top with whipped cream.

Customizing your puff puffs is an easy way to create variety and make them your own. Let your creativity lead the way and fill them with whatever flavors you enjoy!

How To Store Puff Puff

To keep your puff puff fresh for up to 3 days, store them properly after frying.

After frying, let the puff puff cool completely. This usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. Do not stack them on top of each other while cooling, or they will become soggy.

Once cooled, place them in an airtight container or sealable bag. Press out as much air as possible before sealing to prevent moisture buildup. Stored properly, puff puff will stay crisp for up to 3 days. For the best quality, enjoy within 2 days.

To reheat, simply place puff puff on a baking sheet in a preheated 350 F oven for 3 to 5 minutes until heated through. Or, wrap individually in microwave-safe paper towels and microwave in 10 to 15 second bursts, flipping over, until crisp again.

Letting puff puff cool completely before storing is key. Storing warm or hot puff puffs leads to condensation, which causes them to become soft and soggy. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy delicious puff puff for days to come.

Conclusion

That’s the ingredients and steps to make a light and airy Nigerian puff puff. Now that you have the recipe, what are you waiting for? Gather the ingredients, and get frying. Before you know it, your kitchen will be filled with the irresistible aroma of fried dough and you’ll have a plate of fresh puff puff to enjoy. Whether you eat them on their own, dip them in sugar, or serve them with fillings, puff puff is always a treat. Now that you’ve mastered the recipe, you can start experimenting by adding different spices, extracts or mix-ins to make the puff puff your own. Let us know how your batch of puff puffs turns out.