This beaver tails dessert is popular in Canada, especially in Ottawa, Ontario. Also known as pigs’ ears, this whole wheat pastry is fried and covered in an assortment of goodies. I have perfected the recipe, so my friends and I no longer go out to get them — I just make them at home. Enjoy, eh!
Preparation Details
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins
Servings: 20
Ingredients
- ½ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 5 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 pinch white sugar
- 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
Steps
- Mix together warm water, yeast, and 1 pinch white sugar in a large bowl; let sit until creamy, about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, grease a separate large bowl and set it aside.
- Stir warm milk, eggs, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 1/3 cup white sugar, salt, and vanilla into yeast mixture until sugar is dissolved. Stir in 2 1/2 cups flour until no dry spots remain. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead in remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough is no longer sticky. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
- Form dough into a ball and place it into the prepared bowl. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
- Punch down dough and knead a few times to reshape it. Pinch off a piece of dough about the size of an egg, then roll into an oval shape, about 1/4-inch thick. Place on a dish towel, cover with another dish towel, and repeat with remaining dough.
- Heat 4 inches oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Make cinnamon sugar: Combine white sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish or pie plate; set aside.
- Lower dough carefully into hot oil in batches and fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Gently press fried dough into cinnamon sugar while still warm; shake off excess sugar.
