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!
Ingredients
- warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C): 0.5 cup
- active dry yeast: 5 tsp
- pinch white sugar: 1 piece
- warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C): 1 cup
- eggs: 3 piece (beaten)
- vegetable oil: 0.33333 cup
- white sugar: 0.33333 cup
- ½ teaspoons salt: 1 piece
- vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- whole wheat flour: 5 cups
- quart vegetable oil for frying: 1 piece
- white sugar: 2 cups
- ground cinnamon: 0.5 tsp (to taste)
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Mix together warm water, yeast, and 1 pinch white sugar in a large bowl; let sit until creamy, about 5 minutes.
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Meanwhile, grease a separate large bowl and set it aside.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Heat 4 inches oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
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Make cinnamon sugar: Combine white sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish or pie plate; set aside.
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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.
