Skinny Mardis Gras: Oven Baked Beignets

Diet friendly doughnuts. I won't bother commenting on them, as I assume you'll want to get straight to this recipe.

Skinny Oven Baked Beignets

Serving Size: 3 doughnuts (à la Cafe Du Monde)

WW PointsPlus Value: 3

1/4 cup warm water

1 package active dry yeast

1/4 cup sugar

3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoon light butter , cold and cut into pieces

3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk

1 egg

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, for topping

Directions:

• Put warm water in a small bowl and add yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar. Let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.
  
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is the consistency of wet sand. With a fork, stir buttermilk and egg into yeast mixture until blended, then make a well in the flour mixture and pour wet mix in. Stir until combined.
  
• On a floured surface, knead dough until it's smooth. Spray the large bowl with cooking spray and place dough inside. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Spray a couple cookie sheets with cooking spray (or line with a silicone baking mat), then on your floured surface, roll dough out until it's a 9x9 square. With a pizza cutter, slice dough into 36 squares. Place on cookie sheets and cover. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and there he dough rise for 20 minutes.
  
• Bake for 10 minutes and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm with cafe au lait. Happy Mardis Gras!