• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Life is a Party
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Summer
  • Subscribe
  • Free Resource Library
×
Home » Recipes » Desserts

Homemade Canadian Fried Dough -Beaver Tails Recipe

Modified: Sep 21, 2024 · Published: Jul 1, 2014 by Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

Canadian Fried Dough: Beaver Tails recipe for a Canadian classic, fried donut like flat pastries with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top.

Homemade Canadian fried dough beaver tails.
Jump to:
  • Toppings
  • Recipe
  • More Recipe Inspiration

Happy Canada Day! What better way to celebrate than with a beaver tails recipe. Beaver Tails are a Canadian classic!  They are a favourite around here, so we thought we'd give our own version of Canadian Fried Dough a try -and they were a big hit!

Canadian Fried Dough: Beaver Tails

This Canadian fried dough has few different names.  It's something called beaver tails, and something called elephant ears. They are a large flat pastry that resembles a beaver's tail, thus the name.  They're the kind of special treat that you get at county fairs.  They're similar to funnel cakes -get our recipe for homemade funnel cakes here.  

The dough for these donut-like friend dough pieces is traditionally made from whole wheat flour, and adds a delicious flavour to them. They are made with a yeast dough, which makes a wonderful soft dough and tender treat.  Baking with yeast can be a little bit intimidating, but for best results just follow the recipe closely.

how to make beaver tails

The dough rises, to a lovely soft, and smooth consistency. Then the dough is formed into the beaver tail, or canoe paddle shape.  Next it's fried to a lovely light brown and then topped with a delicious topping.

beaver tail recipe

Toppings

After frying, there are all different ways to top these off, but we kept to the traditional and my favorite topping of cinnamon and sugar, and they were so, so yummy!  This is my personal first choice when it comes favorite toppings.  But there are lots of other fun possibilities.  You might like to try one or a combination of any of these ideas:

  • chocolate hazelnut spread
  • powdered sugar
  • banana slices
  • caramel sauce
  • cream cheese
  • vanilla icing
  • mini m and m's
  • sprinkles
  • apple pie filling
  • maple butter
  • maple syrup
  • jam
  • chocolate bar pieces
  • chocolate chips
  • brownie pieces
  • cookie pieces
Canadian Fried Dough beaver tails recipe

Recipe

Canadian fried dough pastry.

Canadian Fried Dough -Beaver Tails

A sweet fried pastry covered in cinnamon sugar.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 20
Calories: 1567kcal
Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

  • ½ cup warm water 45 degrees C
  • 5 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • pinch white sugar
  • 1 cup warm milk 45 degrees C
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 eggs beaten
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 5 - 6 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1-2 Liters vegetable oil for frying
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  • Combine warm water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in the large bowl of stand mixer and let sit around 5 min. until the yeast begins to foam.
  • Stir in warm milk, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs, and oil. Add in flour, mixing, until dough is no longer sticky, using around 5 - 6 cups of flour. Mix with dough hook in stand mixer until the dough is smooth, and elastic and a sticky dough forms. Remove the dough from the bowl, and form it into a large ball. Oil a large mixing bowl and put the ball of dough inside the large greased bowl to rise, covered with greased plastic wrap, in a warm area, until the dough has doubled in size. This usually takes about an hour.
  • Punch down the dough mixture and knead the dough back into shape. Divide the dough into small pieces, about egg sized portions and roll out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface or stretch with your hands into an oval dough disk shape. The dough should be about ¼ inch thick. Cover so the dough doesn't dry out while you finish shaping the rest.
  • Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • In a shallow dish or plate, combine 2 cups of white sugar with cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar topping.
  • Fry the dough pieces in the hot oil, one at a time, for a few minutes per side, until golden brown. As soon as the fried dough pieces are removed from the fryer drain excess oil on a paper towel-lined plate. While still warm, coat the deep-fried bread dough in cinnamon sugar mixture, pressing it in and shaking to remove excess. These are best enjoyed fresh the day you make them.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 1567kcal | Carbohydrates: 154g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 101g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 87g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 195mg | Fiber: 20g | Sugar: 25g
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

how to make beaver tails

This treat is best enjoyed the day that you make it.  If you have more dough than you need you can store the un-fried dough in the refrigerator in an airtight container for a few days and fry it anytime you want it.

This is such a wonderful sweet treat.  Weather you add lots of fun toppings or just use the traditional cinnamon sugar the best part is sharing it with family and friends.  This is sure to become one of your favorite recipes.  You might even want to set up a topping buffet so that your guests can top their own fried dough with their favorite thing each time.

With a wonderful homemade fried dough recipe like this, life really is a party!

More Recipe Inspiration

You might also like our Homemade Honey Cruller recipe here.

home made honey crullers

Also check our our Butter Tarts with Raisins recipe here.

Butter Tarts with Raisins Recipe: My grandma's famous recipe, a Canadian classic. We love our butter tarts with raisins added to them.

You might also enjoy our Donut Strawberry Shortcake recipe here.

Donut Strawberry Shortcake -the easiest, best Strawberry Shortcake ever! You'll never go back to your old version after trying this one.

More Dessert Recipes

  • Old fashioned bear claw pastries with almonds on a cake plate.
    Old Fashioned Almond Bear Claw Pastries Recipe
  • Back to school snack mix trail mix recipe.
    Easy Back To School Snack Mix Recipe
  • Ice cream charcuterie dessert board in the shape of an ice cream cone.
    Easy Ice Cream Sundae Charcuterie Dessert Board
  • Dirt Pudding no cream cheese in glasses with candy rocks, and fresh mint that looks like a little plant.
    Easy Dirt Pudding Recipe without Cream Cheese

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mimi says

    July 13, 2014 at 9:40 am

    That looks delicious. My boys would devour it! We've never had Canadian Fried Dough before. Happy belated Canada Day!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Life is a Party is all about helping you celebrate everyday with great food, entertaining and party inspiration, and seasonal crafts and home decor inspired by the holidays.

More About Dannyelle

Trending Recipes

  • Mac and cheese with panko breadcrumb topping.
    Best Homemade Mac and Cheese with Panko Breadcrumb Topping
  • Homemade iced capps in glasses on a wood table.
    Tim Hortons Copycat Iced Capp Recipe
  • Dirt Pudding no cream cheese in glasses with candy rocks, and fresh mint that looks like a little plant.
    Easy Dirt Pudding Recipe without Cream Cheese
  • Easy 3 ingredient coconut milkshake recipe.
    Easy Coconut Milkshake Recipe
  • Easy food processor scones on a plate with jam.
    Easy Food Processor Scones
  • Small batch pancakes for two.
    Easy Small Batch Pancakes For Two Recipe

Summer Ideas

  • Mushroom themed party picnic in backyard.
    Mushroom Themed Picnic Party
  • Cherry themed party table with food and cherry themed decor.
    Cherry Themed Party Ideas
  • Butterfly themed party ideas party table, food, and decorations.
    Butterfly Themed Party Ideas
  • Strawberry themed party ideas with table setting, flowers, and food.
    Sweet Strawberry Theme Party
  • summer garden party
    Summer Garden Party
  • summer home tour
    Summer Decorating Ideas Home Tour

  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • Parties & Entertaining
  • Spring and Easter
  • Free Resource Library

Footer

back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About

Subscribe

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Life is a Party

Share1
Pin38
Post
Share1
Pin38
Post

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required