The French doughnut-like pastry traditionally served with powdered sugar is a beignet.
A beignet is a piece of dough that is deep-fried and commonly covered with powdered sugar. French recipes vary, and the word can refer to several fried pastries rather than one universally fixed shape. Some versions are made from yeast dough, while others use choux pastry or fruit enclosed in batter.
The best-known modern American version is associated with New Orleans, where square beignets are served hot with a heavy coating of confectioners’ sugar. Café du Monde helped make this style famous as part of the city’s food culture.
Beignets are related to doughnuts but are not necessarily ring-shaped. The French term also appears in the names of regional fritters and other fried sweets.