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Sopaipillas

Fluffy pumpkin fried bread discs — drizzled with sweet chancaca syrup or dunked in spicy pebre.

⏱ 30 minPrep time
🔥 20 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 Chilean KitchenCategory
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Sopaipillas

Sopaipillas are Chile’s beloved fried dough, made with pumpkin purée that gives them their golden color and tender crumb. They come in two moods: sweet, bathed in warm chancaca (raw cane sugar) syrup on cold winter days, or savory, eaten with pebre — and always, always right out of the pot.

Golden pillows of pumpkin dough

The outside crisps up light and airy while the inside stays soft and faintly sweet from the pumpkin. Doused in spiced brown-sugar syrup they’re pure winter comfort; with a spoonful of pebre they’re the perfect rainy-day snack.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Make the syrup first: combine the brown sugar, water, cinnamon stick, and orange zest in a saucepan, bring to a simmer, and cook 15 minutes until slightly thickened; keep warm.
  2. Mix the pumpkin purée, flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl, then work in the melted butter and enough warm water to form a soft, slightly sticky dough.
  3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead gently for 2 minutes, then roll it out to 1/4-inch thick.
  4. Cut into 3-inch rounds, rerolling the scraps, and prick each disc a few times with a fork.
  5. Heat the oil to 350°F and fry the sopaipillas in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until puffed and golden; drain on paper towels.
  6. Serve immediately, drizzled with the warm syrup, or with pebre on the side for the savory version.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Don't skip the fork pricks — they keep the discs from ballooning into hollow puffs. Sopaipillas are best eaten within the hour; reheat leftovers in a hot oven to crisp them back up.

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Recipe details

Prep30 min
Cook20 min
Servings8
CategoryChilean Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →