A beignet is a type of fritter or deep-fried pastry that can be made from different types of dough, including pâte à choux and yeast dough. The term "beignet" can refer to two varieties, depending on the type of pastry. In the United States, a beignet typically refers to deep-fried choux pastry, while in France, it can also be made with yeast pastry and might be called boules de Berlin, which are filled with fruit or jam. In Corsica, beignets made with chestnut flour are known as fritelli. In Louisiana, beignets are square or rectangular fried pastries made from leavened dough and are traditionally served as breakfast with powdered sugar on top. They are best eaten fresh and hot before consumption. Variations of fried dough can be found across cuisines internationally, but the origin of the term beignet is specifically French.