Touton is a traditional Newfoundland and Labrador dish, often enjoyed as a breakfast or snack. It consists of pan-fried dough, sometimes topped with molasses or syrup, offering a sweet and savory flavor.
Touton is a beloved, traditional dish from Newfoundland, Canada. This simple yet delicious food is essentially a fried dough, often served with sweet or savory toppings. It’s typically enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack, making it a comforting and nostalgic dish for many Newfoundlanders. The dough is made from a basic combination of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast, which is then fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside, soft and warm on the inside.
The most common way to serve toutons is by drizzling them with molasses or syrup, which enhances their rich, slightly sweet flavor. In some variations, toutons are served with butter, creating a rich and indulgent treat that’s perfect with a cup of tea or coffee. For those looking for a savory twist, toutons can also be paired with bacon or other meats, though the sweet versions are by far the most popular.
This dish has deep roots in Newfoundland’s history and was originally made by the island’s early settlers using simple, readily available ingredients. It became an important part of the local diet, especially in rural areas where hearty, easy-to-make meals were essential. Toutons are often made in a pan on the stove, making them an accessible and quick option for a satisfying breakfast or afternoon snack.
Toutons can be enjoyed fresh from the pan or reheated later, making them a versatile dish for any time of day. Whether as a sweet indulgence or paired with savory accompaniments, toutons offer a comforting taste of Newfoundland’s culinary traditions.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2/3 cup water warm
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine for frying
- to taste molasses or syrup, for serving
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Gradually add warm water to the dry ingredients, stirring until a dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour as needed.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead it lightly until smooth, for about 1-2 minutes.
- Divide the dough into small, flat rounds, about the size of a palm.
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Fry each dough round until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Serve hot, topped with molasses or syrup as desired.
Nutrition
These are delicious! Just like my grandma used to make. I added some cinnamon for extra flavor! Yum!
Cinnamon? That’s a great idea! I never thought to add that. Thanks for sharing!
Totally loved it! Can’t wait to whip up another batch. Thanks for sharing!
This is the best touton recipe I’ve ever tried! Perfectly crispy and delicious. 5 stars!
These toutons are to die for! Reminds me of my grandma’s recipe. Will definitely make these again!
Is it supposed to be this doughy? Mine were like little balls of flour. Not impressed.
For a quick breakfast, this is a winner! Just dip in syrup. Yum!
The dough came together nicely. I had to add a bit more flour (mine was pretty sticky), but kneading helped. Frying time felt accurate too.
I don’t know. Mine turned out too sticky and just didn’t rise like I expected. Maybe I did something wrong.
Mmmm I love toutons! It’s what my grandma made us when we were kids. Takes me back!
Toutons are the best! I remember my grandma making them too. Just perfect with syrup!
I don’t see what’s so special about these. Honestly, they’re just fried dough. Not impressed.
But they have molasses, which makes them sweet and delicious! How can you not like that?
I think they’re amazing! Fried dough is a classic comfort food. 😋
Easy recipe! I didn’t have butter so I used oil, still turned out nice. Thanks for sharing!
So easy! I added some cinnamon and sugar for a sweet twist. Yummm!
I had no idea what a touton was, but now I’m a fan!
I have a question. Can you use all whole wheat flour? Healthier right?
I tried making these, but my dough was super sticky. I think I added too much water. Anyone have tips?
Do you even have to fry these? Seems like a lot of work. Can’t you just bake them?
So good! Loved it with maple syrup! Yummy! 😋
Whats molasses? Can I use sugar? Help!
What’s molasses? Just use honey or syrup, sugar is too plain for this! Trust me, it’ll be better.
Molasses is a thick syrup made from sugarcane or sugar beets. You can use sugar but it won’t taste the same! Try finding molasses at the grocery store.
Don’t know why this is called touton. Seems more like a biscuit to me. Just sayin’! 😜
I mean, it’s definitely a stretch to call it a touton 😂 But it does sound tasty! Maybe it’s all in the toppings?
Biscuit or touton, who even cares? If it tastes good, that’s all that matters! 😋
So simple and good! Used maple syrup instead of molasses and it was amazing! Highly recommend!
5 stars for nostalgia, my grandma used to make these all the time!
That’s so sweet! I love the memories tied to food. Can’t wait to try making them myself.
Delicious! Just made it and my kids loved it. Will definitely make again!
I dunno, looks kinda easy but it seems like it could go wrong. Like, what if the dough doesn’t fry right?
So glad to hear that! It’s always a hit with kids! 😊
Touton? Never heard of it before. Sounds like a fancy pancake! Do you have to use butter, or can I use oil?
Wow! So easy and fluffy! I added some cinnamon to the batter, turned out great!
i made it b4 n it came out great! So easy to make. Love this recipe.
Mmm, tasty! My kids loved them. I used maple syrup instead of molasses and it was a hit!
Why do you even need to knead it? It seems like too much work for something that could be a flatbread. Not convinced.
But kneading ain’t that hard, it’s just a minute or two! You’ll get a much better flatbread if you do it.
Kneading helps develop the gluten in the dough, making it chewy and giving it a better texture. Trust me, it’s worth it for the taste!
These taste really good but I think I fried them too long. My fault! 😔
Touton? Never heard of it! Sounds weird. But my grandma used to make something like this with potato. What’s the point of frying? Can’t I bake them?
Touton is a classic! Frying gives it that crispy texture that baking just can’t match. You should try it, it’s really good with molasses!
I tried making these but they turned out too oily. Maybe I used too much butter.
Can I use oil instead of butter? I’m out of butter, and I don’t want to go to the store.
Yes, you can use oil instead of butter! It’s fine for frying, just use a little less than what the recipe calls for. Good luck!
I don’t know about oil. Butter is better, it gives flavor. Don’t skip the store!
These are awesome! So easy to make and taste delicious with syrup!
I tried these and they were indeed awesome! My kids loved them with syrup!
The instructions are simple which I like, but “palm size” is vague. I made them too big and the middle wasn’t golden after the time.
Touton is just another name for fried dough!? Not really traditional, but still tastes good!
What is molasses? Can I use honey instead? Confused!
Tasty treat! I added some cinnamon to the dough for extra flavor. Yum!
Cinnamon sounds like a great idea! I’ll have to try that next time. Thanks for the tip!
Took too long to make, like, who has time? But once they were done, they were not bad. 😜
I get it! Who has that much time? But they’re worth the wait, right? I just make em on weekends. 🥞
Easy recipe, but I feel like it could use more salt. Just a little bland.
Really good, but the frying part was tricky. They didn’t look like the picture, but they tasted better than expected!
I followed the steps exactly but mine were darker than expected after a few minutes. Tasted fine though—just looked a bit burnt.
I’m not a fan of syrups, so I just eat them plain, and they’re still sticky i guess.
Honestly, I was skeptical at first. Thought it would taste bland, but it was really good! 😍
Isn’t this just fried dough? I don’t get why it’s special. Also, it took forever to cook through. 😒
Easy to make but I added too much water. Make sure to measure! Mine were a bit soggy. Still edible tho. 🙈
Uhhh, I don’t get why people like these. They taste kinda bland to me. 😕
Too much butter! Greasy and not appealing. Sorry but that’s a 1 for me.
Not sure about the “3-4 minutes per side” part. My skillet runs hot, so I had to do closer to 2 minutes. Otherwise, nice texture.
Super easy recipe, quick frying. I made them smaller than a palm and they browned faster—great for snacking.
Quick and easy! Made them for breakfast, will definitely be making again. Yum!
Sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it myself. Thanks for sharing!
I tried this recipe and it didn’t turn out too well for me. The dough was so sticky even after adding more flour. 🤦♂️
I totally get that! Dough can be tricky sometimes, especially if the flour is too humid. Maybe try letting it rest a bit next time? Good luck!
Flour, water, butter – easy peasy! I missed the syrup though, what a miss!
But doesn’t it taste good without syrup too? Just saying, maybe try with some jam instead next time.
I agree! The syrup really makes it! I can’t believe you missed that part. It’s the best part! 😋
These were amazing! My kids loved them and I felt like a super chef. Thank you!
I tried it and it was too sticky, ended up in the trash. Not happy.
I’m sorry to hear that! Maybe try adding more flour next time? It can help with the stickiness!
Super simple dough, didn’t need too much adjusting. Mine was slightly sticky at first but extra flour fixed it right away.
Hm, mine didn’t come together at all with only 2/3 cup water. Maybe my flour is different? I ended up adding a splash more water and then it was sticky again lol. Still tasted good though.
Totally agree—this is one of those recipes where you just go with the dough texture. Mine was sticky too until I dusted it with a bit more flour. Perfect with syrup 😋
This tastes like something my grandma would make. So comforting. I served them with maple instead of molasses—still hit the spot!
Making these reminds me of my grandma. They are a bit tricky but worth it! Just make sure the butter’s hot enough.
I tried this recipe and it was amazing! So simple and delicious. The kids loved it too.
I was skeptical about the kneading time, but 1-2 minutes actually worked. Mine were golden but a tad salty—next time I’ll measure the salt more carefully.
I think 2 minutes is too short tbh 😅 Mine never get “smooth” like that unless I go like 5-6. Also mine came out dark fast, so maybe my heat was too high—do you use butter or margarine? (Mine tasted ok but a bit weird salty too.)
Totally get the skepticism—kneading times are always “mysterious” in recipes. Glad yours worked out. Golden + a little salty is easy to fix next batch—maybe I’ll try using a slightly heaped vs flat salt spoon comparison.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about the “small flat rounds” thing, but it worked. Mine bubbled a bit and got nice spots. Next time I’ll make them slightly thinner.
Yes! Those bubbles + spots are exactly what I look for—nice work. Thinner next time should crisp up even better. 😄
I added cinnamon to mine. So good! 🤤