Puff Puff

Puff puff is one of the easiest of all Nigerian snacks, I posted an image of it on my Facebook page and learned that Nigerians have different spelling for it.

The comments that trailed the image on my Facebook page spelled it in different ways and one guy even called it poopoofuu! /only him waka come/. 😀

Thanks to Maryam Kamba for telling us the Hausa name – Panke, We are going to learn how to make puff puff, I suppose it is the easiest of all Nigerian snacks.
Puff Puff Nigeria Snack
I love kpuff kpuff too but not as well as little Onyi, She could eat a lorry load of them and end up smiling and playing around with oily lips. 😀

How To Make Puff Puff Without Yeast

I get this question regularly and truthfully, I don’t think there is any way you are ever going to have the same delicious looking-tasting-smelling puff-puff without adding yeast.

Yeast is actually the ingredient that is responsible for that nice smell that is synonymous with this snack. So, at the moment, there is no alternative to yeast, when I find it, I will definitely tell you about it.

Yeast is used in bread, pizza, beer, and several other foods. Nutritionists don’t consider it harmful to the human body, on the contrary, they think it has some health benefits.

Here is how to make this delicious snack in Nigeria, It is quite easy to make. It is likely the easiest of all Nigerian snacks, same as chin chin. They could both be made in less than 60 minutes.

Complete Ingredients For Puff Puff:

Serving 5 persons

3 cups All-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground chilli (Pepper)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 seed nutmeg, ground
3 liters of Vegetable(for frying)
2 Teaspoons of active yeast

How to Make Puff Puff With Pepper

Pepper (chilies) is one ingredient I find particularly delicious in puff puff, this recipe included pepper and I am sure you are going to love it.

Preparation

Like most Nigerian foods, there are techniques you need to employ when making this snack, just to be sure you end up with the actual thing. 😀

Something as simple as yeast can mess up your puff puff if you don’t use it well, it happens with several other foods, you will learn as you go.

Yeast should be stored in an airtight container, it goes bad when exposed to atmospheric air and thus serves no purpose whatsoever.

How to make Puff puff

Start by washing your hands properly and wipe with a kitchen towel.

Step 1

Add two and a half cups of flour to a bowl, (about 200g), two teaspoons of yeast, add the ground nutmeg, add a pinch of salt to taste, 3 spoons of granulated sugar and start stirring with your hand and make sure the dried ingredients are properly mixed together.

ingredients

Step 2

Now add 200ml of warm water to mix properly, stir with your hand for few more minutes until they are properly integrated together.

Add enough water so you can actually scoop some in your palm; but not too much water to the point that it would run off through your fingers when scooped.

Remember that the standard measuring cup is 250ml, the equivalent is that peak tin milk cup that most market women use for measuring 50 naira garri.

Step 3

Add the ground chilies (pepper), stir some more.

Making Hausa panke

You can taste at this point and add more salt and sugar if there is any need for a little more; then go ahead and stir a little more.

Step 4

Once it is properly mixed together, you will need to tightly cover the mixture in the bowl with either a foil, tray or nylon for about thirty minutes. This gives the yeast the chance to do its assignment.

When you open the covering, it would have risen a little, if it is very foamy, you probably used lots of yeast and your puff puff would have holes in them, but that is not very bad, No holes at all are bad actually.

Step 5

Set a cooking pot on the fire, I don’t think frying pan would work, except you have really deep frying pan. Allow the pot to dry before adding about 2-3litres of oil.

make sure the oil is at least 2-3inch deep, it is not right for the puff puff to rest at the bottom of the pot, it would give it a somewhat flat shape, and people would actually think you made pancake 😀

Step 6

Once the oil is heated, scoop some in your palm and squeeze into the oil, allowing it to escape through the circle made by your thumb and index finger. Don’t bother about making it so big, what you drop into the oil will triple in size before it comes out of the oil.
deep frying puff puff

When you get it right, it should be somewhat spherical and sometimes with a horn. It should float if the oil is properly heated; Continue until the oil is covered. Observe and turn once you see that usual color of puff puff.

How to fry it

You have to be mindful of the heat also, the oil when heated too much could burn the puff puff before it is properly cooked and when it is not heated at all your puff puff gets soaked in too much oil.

Actually, when you drop the batter into the oil, it may sink first, then rise to the surface.

Repeat until you have fried all the barter. Now that is how to make puff puff.

Puff puff recipe

Pull out your phone, take a snap and send it to me, enjoy with your favorite soft drink. Then send some to your neighbors, friends, family, etc.

Puff puff recipe

Puff Puff Recipe with Pepper

Chef Chidi
You can't do without puff puff, I am sure. This recipe shows you how you can make it in just 90 minutes.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert, Nigerian desserts
Cuisine Nigerian Cuisine
Servings 4 People
Calories 558 kcal

Equipment

  • Pots
  • Bowl
  • Cooking spoons

Ingredients
  

  • 2.5 Cups All-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp Salt half teaspoon
  • 1/2 tsp ground chilli Pepper
  • 3 tsp Granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp Ground Seed of nutmeg
  • 3 liters Vegetable oil for frying
  • 2 tsp of active yeast

Instructions
 

  • Add all the dried ingredients together in a bowl and mix them properly. (yeast, flour, ground nutmeg, add a pinch of salt, granulated sugar.
  • add 150ml of warm water to mix properly, stir properly.
  • Add the ground chilies (pepper), stir some more.
  • Taste for salt and pepper. You can add a little more water, you just want a fine consistency.
  • Cover the bowl with nylon when it is properly mixed and allow to rise for 45 minutes in a warm place.
  • After 45 minutes, stir and fry. Then serve with your favorite soft drink.
Keyword puff puff recipe

Return to Other Nigerian Desserts

89 Comments

Amarachi
Reply

Wow..wonderful recipe, precise and exactly what I wanted..makes me want to make puff on a daily

March 17, 2021
Andi Cyril
Reply

5 stars
Thanks very much will try it and let you know

August 25, 2020
Remi Rebecca
Reply

5 stars
This is great…. i actually dont know how to make puff puff but on watching the video i think i can do perfect with just once practical. All thanks to this website, my man has got a good puff puff chef.😍

May 22, 2020
Bolarin Adeyinka Abimbola
Reply

Can I add my pepper after the flour has risen

May 17, 2020
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

No. it wouldn’t sit well.

May 17, 2020
Kanyin
Reply

Chidi is it by force to put yeast

July 14, 2019
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Lol, sure, you need yeast.

July 14, 2019
M. ZEE
Reply

5 stars
Kudos 2u Chidi, i ve tried so many times B4 bt dnt get it Tnx for d recipes…

May 28, 2019
Aisha M Ashafa
Reply

You are just wonderful. Thanks keep the good work going.

January 19, 2019
Grace
Reply

Thanks Nwanne mmadu! You are simply great!
Well Done!
I ♥ ♥ ♥ you…

January 18, 2019
mercy
Reply

Tanx so much me I do wonder y my puff puff is not coming out well not knowing that I won’t add baking powder to it.tanx xo much I will re-try.

October 10, 2018
UCHECHI
Reply

HI,
SAY I DO NOT HAVE A MEASUREMENT CUP[,
CAN I USE THE SMALLEST MILK CUP TO REPRESENT YOUR ONE CUP
THANKS IN ANTICIPATION FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

YOUR ILLUSTRATION WAS VERY WELL ON POINT.

February 22, 2018
Amara
Reply

Thanks for showing me how to make puff puff. How do I add fresh pepper in the mixing?

January 26, 2018
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Just before you start frying.

January 27, 2018
Favor
Reply

why warm water for mixing, and how do we mix the yeast with warm water instead of cold water

December 15, 2017
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Warm water help activate the yeast, very necessary.

December 20, 2017
Blessing
Reply

Thanks for the update. Please do we have time limit for adding each ingredients? Thank you.

August 30, 2017
Nnenna
Reply

Chidi thanks so much for this, I tried mine before now and it turned flat inside the oil???. Will try again following your style. Pls can you teach how to bake cake manually without mixer? My daughters birthday is coming up and I promise her we will bake her birthday cake together

August 10, 2017
Oma
Reply

Thanks Dear I was just about to request for it only for me to see it here .You really help a lot .if I may ask,pls can you send the recipe for pizza.Or do you do strictly Nigerian food?

June 26, 2017
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Thanks for your feedback dear, you will find pizza recipe in the ultimate Nigerian cookbook.

June 27, 2017
Lillian
Reply

Wow dis is great tanks alot u r d best

June 24, 2017
Thomas damilola
Reply

Pls Chidi
How do I know the water measurement, Is 150ml same as a glass cup of water? Guess am not good and conversant with the measurements. Pls can you please help out. I made one n twas watery

June 24, 2017
Benny
Reply

5 stars
Many thanks for the recipe, mine came out very fine today
, far better than before.

April 23, 2017
teee
Reply

thanks for the recipe i will try it this weekend

March 30, 2017
Angel
Reply

Hi chi
Which is your facebook ID,there seems to be so many Nigeria kitchen.dont know the one to like..

March 13, 2017
Imaobong
Reply

Hello Chi, thanks for this recipe i Will try it this week-end

March 10, 2017
Goodfello
Reply

Great efforts there mydear.But couple facts are either missing or not properly represented i.e when u say cups U should specify like 25cl standard glass cup,like 1teaspoon salt & 3spoon sugar-tea or table?like the timing inbetween mixtures & frying and all:cos I was hoping to try some today!In anycase,U’r a help.Love.Godbless

October 23, 2016
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Cup, spoon, teaspoon, half cup, etc are standard for recipe measurement. a
A cup is 250ml, this facts are known all over the world and explained in detail in my cookbooks. Thanks for your comment.

October 23, 2016
Gloria
Reply

Hello Chidi….its been fun since I stumbled on your page and it’s very excited. I love to cook and happy to also learn from a professional. Actually tried your Ofada sauce on Friday and it was awesome. Had planned to get the rice cook book but couldn’t as had a lot of stuffs to attend to. Would try this puff puff out shortly as its my daughter’s weakness especially in parties. Thanks for helping women

September 27, 2016
Ruth Nkem
Reply

Chidi, I am glad to have received this recipe for Puff Puff. I will make it this week-end. I have always looked forward to preparing Puff Puff but do not know how to combine the recipe. More grease to your elbow.

September 27, 2016
FAVOUR
Reply

wow CHI this is nice keep it up. I will try this and send my pix, many thanks.

September 27, 2016
Grace
Reply

Yummmmy!!! thanks so much Chidi,May God you bless you real good for this great recipe.God will keep and protect your home in Jesus name.

September 15, 2016
Meenal
Reply

Hi Chi thanks for the recipe

September 8, 2016
Viv
Reply

Lovely tutorial dear. Am excited to try

July 21, 2016
Olachene
Reply

This is interesting ma,have learnt a lot. God bless.

June 29, 2016
zainab
Reply

Will be trying mine tomorrow cos i’ll be using it to break the fast with my family…Thanks Aunty chy.

June 7, 2016
rhoesy
Reply

tanks for d ingredent but my puff puff tone out bad bcus i did not get a spherical shape instead it tone out flat al through like beans cake.pls tell wat mistake did i do oo

June 6, 2016
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

You should use lots of oil so measures about 4 inches from the bottom of the pot. This allow to puff puff to float and swim around while they fry.

June 7, 2016
Aishat
Reply

Thank you sis, I had been trying to know how to make puff puff. Thanks again I really appreciate

May 1, 2020
oby
Reply

Tnx,will try it

May 26, 2016
Kaycee
Reply

God bless u chy, am enjoying my own copy of ur book.

April 16, 2016
mojisola
Reply

I will definitely try it,thanks

March 27, 2016
Jennifer
Reply

Thanks Aunt Chidi, u’re doing a wonderful job by us

March 2, 2016
Amy
Reply

Currently Just did my puff puff mixture and waiting for it to rise…im si excited n expectant..hopin it turns out well…how do i send d pic when im done?

January 16, 2016
stephanie
Reply

Thank u mrs anegu d recipe is wonderfull buh red pepper n onion can be added to d mixture too, try n u wud love it

December 6, 2015
Izenose
Reply

Chidi I got it! Am sooo happy it make out very well I think I add too much water the first time, my son usually doesnt like it when buy it home but he finished two balls completely! God bless you ma! Please it’s the festive season can we get recipe for chin chin? Thank you!!!

November 23, 2015
Izenose
Reply

Chidi I tried this recipe but the dough didn’t have holes it just remained in the position. What didn’t I get right? I used two milk cuos for the measurements as am yet to acquire a scale, Is that measures correct?

November 21, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

watch your yeast, you need properly sealed yeast. don’t buy the tied one that is 50 naira. When you get the sealed one, store it in an air tight container. it turns bad once it is exposed to atmospheric air for as long as 24 hours.

November 22, 2015
cynthia
Reply

Please, is a question actually, can i use deep fryer to fry the puff puff?

November 6, 2015
TEMMY
Reply

thanks a lot ANTY chy but how would I
get my book cs I want to buy but I leave in ile Ife osun state.

October 29, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Just call us on 08035051468, we deliver to every city in Nigeria plus 220 other countries. Thanks

November 1, 2015
TITI
Reply

Hi chi,thanks for the recipe,it helps a lot. More of it

October 28, 2015
amaka
Reply

Cchy I want to post d pic of d puff puff I just did,how will I post it?thanks!

September 24, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

email all pix to chy@allnigerianfoods.com

September 28, 2015
Cindy
Reply

Thanks for dis cite Chidi, am a better cook today. I live in Cotonou and would like to have your book, the ultimate Nigerian cook book, how do I go about it.

September 23, 2015
lily
Reply

Chi, thanks a million for this info. came at the right time. please share more on how to make bean cake.

September 22, 2015
Blessing
Reply

Really onion and red pepper are added to puff puff ooo aunty mi, hv tasted it n its wow! Will make mine soon….thnx

September 21, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Sure, there is no limit to what we can do with foods.

September 22, 2015
amaka
Reply

Pls how many puff puff will u get wit dat quantity of recipe listed?

September 21, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

depending on the size you make them, should be around 15-18 for the standard size.
Chidi

September 23, 2015
amaka
Reply

Chidi ure really doin a great work!kudos,will try d puff puff ova d weekend!!!

September 21, 2015
pep
Reply

Thanks for the recipe @ Chidi. Please the spoon if yeast do you mean table spoon or tea spoon.

September 21, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

I just updated the recipe, 2 teaspoons of yeast is required.

September 21, 2015
Tolani
Reply

Thanks for ur gud work. I actually tried ur fried puff puff recipe yesterday and it came out wonderful. My hubby was asking for more. Kudos to u
Pls can u direct me on hw to bake cake and also bake junks wit d use of stove bcos I don’t ave oven for now. Thanks once again

August 9, 2015
Oluwayemi
Reply

Hi chi,thanks for the recipe,it helps a lot.how will I get the ultimate Nigeria cookbook because I stays at Ibadan .

June 13, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Oluwayemi, thanks for commenting, pls call 08035051468 for the cookbooks, we deliver to every state in Nigeria and most countries of the world.

June 20, 2015
Klara
Reply

Thanks MK, would have tried it now,but don’t have yeast at the moment,but will definitely do and send the pix to you.please is it same recipe for buns? Cos I love it more!!!

June 8, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

ok, buns recipes is different though.

June 9, 2015
Adebukola
Reply

Yes fresh pepper can be added to the mixed flour when you are about to fry. It give the puff-puff a peppery taste.

March 29, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

ok, thanks for your input.

March 29, 2015
Joy
Reply

Im so excited reading this. Have always thought its a big deal. As much as i love puff puff hav never tried it on my own. This gives me confidence to make it. Thanks so much Chidi.

March 14, 2015
fawale Adetoun
Reply

Nice and simple write up, will definitely try it but will like to add little fresh red pepper(rodo). Thanks plenty.

March 4, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Fresh red pepper to puff puff? ok, pls send me some when you are done.

March 5, 2015
Phil
Reply

wow, i ve always love Puff Puff but never knew how to make it, Thanks for the Recipes. Will try it out this weekend.

October 31, 2014
Funmi
Reply

Thanks Chidi, but my question is about the yeast, does that mean that 2 (milk) cups of flour will be okay for 2spoons of yeast?

October 2, 2014
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Funmi, Use one spoon of yeast for 3 milk cups of flour, a little bit less than a spoon for 2 cups.

October 4, 2014
ekwy akabogu
Reply

Thanks so very much, I saw will try it over the weekend!

September 30, 2014
TaGra-Cee
Reply

wowo is sweet in our county we call it mandasi kikikiki

September 29, 2014
amaka
Reply

will try dat soon,thx

September 29, 2014
Lizzy
Reply

Hi Chidi,
Thank you for the recipes, particularly the one on puff puff. I will certainly send photos. I am
enjoying also the book The Ultimate Nigerian Cookbook.

Well done!

September 29, 2014
Ujunwa
Reply

Hmmmmmmmmmm Chidi I love that, I will make it on 1st of Oct.
Thanks

September 29, 2014
Daphne
Reply

Thanks for the expo Chi. Do u knw I thought milk is an ingredient for puff puff?

September 29, 2014
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Sure, you can also add a little milk as suggested by Maryam.

September 30, 2014
Chimmy
Reply

Thanks Chi,you are really doing a great work here. I like eating puff puff ,Thanks for the recipe, I will try to make it.

September 29, 2014
chituru
Reply

Thanks so much for this recipe. I can’t wait to try it. I love to eat puff puff and so does my daughter. How can I preserve it if I need to make it to be eaten for few days.

September 29, 2014
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

I don’t think there is a way to preserve puff puff, but it can last up to 48 hours on its own. thanks

September 30, 2014
Chika
Reply

Thanks, I have always wanted to make puff puff but haven’t gotten around it yet. Thanks for the recipes, I will be trying it and when I am done, I will send you the image. Chika

September 27, 2014

Wow thank you chi darling I see my name. In addition to the ingredients you can nono (the is use to make fura da nana ie cow milk) that is a bit sour to get it more tastier.

September 25, 2014
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

MK, Thanks for your input. It’s nice having you around.

September 27, 2014

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