While beignets and mandazi are very similar, they are not the same thing. They have the major similarity in that both are made from cut-out pastry, which is then deep-fried. Beignets are normally made using rich ingredients such as evaporated milk and butter. The fried dough is then dusted with powdered sugar. Mandazi, on the other hand, uses very basic ingredients namely flour, sugar, yeast or baking powder, and warm water. These ingredients are then combined into a dough, deep-fried, then served as it is, without dusting with powdered sugar.