Crispy on the outside, soft and pillowy on the inside, and dusted generously with cinnamon sugar, this Churros Recipe brings a festive street-food favorite straight into your kitchen. Imagine a platter of golden churros still warm from the fryer, inviting you to dip and devour with abandon. Whether you’re prepping a fun family night, an easy but impressive dessert for friends, or just craving a Spanish-inspired treat, this Churros Recipe guarantees smiles and a little taste of celebration in every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
This churros recipe keeps it simple with pantry staples, but each ingredient plays an important role in yielding churros with just the right crunch, chew, and sugary sparkle. Here’s what you’ll need and what makes each component special.
- Water: The key to creating the airy dough, water helps the churros puff up inside while frying.
- Sugar (for dough): Just a touch sweetens the dough and enhances golden browning.
- Salt: A small amount balances the sweetness and pulls out every flavor note.
- Vegetable oil (for dough): A classic neutral fat that tenderizes the dough for a melt-in-your-mouth bite.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the churros their body and classic chewiness; don’t substitute here!
- Vegetable oil (for frying): Use plenty for deep frying so you get that signature crisp, never greasy, finish.
- Sugar (for coating): Must-have for that sticky, sparkly, traditional churro topping.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warming spice and makes the churros absolutely irresistible.
How to Make Churros Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Dough Base
Start by combining the water, 2 1/2 tablespoons of sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil. This quick simmer ensures everything melds perfectly for your churros recipe, laying the groundwork for fluffy, flavorful dough.
Step 2: Mix in Flour to Form Dough
Once your liquid mixture hits a boil, remove the pan from heat. Immediately stir in the all-purpose flour all at once. Mix vigorously until a rough dough ball forms; it’s normal for the dough to look thick and slightly sticky. Let it cool for a minute or two before handling—the dough should be warm but not scorching hot, so it pipes easily.
Step 3: Load the Piping Bag
When the dough feels manageable, scrape it into a sturdy piping bag fitted with a large star tip. The star tip is a signature move for every churros recipe, giving the churros their classic ridges—those grooves catch all the cinnamon sugar later on.
Step 4: Heat the Oil for Frying
In a deep pot or Dutch oven, heat at least 2 inches of vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C). Use a kitchen thermometer for accuracy. Proper oil temperature is the secret to a crispy exterior and a not-greasy bite. Don’t over-crowd the pot, or the oil temperature will drop and the churros might get soggy.
Step 5: Pipe and Fry the Churros
Carefully pipe out 4- to 6-inch strips directly into the hot oil, snipping the dough with kitchen scissors to release each churro. Fry a handful at a time, turning them after 2–3 minutes until they’re golden brown on all sides. Use a slotted spoon to retrieve your churros and let them drain on paper towels—this step keeps them from getting too oily.
Step 6: Coat in Cinnamon Sugar
While the churros are still piping hot, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture you’ve prepared in a shallow bowl. The heat helps the coating stick, enveloping each bite in fragrant sweetness. Serve your churros recipe immediately for the full, fresh-from-the-fryer experience.
How to Serve Churros Recipe
Garnishes
For the finishing touch, nothing beats a dusting of extra cinnamon sugar. You can get a little sassy with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, or drizzle melted chocolate, dulce de leche, or salted caramel sauce across the top. A scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside your churros recipe doesn’t hurt, either!
Side Dishes
A classic pairing is a mug of thick Spanish hot chocolate for dipping—utter magic with the crunchy, warm churros. Fresh berries or citrus wedges add a refreshing bite to balance all that sweetness. For brunch, serve alongside coffee and fruit salad for a festive spread.
Creative Ways to Present
Pile your churros high on a platter for a crowd, or serve in parchment cones for a street-fair vibe. Arrange mini churros around a dipping-sauce trio (think chocolate, caramel, and berry coulis) for a playful party dessert. Or stack churros French-fry style in tall glasses for a charming, hands-on presentation.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
While churros are best enjoyed piping hot and fresh, any extras can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day. Place them on a paper towel to help absorb any lingering moisture and keep them from getting soggy.
Freezing
If you need to plan ahead, pipe your churro dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer the raw, shaped dough to a freezer bag. When a churros craving strikes, fry them straight from the freezer—no need to thaw!
Reheating
To revive leftover churros, skip the microwave and pop them in a 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes. This crisps the exterior back up while gently warming the center, nearly as good as fresh from the fryer!
FAQs
Can I make churros without a piping bag?
Absolutely. You can use a sturdy plastic zip-top bag with the corner snipped off, but for the classic ridged look (and the best crunch), a star tip, even an inexpensive one, gives the most authentic churros recipe results.
How do I get my churros crispy and not greasy?
Oil temperature is crucial! Make sure it’s at 375°F before frying and don’t overcrowd the pan. Churros will crisp beautifully if fried in properly heated oil and drained well on paper towels.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, this churros recipe dough can be made a few hours in advance. Keep it covered at room temperature and pipe/fry when you’re ready to serve. Churros dough also freezes well, as noted above.
What are the best dips for churros?
Classic Spanish hot chocolate is traditional, but you can also dip churros in dulce de leche, caramel sauce, nutella, or even fruit preserves—let your sweet tooth lead the way!
Can I bake churros instead of frying them?
While frying delivers the signature texture, you can bake churros at 425°F until golden, about 18-22 minutes. They’ll be a bit softer, but rolling them in cinnamon sugar while warm will still give you that delightful churros recipe flavor.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing like conquering a batch of golden, cinnamon-dusted churros in your own kitchen. This Churros Recipe invites smiles and satisfies every sweet craving—give it a try and let the irresistible aroma fill your home tonight!
PrintChurros Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 20 churros
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Spanish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Learn how to make delicious homemade churros coated in cinnamon sugar. These fried Spanish treats are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfect for a sweet snack or dessert.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 cup water
- 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Coating:
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1/2 cup sugar (for coating)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, salt, and oil. Boil, remove from heat, stir in flour to form dough, transfer to piping bag.
- Fry the Churros: Heat oil, pipe dough into hot oil, fry until golden brown, about 2–3 minutes per side.
- Coat with Cinnamon Sugar: Mix sugar and cinnamon in a bowl, roll warm churros in the mixture.
- Serve: Enjoy warm churros as is or with dipping sauce.
Notes
- Churros are best served warm.
- Pair with chocolate sauce or dulce de leche for dipping.
- Dough can be made ahead and fried when needed.
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