Who doesn’t love churros? These delicious, deep-fried pastries are a classic favorite, and for a good reason. With their crispy exterior and soft, fluffy interior, churros are the perfect treat for any occasion. And the best part? They’re easy to make at home!
Crunchy and Sweet Homemade Churros Recipe
These fried dough pastries have a crunchy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior, making them an irresistible snack! It requires few ingredients, and it comes together in just 30 minutes.
The key to making perfect churros is creating a smooth dough without any lumps before piping it into the hot oil. Once they are golden brown and crunchy on the outside, you can toss them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture for an irresistible finish!
You can make various flavor variations by adding mix-ins to the dough. Create a chocolate flavor by mixing in cocoa powder, a strawberry or fruity flavor by mixing in jam, or a caramel flavor by drizzling your churros with hot caramel sauce.
What are churros?
Churros are a Spanish pastry, and they’re delicious. They’re made by frying a long strip of dough in oil until it’s golden brown and crisp on the outside, then dipping it in sugar before serving, but they are also delicious on their own. The result is a light and airy treat that’s perfect for dunking into hot chocolate or coffee!
The traditional way of serving churros is with a cup of thick hot chocolate for dipping. Today you can find homemade churros served with all sorts of sweet toppings! Some of my favorites are dulce de leche, caramel sauce, or even a mix of both.
Did you know that you can make savory churros too? Coat them with herbs and spices; experiment with different flavors such as garlic, thyme, rosemary, or even cheese powder. I like serving savory churros with dips like guacamole, salsa, or hummus for an extra kick of flavor.
Ingredients for easy homemade churros
To make homemade churros, you will need all-purpose flour, butter, salt, sugar, eggs, and vegetable oil for frying. The ingredients are all pantry staples and can easily be found at your local grocery store.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour, which gives the dough a nice chewiness with the perfect crisp outside.
- Liquids: Water, sugar, salt, and butter.
- Eggs: 2 large eggs
- Vanilla Extract: I suggest using 100% real vanilla, but imitation extracts will also work; they just won’t have as much flavor.
- Cinnamon Sugar: This sugar is very simple; mix white sugar with cinnamon. I love adding apple pie spice to the sugar mixture when serving churros with caramel dipping sauce!
How to Make Churros (Step by Step)
Making churros is a simple process:
- Make the dough ( full details below)
- Heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or pot and use a piping bag or spoon to pipe the churro dough into the hot oil.
- Deep fry the churros in hot oil until they are golden brown
- Remove from heat and drain them on paper towels to absorb the excess grease
- Finally, coat the churros in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon for the perfect finishing touch.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
FAQs
Can I reheat Churros?
Yes, churros can be reheated in either a microwave or oven. Just be sure to watch them closely so they don’t burn. To reheat in the oven, place on a baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
With an air fryer, reheating frozen churros becomes a breeze. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Spray some cooking oil on top of the churros to make sure they get crispy all around and cook for approximately 4-5 minutes.
What are churros made of?
These churros are made of a simple dough mixture consisting of flour, water, and salt. The dough is then piped or pressed through a star-shaped tip into hot oil until golden brown and crispy.
The treats are then dusted with sugar and cinnamon, which gives them a very nice flavor.
Why are my churros raw inside?
If the oil isn’t hot enough, the dough won’t cook properly, and you’ll end up with raw centers. Use a thermometer to ensure the oil temperature is 360°F (180°C) before adding your churros.
You could also be undercooking them. Churros should be fried until they’re golden brown on all sides.
Tips and Tricks
- Use a star-shaped piping tip to make the churros.
- Make sure the oil is at the right temperature before you begin frying. A thermometer is your best friend here!
- Make sure the churros are golden brown, not dark brown or black.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the churros from the oil, and then place them on paper towels or brown paper bags (like grocery store bags) to drain off excess grease for a few minutes before serving.
Variations
Churros are a great snack to make with your kids, and they’re fun to customize. Here are some ideas for variations:
- Add different flavors to the dough, such as cinnamon or nutmeg
- Dip your churros in melted chocolate instead of cinnamon sugar before serving them.
- Stuff your churros with cream cheese or Nutella!
- You could also try using different shapes for your churros, such as hearts.
Storage – How to store churros?
Cool completely before storing; this prevents them from getting soggy. To store, wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store them in the fridge.
Churros are best eaten immediately, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Churros should be frozen if you intend to store them for a long time. Simply place the wrapped churros in an airtight container and freeze them for up to two months.
Are you ready to make your own homemade churros? This easy-to-follow recipe will help you whip up a batch of crunchy and sweet churros in no time. You’ll be amazed at how delicious they turn out and how easy it is to make them.
Other Fried Dough Recipes You Might Enjoy:
Churros recipe
Ingredients
Coating:
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
Churros:
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
Coating:
- In a shallow dish, pour ½ cup sugar and the cinnamon powder. Whisk until well combined. Set aside.
Churros:
- Add water, butter, sugar, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Turn the heat to low and add the flour all at once. Whisk together constantly until it forms a smooth ball—about 30 to 60 seconds.
- Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Add the vanilla and one egg at a time, then use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or hand whisk to mix the dough. Add the second egg and mix until the eggs are well incorporated, and the dough becomes smooth and glossy.
- Heat 1 ½ inches of oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat to 360 degrees F (182°C).
- Transfer the mixture into a 16-inch piping bag fitted with a ½ inch rounded star tip.
- Pipe the mixture (about 6-inch long tubes) into the preheated oil and fry about 4 to 5 at once. Fry for about 2 minutes per side or until deep golden brown on all sides. Then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain for about 30 seconds before rolling them in cinnamon sugar.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of chocolate, strawberry syrup, or another syrup of choice.
Nutrition
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