Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Churros are the ultimate comfort food—crispy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, and covered in a sweet cinnamon sugar coating. Making churros at home is surprisingly simple, and the result is just as satisfying as anything you’d get from a food cart or restaurant. Whether you’re hosting a party, celebrating a special occasion, or just treating yourself, this churro recipe is sure to please. Plus, you can serve them with chocolate sauce, caramel, or even whipped cream for an extra indulgent experience.
Ingredients
For the churros:
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1 cup water
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1 tablespoon sugar
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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2 large eggs
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1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Vegetable oil (for frying)
For the cinnamon sugar:
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
Prepare the churro dough:
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Heat the water: In a medium saucepan, combine the water, sugar, salt, and butter. Heat over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil and the butter is melted. Remove from heat once boiling.
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Add the flour: Stir in the flour all at once, mixing vigorously until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Continue to stir for another 1-2 minutes to ensure the dough is smooth and fully combined.
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Cool the dough: Let the dough sit for a few minutes to cool slightly. This step is important because it helps prevent the eggs from cooking when they are added.
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Add eggs and vanilla: Once the dough has cooled a bit, add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. The dough will be thick, smooth, and slightly sticky.
Fry the churros:
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Heat the oil: Pour vegetable oil into a large pot or deep skillet, enough to submerge the churros (about 2 inches of oil). Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C). You can check the temperature with a thermometer or drop a small piece of dough into the oil—if it sizzles and rises to the surface, the oil is ready.
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Prepare piping bag: Transfer the churro dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped tip. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a large resealable plastic bag with the corner cut off.
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Fry the churros: Carefully pipe the dough into the hot oil, cutting the dough into 4-6 inch pieces with scissors as you go. Fry the churros in batches, being sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the churros from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Coat the churros:
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Make the cinnamon sugar: In a shallow bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
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Coat the churros: While the churros are still warm, roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture, coating them evenly on all sides.
Serve:
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Serve immediately: Serve the churros hot with a dipping sauce of your choice, such as chocolate sauce, caramel, or dulce de leche, and enjoy!
Servings and Timing
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Servings: Makes about 12-15 churros (depending on size)
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Prep time: 10 minutes
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Cook time: 15 minutes
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Total time: 25 minutes
Variations
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Chocolate Dipping Sauce: For a rich accompaniment, melt dark or milk chocolate with a bit of cream and serve it as a dipping sauce.
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Stuffed Churros: For an extra indulgent treat, you can stuff churros with chocolate, dulce de leche, or cream cheese before frying them. Simply pipe the filling inside the dough using the same piping bag.
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Coconut Churros: Add shredded coconut to the cinnamon-sugar mixture for a tropical twist on the classic.
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Vegan Churros: Replace the eggs with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) and use plant-based butter for a vegan version.
Storage/Reheating
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Storage: Churros are best served fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
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Reheating: To reheat, bake churros in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5-7 minutes to crisp them up. You can also reheat them in a skillet over low heat for a few minutes.
Conclusion
Churros are a sweet and irresistible treat that’s perfect for any occasion. With their crispy exterior, soft interior, and cinnamon-sugar coating, they’re sure to be a hit with everyone. Whether you serve them with chocolate sauce, caramel, or whipped cream, churros are an indulgent snack that will have everyone coming back for more. Easy to make, customizable, and absolutely delicious, churros are the ultimate comfort food for sweet-tooth cravings!
Churros Recipe
Churros are a classic Spanish treat made from crispy, golden-brown fried dough, dusted with cinnamon sugar. Served with a rich dipping sauce, these indulgent, sweet treats are perfect for breakfast, dessert, or any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12-15 churros
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Spanish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- For the churros:
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- For the cinnamon sugar:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine water, sugar, salt, and butter. Heat over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil and the butter melts. Remove from heat.
- Stir in the flour all at once, mixing vigorously until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Continue stirring for 1-2 minutes to ensure it’s smooth.
- Allow the dough to cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each. Stir in the vanilla extract. The dough should be thick and slightly sticky.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or skillet to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped tip.
- Pipe the dough into the hot oil, cutting it into 4-6 inch pieces with scissors. Fry the churros in batches for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy. Remove from oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a shallow bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. While the churros are still warm, roll them in the cinnamon sugar until coated evenly.
- Serve immediately with a dipping sauce of your choice, such as chocolate sauce, caramel, or dulce de leche. Enjoy!
Notes
If you prefer a spicier churro, add a pinch of cayenne to the cinnamon sugar mixture.For stuffed churros, pipe chocolate, dulce de leche, or cream cheese into the dough before frying.Churros can be made ahead by preparing the dough and storing it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Fry fresh when ready to serve.To reheat leftovers, bake churros at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes to crisp them up.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 churro
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg