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Bite-sized churros coated in cinnamon sugar come out crisp on the outside and soft inside right from your air fryer. They’ve got that classic fair treat flavor—without all the greasy cleanup. These pastries use an easy choux base for fluffiness, plus air frying gets them golden and crunchy without deep-frying chaos.
The first time I whipped these up, my kids kept asking for the churros they loved from our Spain trip. We were shocked at how much these hit the spot. My husband even said he liked them better this way; less greasy means he could snack on double without that heavy feeling.
Irresistible Churros
- Cinnamon: Adds that warm spice everyone knows from classic churros
- Vanilla extract: Brings a cozy, deep flavor to the dough
- Large egg: Holds everything together and helps make the inside fluffy
- All-purpose flour: Gives the dough structure so the bites stay in shape
- Granulated sugar: Lights up the bites with gentle sweetness, inside and out
- Salt: Keeps flavors balanced so it’s not too sweet
- Water: Helps steam the dough so it puffs up well
- Unsalted butter: Gives richness, making bites taste super good
- Extra butter: For brushing, helps that sugary coating stick everywhere
Easy Cooking Directions
- Cooking Process
- Brush churro bites with melted butter for that even golden crunch. Air fry at 375°F for around 10 to 12 minutes. You want them crisp and deep golden on the outside but soft in the middle.
- Churro Formation
- Fire up your air fryer to preheat. Spoon dough into a piping bag with a big star tip. Spray the basket with nonstick spray, then pipe out 2–3 inch logs right in, leaving room so they don’t stick together.
- Egg Incorporation
- Mix in your egg and vanilla after dough has cooled a bit. Use a mixer (medium speed) about 2 minutes so it gets glossy and thick enough to pipe.
- Dough Preparation
- Pop water, butter, salt, and sugar into a pot. Heat on high till boiling, drop heat to medium-low, dump in the flour all at once and stir hard until it pulls into a smooth dough ball. Take off heat and cool for 5 minutes so you don’t accidentally cook the egg.
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My top way to dig into these tasty bites is to dunk ‘em in rich Spanish hot chocolate. It takes me right back to wandering through Madrid, where churros dunked in chocolate is the go-to breakfast or late-night food.
Fun Ways To Serve
Build a snack board with these churros surrounded by different dips for everyone. Lay them out on a big wooden board, and fill little bowls with caramel, dark chocolate sauce, and creamy vanilla custard around the edges.
Tasty Twists
Want a Mexican chocolate vibe? Sprinkle a bit of ground cardamom and a pinch of cayenne into the dough and sugary coating. Feeling autumn? Swap maple for vanilla extract and toss in toasted pecan crumbs with your cinnamon sugar for a maple pecan spin.
Storing Leftovers
Churros are best while fresh and hot. Got extras? Seal cooled bites in an airtight box for up to two days. Pop them in the air fryer at 350°F for three minutes if they need to get crunchy again.
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After years sticking with fried churros at family parties, finding an air-fried way blew my mind. I swear, these always come out with the perfect mix of crunchy outside and pillowy inside that’s just so hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I prepare the churro dough ahead of time?
- For sure! Make the dough up to 2 days early, keep it in the fridge in a closed container, and let it warm up on the counter for half an hour before using. If it looks a little separated, just give it a good stir.
- → Why did my churros collapse or flatten?
- Usually the dough’s too wet, or your air fryer wasn’t hot enough. Make sure the dough cools some before mixing in the egg, and fire up the air fryer to 375°F before you start cooking.
- → Can I bake these churros in a regular oven instead?
- Yep! Pop them in a hot oven at 425°F on a baking sheet with parchment, brush on some melted butter, and bake about 20 minutes till they’re golden.
- → What dipping sauces pair well with these churros?
- Chocolate sauce or dulce de leche are the classics, but Nutella, caramel, or a simple berry sauce are awesome too. Melt chocolate chips with cream for a super quick dip.
- → How do I store leftover churros?
- They're best fresh, but you can stash leftovers at room temp in a sealed container for a day or two. Pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for a couple minutes and they’ll crisp up again.