Sugary churros are a delicious and indulgent fried treat, but sometimes we get snacker’s remorse when the tummy ache sets in later. That’s why we love our air-fryer churros. We get the same churro taste we crave with only a fraction of the oil, and no lingering smells or big messes to clean up. The best part? We still coat these churros in a sweet cinnamon-sugar. Some things just can’t be changed!
What is a churro?
A churro is a sweet dessert found in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American cuisine. Churros are made with a pate a choux dough, which is piped using a star tip to give each churro a rigid look. They’re then deep-fried and rolled in cinnamon-sugar. These fritter-like pastries are traditionally served with a chocolate sauce, but so many cultures, restaurants and chefs have put their own spin on churros. There are lots of ways to enjoy this special treat!
Ingredients for Air-Fryer Churros
- Milk: We use a blend of milk and water in our air-fryer churros recipe. Milk provides richness and color while water ensures strength and stability.
- All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour provides the perfect amount of structure to the churros while still keeping them wonderfully tender.
- Lemon zest: A scratch of lemon zest adds a bit of brightness to this rich recipe.
- Sugar: Use granulated sugar for this recipe. The granules are just big enough to add a crunchiness but not small enough to immediately dissolve when met with the heat of the churros.
- Cinnamon: If you really want to get fancy, use a different type of cinnamon other than the standard cassia. Floral Ceylon, spicy Saigon or extra cinnamon-y Korintje cinnamon are all worthy options.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the dough
In a large saucepan, bring the water, milk, oil and salt to a boil. Add the flour all at once, and stir until a smooth ball forms. Transfer the dough to a large, heatproof bowl, and let the dough stand for five minutes.
Editor’s Tip: Another sign that the dough has finished cooking is when a film forms on the bottom and sides of the pan.
Step 2: Beat the dough
Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the dough on medium-high speed until the dough softens, just about one minute. Add the egg and lemon zest, and beat for one to two minutes. Set the dough aside to cool.
Step 3: Pipe and chill
Insert a large star tip in a pastry bag, and fill the bag with the churro dough. Pipe the dough into 4-inch strips about 1 inch apart onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill the piped churro dough for one hour.
Editor’s Tip: If you want perfect, precisely piped churros, measure and mark 4-inch lines with a ruler and pen on the parchment paper. Flip the parchment over to the other side, and pipe the churro dough following the markings.
Step 4: Air-fry, then coat in cinnamon sugar
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Transfer the piped churros to the air fryer, and spritz with cooking spray. Cook the churros until they’re golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. While the churros are cooking, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. As soon as the churros come out of the air fryer, immediately toss them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Serve the churros warm with a dipping sauce.
Test Kitchen Tip: In our testing, we found that air-fryer cooking times vary dramatically, even among the best air fryer brands. Keep an eye on your churros, and check them at the 15-minute mark.
Recipe Variations
- Stuff the churros: Cut the end off one side of each churro, and, with a piping bag, stuff the churros with Nutella or dulce de leche. It’s not traditional, but it’s heavenly.
- Make them bite-sized: If you’re sharing a plate of these with a group of people, pipe the churros into bite-sized pieces.
- Add more flavor: Instead of just using cinnamon with the sugar, use a fun, sweet spice mix to kick up the flavor! Mix the sugar with pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice or a chai mix.
Can you make air-fryer churros ahead of time?
You can make the dough a day or two in advance—just keep it refrigerated in an airtight container. Because the churros are best served warm, though, we recommend air-frying them right before serving.
Air Fryer Churros Tips
What are some good dips to serve with churros?
Churros are designed for dunking! Serve them with Nutella, Mexican chocolate dip, salted caramel sauce, dulce de leche or any other sweet dip that suits your fancy.
What’s the best way to grease an air-fryer basket?
To grease, rub a small amount of oil on the bottom of the basket. We suggest using an oil with a high smoke point, such as safflower or soybean oil.
Should air-fryer churros be as crispy as deep-fried churros?
Your air-fryer churros likely won’t be quite as crunchy as the deep-fried version. They’ll have a slightly softer texture but will still be delicious!
