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Sideview of a tray full of cinnamon sugar rolled churros, with a small bowl of caramel sauce on the side of the tray
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Air Fryer Churros

These homemade churros in the air fryer are made with simple ingredients and are golden and crispy, without any of the mess or grease from frying.
Course Dessert, Sweet treats
Cuisine Ecuadorian, Latin American, Spanish
Keyword Air Fryer, Churros, Comfort food
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Freezer time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 30 -32 small churros

Ingredients

For the churros:

  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs

For the cinnamon sugar topping:

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Dipping sauce ideas:

  • Chocolate sauce or Nutella (see chocolate sauce recipe in Notes)
  • Dulce de leche

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a small pot, combine the water, butter, sugar, and salt and bring to a gentle simmer.
  • Turn the heat off and stir in the flour until the mixture turns into a soft ball. You should see a thin film still on the bottom of the pot.
  • Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes.
  • Then transfer it to a mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment and add the eggs.
  • Mix the dough at medium speed with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer for 1-2 minutes or until it has thickened slightly and the dough looks smooth and shiny.
  • Transfer the dough to a piping bag or resealable bag fitted with a large open star tip (I use a Wilton 1M) and pipe the dough into 4-inch sticks onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Freeze for at least 1 hour (up to overnight) until the dough is solid.
  • While the dough freezes, mix the cinnamon and sugar for the topping and dump it onto a small tray or plate.
    A small white bowl filled with cinnamon sugar
  • Once the dough is solid, preheat the air fryer, and working in batches of 5-6, place the frozen churros into the basket of the air fryer about ½ an inch apart. (That ½ inch will allow them to expand and get crispy. If they don’t have room, they’ll be floppy and you’ll be sad.)
    5 uncooked churros in an air fryer basket
  • Spray with cooking spray or brush with a very light coat of oil and cook at 375°F for 10-12 minutes or until the ridges are browned and the dough is cooked through (I used exactly 11 minutes, but air fryers can vary by brand).
    Five cooked churros in an air fryer basket
  • Immediately transfer to the cinnamon and sugar mixture and toss until well coated.
    A tray with cinnamon sugar and churros being rolled in it
  • Serve warm with chocolate or caramel sauce if desired.
    Overhead view of several churros on a tray with a bowl of chocolate sauce and bowl of caramel, with a striped kitchen towel on the side

Notes

For a quick homemade chocolate dipping sauce:
  • 1 cup water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch of salt
Preparation:
  1. In a small pot, over medium heat, place the water, sugar, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Let it heat for a couple of minutes and when the syrup thickens, remove from the heat.
  3. Add the teaspoon of vanilla, mix again and let it cool before serving.