This easy homemade Churros recipe is a great way to get a crunchy and sweet dessert with the warming flavors of cinnamon and sugar. Make churro dough from scratch with simple ingredients and fry them up until they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
If you’ve never had a Mexican churro before, you’re missing out!
You may not be on holiday n Mexico right now, but you can make the wonderful long donuts yourself at home from scratch!
This recipe for homemade churros will not disappoint! It rivals even the best copycat recipes, food truck churro or the ones you can get at Disney.
Wondering how to make churros? It's actually super easy!
You’ll first form a dough by heating water, butter, sugar, and salt, then beat in flour. Eggs and vanilla are beaten in after it cools slightly.
After it’s cooled, transfer it to a piping bag and squeeze long shapes into hot oil that will fry up to perfection.
The cooked long donuts are then dusted in a mix of cinnamon and sugar to make the perfect treat you can’t help but enjoy.
Jump to:
What is a churro?
A churro is a long, slender Spanish, Portuguese, and Mexican deep-fried pastry, that resembles a doughnut or cruller, which is rolled in cinnamon and sugar after frying.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe tastes just like you’ve got one straight from Mexico.
If you've been wondering how to make churros at home, you'll be surprised at just how easy it is!
The dough is made with simple ingredients you can find anywhere.
This cinnamon fried dessert is always a crowd-pleaser.
Even though it’s deep-fried, they are light and satisfying.
You can serve them with your favorite dipping sauces including chocolate sauce, Nutella, or even a fruit compote.
It's Disney churro copycat recipe, and they taste just like they do at Disneyland!
Churros con chocolate is a classic Spanish breakfast.
Churro Ingredients
For the Churros:
- Water - Helps to thin out the dough.
- Butter - Adds texture and buttery flavor.
- Sugar - Helps to sweeten the inside of the churro.
- Salt - Balances the sweet and savory flavors.
- All-Purpose Flour - Aka plain flour. Helps bulk out the dough.
- Eggs - Helps them set and stay together.
- Vanilla Extract - Infuses a light vanilla flavor throughout.
- Vegetable Oil - This is used for frying the donuts in the saucepan.
- Granulated White Sugar - Helps give sweetness and a slightly crunchy texture.
- Ground Cinnamon - Adds a classic warming flavor and the classic Mexican churros taste.
Chocolate Dipping Sauce
- Chocolate Chips - Give the sauce a rich chocolatey flavor.
- Heavy Cream - Adds a creamy texture to the sauce.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Saucepan
- Wooden Spoon
- Piping Bag
- Large Star Tip
- Thermometer
- Metal Tongs
Step By Step Tutorial
Wondering how to make this churros recipe? Follow this step-by-step photo tutorial, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.
Form the churro dough. In a large pot, combine the water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to boil, then reduce to low heat. Pour in the flour and beat with a wooden spoon until the churro mixture forms a ball. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
Eggs. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating each one in well with the wooden spoon, then beat in the vanilla. Set aside.
Add dough to a piping bag with a large star tip on the end.
Deep fry the churros. As soon as the oil reaches 350 F (175C), you can start to fry your churros, in batches. Pipe strips of dough over the saucepan and cut with a knife or kitchen scissors so they drop into the hot oil. Cook until golden brown on all sides (about 2 minutes). TIP: You'll have to do it in batches so the oil isn't too full of churros.
Coat and serve. Remove the cooked churros with metal tongs or a metal slotted spoon and leave to drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper. While still warm, roll them in the sugar mixed with cinnamon.
Dipping sauce: For the chocolate dip, melt the chocolate chips, then beat into the cream.
Tips
It is essential to cool the churro batter so the egg doesn’t scramble if added to hot churro dough.
Use a knife or kitchen scissors to cut the strips of churro mix, carefully, into the hot oil.
The time it takes to fry them is largely dependent on how they look in the oil. As soon as they are golden brown, it’s time to take them out! This can take anywhere from 2-4 minutes, so always use your best judgment.
To make sure you get it perfect every time, you may want to purchase a candy thermometer so you can monitor the oil properly.
Don’t coat the homemade churros in cinnamon and sugar until they have cooled slightly. If your churro is still a bit oily before coating, it may not stick! Don't let them cool either, though.
Churros Dipping Sauce Ideas
There are so many ways you can add flavor to churros by serving them with a variety of dipping sauce options. Try these out!
- Homemade Chocolate Sauce (see recipe below in the recipe card)
- Blackberry Compote
- Cinnamon Maple Walnut Butter
- Dip into Xocolatl - Mexican chili hot chocolate
- Nutella Dip
- Dulce de Leche
- Vanilla Dipping Sauce
- Strawberry Compote
- Whipped Coconut Frosting
- Chocolate Avocado Dip
Storage
Storing: These churros are best served warm and should be eaten right away!
Freezing: After cooking, they do not hold up well in the freezer, therefore freezing is not recommended.
FAQs
Churros are best served while they are warm just after they have been coated. Cold ones will not have as crunchy of an outside.
This could mean that your oil may be too hot. The outside may be cooking too fast. Use a candy thermometer for best results.
Churros originated in Spain (in Madrid), though the method of frying the dough was invented in China. They're very popular as Mexican street food, or served at fairs and markets around North America, Australia, and the UK, among other countries.
Churros originated in Spain. Although commonly thought of as Mexican, they are a Spanish dish, often served at breakfast with hot chocolate.
Mexican Recipes
If you're making this homemade churros recipe for a Mexican-themed party, Cinco de Mayo or other event, be sure to try these other Mexican inspired recipes too!
Matcha Horchata - a creamy, rice-based drink infused with matcha green tea.
Mexican Bean Soup - a quick and easy, nourishing soup recipe.
Mini Elote - Mexican street corn.
Chipotle Tortilla Bowl
Mini Lentil Tacos
Mushroom Fajitas
Habanero Salsa
Xocolatl - Chilli Hot Chocolate
More Cinnamon Recipes
Cinnamon is for life, not just for winter! Be sure to try these other tasty cinnamon recipes.
Cinnamon Apple Compote
Baked Churro Donuts
Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Twists
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📖 Recipe
Churros
Ingredients
For the Churros:
- 1 cup (250ml) water
- ½ cup (115g) butter
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups (170g) all-purpose flour (plain flour)
- 3 eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
To fry:
- 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
To coat:
- ½ cup (115g) white sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Chocolate Dipping Sauce:
- ½ cup (80g) chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoons heavy cream double cream
Instructions
- Add the water, butter, sugar and salt to. large pota. Bring to boil, then reduce to a low heat.
- Pour in the flour and beat with a wooden spoon until the churro mixture forms a ball.
- Remove from heat and set aside to let the mixture rest for 5 minutes.
- Tip: It is essential to cool the dough so the egg doesn’t scramble if added to hot churro dough.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating each one in well with the wooden spoon, then beat in the vanilla. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a medium-size pan over medium heat.
- Meanwhile, fit a piping bag with a large star tip, then fill with the churro dough.
- As soon as the oil reaches 350°F (175°C), you can start to fry your churros, in batches. Pipe 1-3 inch (whichever size you prefer) strips of dough over the saucepan and cut with a knife or clean scissors so they drop into the hot oil. Repeat with a few more, taking care that the oil isn’t too full of churros.
- Cook until golden brown on all sides (about 2 minutes). Remove the cooked churros with metal tongs or a metal slotted spoon and leave to drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper.
- While still warm, roll the churros in the sugar mixed with cinnamon.
- For the chocolate churros dip, melt the chocolate chips, then beat into the cream.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Sue
I had no idea it was this easy to make churros. Must make them again soon!!
Jenny
My daughter had never had churros, which makes me feel like I've failed as a parent! So I tried this recipe with her. I wasn't sure I could make churros at home, but your recipe looks delicious and you made it so easy to follow! We loved them.
Angela
These churros came out so crunchy and perfect. What a great dessert and with the chocolate dipping sauce...amazing!
Catherine
I've never made my own but I'm so impressed at how easy they are to make. These wouldn't last long in my house but I know my family would absolutely love if I made them. Delicious treat!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
So easy and so fun! What a great way to enjoy a classic treat -- the chocolate sauce puts these over the top!