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Now you can whip up crisp, golden churro bites in your own kitchen, skipping the oil and fuss of frying. I wanted to recreate that classic fair snack, but faster and without the greasy cleanup. Air fried churros turn out bite-sized, airy on the inside, crunchy on the outside—the cinnamon sugar sticks perfectly and they're tough to resist.
The first time I tried these, testing my new air fryer, that sweet bakery smell filled up the house. Even folks who don’t usually go for dessert wanted seconds. Now it’s our go-to Friday tradition.
Addictive Ingredients
- Cinnamon powder: brings spicy warmth—use the freshest you can find
- Plain flour: keeps the churros soft inside, unbleached if possible for best results
- Unsalted butter: makes the flavor rich—spring for the good stuff if you can
- White sugar for coating: gives the outside that classic crunch—superfine grabs on best
- Large egg: the secret to that pillowy inside—fresher eggs work better
- Water: helps combine everything and brings lightness through steaming
- Sugar: helps sweeten and caramelize the bites—organic or raw can be fun
- Vanilla essence: deepens flavor—go for pure vanilla if it’s in the budget
- Salt: keeps things from getting too sweet—fine sea salt works great
Simple Step-by-Step
- Get Ready to Roll:
- Pop the dough into a bowl and let it cool about five minutes so it won’t scramble your egg. Mix in the vanilla and an egg. Use a mixer to make it glossy and smooth—you want it to stay kinda thick.
- Shape Those Bites:
- Grab a piping bag with a star tip and fill it with the dough. Heat the air fryer to 375 F. Give the basket a spritz of nonstick spray. Pipe rows or mounds, just don’t let them touch.
- Whip Up the Dough:
- Toss water, butter, sugar, and salt into a saucepan and crank up the heat. Let it boil until everything’s melted and bubbly. Drop the heat, stir in flour, and keep working it until a soft, smooth dough forms and starts to pull away. Take off the stove.
- Toss With Cinnamon Sugar:
- While still warm, combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Roll each churro in this mix so every bit’s covered. You can brush on extra butter or mist them lightly so the sugar sticks even better.
- Fry to Golden:
- Brush the tops with melted butter if you like. Air fry for 10-12 minutes. Work in small batches so you don’t steam them—crowding gives softer bites and no one wants that.
- Dig In:
- These are best warm, straight from the air fryer. Serve with honey, Nutella, or chocolate sauce for the full experience. Share with friends or keep ‘em all to yourself.
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The cinnamon sugar blend is my favorite part—I go heavy with cinnamon, like the ones I had from a tiny shop in Spain. On movie nights, my kids love tossing them in sugar and everyone ends up sticky and happy.
Best Ways to Store
Enjoy churros hot while they're crisp. Store any extras in a tightly sealed container at room temp up to two days. Pop them back in the air fryer for a couple minutes to get that fresh crunch again. You can also freeze for two months—just let them thaw a bit, and crisp up quickly in the air fryer when you’re ready.
Swaps and Tweaks
No plain flour? Bread flour works but makes them a tad chewier. Try almond instead of vanilla for a cool flavor twist. If you avoid dairy or eggs, swap in vegan butter and a flaxseed “egg.” Coconut sugar’s tasty for coating too!
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Fun Ways to Serve
Dip these in thick hot chocolate or with dulce de leche on the side. Top your ice cream with churro bites for a special sundae. Make them the star of a brunch spread or drizzle caramel over the top for dessert with a twist.
Food Traditions
Churros have roots in Spain and Portugal, often made fresh and dunked in hot chocolate for breakfast or late-night treats. This air fryer way is a fast, modern way to enjoy that classic, right at home whenever you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why do my churro bites stay light inside?
Let your dough cool then beat in the egg really well. This lifts the texture, and cooking them with air makes them fluffy.
- → My churros seem a bit tough. What's up?
Sprinkle in your flour slowly and keep mixing till you have a smooth dough. No lumps means your bites stay soft and pipe nicely.
- → Tips for even cinnamon sugar on every bite?
Roll those churros in cinnamon sugar as soon as they're done. If you brush with butter or spray lightly, the sugar mix sticks best.
- → What else can I put on or dip them in?
Go for powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, honey, or any fruity dip you love. Mix up the flavors if you want something new.
- → Best way to keep leftover churros fresh?
Drop them in a sealed container and leave them out of the fridge. Warm in the air fryer for a few minutes when you're ready for more crunch.
- → How should I air fry churros without crowding?
Piping a batch at a time and leaving little gaps between each is best, so every churro gets cooked just right.