Description
These Air Fryer Churros are a healthier twist on the classic Spanish treat, offering a crispy exterior coated in cinnamon sugar without the need for deep frying. Made with a simple dough of flour, eggs, butter, and sugar, they’re piped into perfect shapes, chilled, then air fried until golden and delicious. Serve warm with Nutella or a chocolate dipping sauce for a delightful snack or dessert.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- oil spray
Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare baking surface: Place a silicone baking mat on a baking sheet and spray it with oil spray to prevent sticking.
- Boil ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Form dough: Reduce heat to medium-low and add the flour all at once. Stir constantly with a rubber spatula until the dough comes together and is smooth.
- Cool dough: Remove the saucepan from heat and transfer the dough to a mixing bowl. Let it cool for 4 minutes to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely.
- Mix eggs and vanilla: Add eggs and vanilla extract to the dough. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, beat until the dough is smooth and sticky, resembling gluey mashed potatoes. Use your hands to press any lumps into a cohesive ball.
- Pipe churros: Transfer the dough into a large piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped tip. Pipe 4-inch lengths onto the greased silicone baking mat, cutting the dough with scissors between each churro.
- Refrigerate dough: Place the baking sheet with piped churros in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour to firm up before air frying.
- Preheat and arrange: Carefully transfer the churros using a cookie spatula into the air fryer basket, spacing them about 1/2-inch apart to ensure even cooking. Spray churros lightly with oil spray. Work in batches if necessary based on your air fryer size.
- Air fry churros: Cook at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes or until the churros are golden brown and crisp on the outside.
- Coat churros: Immediately toss the hot churros in a shallow bowl with the cinnamon-sugar mixture until evenly coated.
- Serve: Serve the churros warm with Nutella, chocolate dipping sauce, or your preferred accompaniment for dipping.
Notes
- Using a star-shaped piping tip helps create the classic churro ridges that hold the cinnamon sugar well.
- Refrigerating the dough before cooking helps churros hold their shape during air frying and develop a better texture.
- Adjust the cooking time slightly based on your specific air fryer model to avoid over or undercooking.
- You can substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend to make gluten-free churros, though texture might vary.
- For a dairy-free version, replace unsalted butter with a plant-based margarine.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
