Description
Crispy and golden Air Fryer Churros coated in cinnamon sugar, made with a simple dough mixture and cooked to perfection in the air fryer for a healthier twist on this classic fried treat. Perfect to serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Churros Dough
- 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 mat: Put a silicone baking mat on a baking sheet and spray lightly with oil spray to prevent sticking.
- Make dough base: In a medium saucepan, combine water, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Incorporate flour: Reduce heat to medium-low and add all-purpose flour to the saucepan. Stir continuously with a rubber spatula until the dough comes together into a smooth ball.
- Cool dough: Remove saucepan from heat and transfer dough to a mixing bowl. Let it cool for 4 minutes to prevent cooking the eggs when added.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Add eggs and vanilla extract to the dough. Mix with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until dough forms a thick, gluey consistency similar to mashed potatoes. Use hands to press any lumps into the dough ball.
- Pipe churros: Transfer dough to a large piping bag fitted with a star-shaped tip. Pipe 4-inch lengths of dough onto the greased silicone baking mat. Cut the ends with scissors.
- Refrigerate dough: Place the baking sheet with piped churros in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour to firm up.
- Air fry churros: Carefully transfer churros with a cookie spatula to the air fryer basket, spacing them about 1/2 inch apart. Spray churros with oil spray. Cook in batches if necessary. Air fry at 375 degrees F for 12 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Prepare cinnamon sugar: While churros air fry, combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
- Coat churros: Immediately after cooking, toss the hot churros in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until evenly coated.
- Serve: Serve churros warm with Nutella or chocolate dipping sauce for a delicious treat.
Notes
- Refrigerating the piped dough helps the churros keep their shape during air frying.
- Use a large star-shaped piping tip to get the classic ridges on the churros for a crispier texture and better cinnamon sugar adherence.
- If you don’t have a silicone baking mat, parchment paper can work but may not be as greaseless.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- An electric mixer makes incorporating the eggs easier for a smooth dough, but mixing by hand is possible if needed.
- Leftover churros can be reheated in the air fryer briefly to regain crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
