Air-Fried Churros: A Quick, Crispy Treat!

Churros are a popular dessert and snack food around the world. They are often associated with Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American cuisine, but their exact origin is unclear. Churros are usually deep-fried, but this recipe is for an air-fried version, which is healthier and easier to make. Air-fried churros are less greasy and have fewer calories than traditional churros, but they are still crispy and delicious. This recipe will guide you through the process of making air-fried churros, including the ingredients you will need, the method for making the choux pastry, and the air-frying process.

Choosing the right ingredients

Churros are a popular dessert and snack food around the world. They are normally deep-fried but can be made in an air fryer. Here are the ingredients you will need to make them:

The Dough

• All-purpose flour – classic flour works best, but you can use white wheat or white spelt. Gluten-free flour has not been tested and therefore cannot be recommended.
• Liquid – some recipes call for boiling water, while others suggest milk. It is up to you which you use, but note that the type of milk you use can affect the flavour. Whole milk is recommended, but skim, low-fat, non-fat, almond, soy, coconut, and oat milk can also be used. If you want to avoid a "strong" flavour, avoid coconut or oat milk.
• Fat – this can be in the form of butter or oil. If using butter, it should be unsalted and melted. If using oil, avocado oil is a good option as it has a high smoke point and is packed with omega fatty acids, but you can also use canola oil, light olive oil, or even melted vegan butter or margarine.
• Sugar – any crystal sweetener will work, such as coconut sugar or brown sugar.

The Coating

• Sugar – granulated sugar is best for the coating.
• Cinnamon – ground cinnamon is tossed with the sugar to make a cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Optional Ingredients

• Salt – a pinch of salt can be added at the same time as the flour.
• Vanilla extract – this can be added to the boiled water.

Preparing the churros dough

To make the churros dough, you'll need a saucepan, a heatproof bowl, and a mixer (either hand or stand). You'll also need the following ingredients:

• Water
• Milk
• Butter
• Sugar
• Salt
• Flour
• Eggs
• Lemon zest (optional)
• Vanilla extract (optional)

Begin by adding the water, milk, butter, and salt to the saucepan and bringing it to a boil over medium heat. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and add in the flour. Stir the mixture until a smooth dough ball forms. This will take about 2 minutes.

Next, transfer the dough to a heatproof bowl and let it stand for around 5 minutes. You can also let it cool for a bit and then use a hand or stand mixer to beat the dough for about a minute until it softens. At this point, you can also add in the lemon zest for a bit of extra flavour.

Now, it's time to add in the eggs. Add them one at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the eggs are fully incorporated. The mixture will become sticky. If you're using vanilla extract, add it in with the eggs.

Shaping the churros

Firstly, prepare your piping bag by fitting it with a star-shaped tip. The star-shaped tip will give your churros their signature ridges. You can use a strong plastic bag if you don't have a piping bag, but make sure to cut a large enough hole for the dough to pass through. If you are using a plastic bag, you can cut a small piece of the corner to create an opening.

Next, spoon your churro dough into the piping bag. Be careful not to overfill it, as you need to be able to twist the bag closed when you are finished. Once your piping bag is ready, you can start piping your churros.

Pipe the dough directly into the air fryer basket, creating strips of equal length. For a classic churro shape, pipe the dough into a straight line, or you can create a shallow S-shaped curve for a more unique look. Try to pipe the churros with a consistent thickness to ensure even cooking.

If you are having trouble with the dough sticking to the piping tip, use a knife or kitchen shears to cut the dough at the desired length. This will help you achieve a neat finish.

Once you have piped all your churros, place the air fryer basket in the freezer for about 30 minutes to chill the dough and help it retain its shape during cooking. This step is important, as it will ensure your churros have a crisp texture and don't expand too much during frying.

After chilling, your churros are now ready to be air-fried! Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. Air fry at 340-375°F (175-190°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

And that's it! You now have perfectly shaped churros that are ready to be coated in cinnamon sugar and enjoyed.

Air-frying the churros

Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer and Churro Dough

Firstly, ensure your air fryer is preheated to the appropriate temperature, typically between 340-375°F. Meanwhile, prepare your churro dough by following the steps outlined in the previous sections. The dough should be pipeable and ready to shape.

Step 2: Pipe the Churros

Using a piping bag, pipe the churro dough directly into the air fryer basket. The shape and size of your churros are up to your preference, but it is recommended to pipe them into strips or logs, approximately 4-5 inches long and 1 inch apart from each other.

Step 3: Air Fry the Churros

Once your churros are piped into the desired shape, it's time to air fry them! Place the basket into the preheated air fryer and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until they achieve a golden brown colour. The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer, so keep a close eye on them to prevent overcooking.

Step 4: Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Coating

While the churros are cooking, it's time to prepare the signature cinnamon sugar coating. Simply mix cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl or plastic bag. You can adjust the ratio to your taste preferences, but a common mixture is 1/2 cup of sugar with 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Step 5: Coat the Churros

As soon as the churros come out of the air fryer, it's crucial to act quickly. Toss the warm churros in the cinnamon sugar mixture while they are still hot. This will ensure that the sugar coating sticks evenly to the churros.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!

Churros are best served warm and fresh. You can enjoy them as they are or take them up a notch by serving them with various dips and sauces. Some popular options include Nutella, chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, caramel sauce, or whipped cream.

There you have it! Air-fried churros, a delicious treat that's easier to make and healthier than their deep-fried counterparts. Enjoy the sweet, crispy, and cinnamon-sugar-coated goodness of these churros without the mess and guilt of traditional frying.

Coating the churros

Churros are coated in cinnamon sugar, a mix of cinnamon and sugar. This adds flavour, sweetness, and crunch to the churros.

To make the cinnamon sugar coating, mix together sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. The ratio of cinnamon to sugar varies depending on the recipe, but generally, you will need more sugar than cinnamon. For example, one recipe calls for 1/2 cup of sugar and 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, while another calls for 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. You can also add a pinch of lemon zest to the mixture for added brightness.

Once the churros are cooked, immediately toss them in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat them evenly. You can also dip the churros in melted butter before tossing them in the cinnamon sugar, which will make the sugar stick better.

Frequently asked questions