Air-Fried Churros: A Guilt-Free Twist On A Classic

Churros are a delicious treat, but they can be a little unhealthy. Luckily, you can make a healthier version of this snack by using an air fryer instead of a deep fryer. This method uses less oil, resulting in fewer calories and less saturated fat. Plus, it's faster and easier than traditional frying, with no need to handle hot oil or dispose of large amounts of oil afterwards. So, how do you make healthy churros in an air fryer?

Choosing the right ingredients

Flour

For the base of your churros, you'll need flour. This type of flour provides the perfect amount of structure while keeping the churros tender. You can also experiment with alternatives like white wheat or white spelt flour. If you're looking for a gluten-free option, some recipes suggest using gluten-free flour, but your mileage may vary.

Liquid

The liquid component of the churro dough typically includes water, milk, or a combination of both. Using milk adds richness and colour to the churros, while water ensures strength and stability. If you're looking for a dairy-free option, you can substitute plant-based milk alternatives like almond or soy milk, although they may not crisp up as much.

Fat

When it comes to fat, you have a few options. Butter is a classic choice, and unsalted butter is typically preferred to allow control over the overall saltiness of the dish. However, you can also use oils like avocado oil, canola oil, light olive oil, or even melted vegan butter or margarine. Avocado oil is a particularly healthy choice due to its good balance of omega fatty acids and high smoke point.

Sugar

Sugar is a crucial ingredient in churros, providing sweetness and contributing to the crispy texture. You can use regular granulated sugar or explore alternatives like coconut sugar or brown sugar. Just remember that the size of the sugar granules matters—you want something that adds a bit of crunch without dissolving too quickly when met with the heat of the churros.

Optional Ingredients

While not mandatory, adding a pinch of salt to your churro dough can enhance the flavour. Additionally, a teaspoon of vanilla extract can be added to the boiled water for extra flavour. Lemon zest is another optional ingredient that adds a bright, citrusy note to your churros.

Preparing the dough

To prepare the dough for healthy air-fried churros, you will need the following ingredients:

• Flour (all-purpose or classic)
• Butter or oil (some recipes suggest avocado oil or vegan butter)
• Water (some recipes suggest milk or a blend of milk and water)
• Sugar (granulated or crystal)
• A pinch of salt

Some recipes also include:

• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Lemon zest

Optional ingredients include:

• Cinnamon (for the dough)
• Baking powder

To make the dough, follow these steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the water, butter or oil, sugar, and salt to a boil over medium to medium-high heat. You can also add vanilla extract at this stage.
• Once the mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to medium and add the flour. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or spatula until a soft, elastic dough ball forms. It's normal for the mixture to look crumbly at first.
• Transfer the dough ball to a lightly oiled surface or bowl and let it cool down for a few minutes until it's safe to handle with your hands.
• If your recipe includes eggs, add them to the mixing bowl now, along with vanilla extract or lemon zest if you haven't already added it. Beat the mixture with a hand mixer or stand mixer until it comes together.
• If you plan to pipe the dough, transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped tip. If not, you can shape the dough by hand.

Now your dough is ready to be shaped and cooked in your air fryer!

Shaping the churros

Piping the Churros:

The most common method for shaping churros is by using a piping bag. Once your dough is ready, transfer it into a piping bag fitted with a star-shaped tip. This star-shaped tip is important to get the classic ridges on your churros. You can use a strong plastic piping bag or a disposable one, but make sure it's sturdy enough to handle the thick dough. Pipe the dough into the desired shape and size, usually 3-5 inches long, directly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet or into the air fryer basket. If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a ziplock bag and cut a corner to create an opening for piping.

Freezing the Churros:

After piping your churros, it's essential to freeze them for a while to help them retain their shape during cooking. Place the baking sheet with the piped churros in the freezer for about 30 minutes. This step ensures that your churros will hold their shape better when placed in the air fryer.

Marking the Churros:

Before placing the churros in the air fryer, you can use a fork to create markings on the dough. Lightly press the fork along the length of each churro to create the classic ridges associated with this treat. This step is optional but adds to the visual appeal of your homemade churros.

Placing Churros in the Air Fryer:

When your churros are ready to be cooked, carefully transfer them into the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding. Leave some space between each churro to ensure even cooking and prevent them from sticking together. Spray the churros with a neutral non-stick cooking spray or brush them with oil to ensure even cooking and a crispy texture.

Remember, the key to shaping perfect churros is practice and consistency. With each batch, you'll get better at piping, and your churros will come out looking and tasting amazing!

Air-frying the churros

Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer and Churro Dough

Before you begin, ensure your air fryer is preheated to the desired temperature—most recipes recommend a temperature between 340-375°F (175-190°C).

To make the churros, start by preparing the dough. In a saucepan, combine water, butter, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium to medium-high heat. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat and add in the flour. Stir the mixture vigorously until a soft, elastic dough ball forms. You can use a wooden spoon or spatula for this step.

Step 2: Cool the Dough and Pipe or Shape Churros

Remove the dough from the heat and let it cool down. You can transfer it to a mixing bowl or a flat, oiled surface to aid in cooling. The dough should be safe to handle by hand and easy to work with. This usually takes around 3-7 minutes.

At this stage, you can either pipe the dough using a piping bag or shape it by hand. If you're using a piping bag, fit it with a large star-shaped tip and fill it with the dough. Pipe the dough directly into the air fryer basket in strips or onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, cutting the strips to your desired length with scissors or a knife.

If you're shaping the churros by hand, roll the dough into a cylinder and cut it into small logs about 1/2 inch thick. Then, use your hands to gently roll each log into longer logs, about 4-5 inches in length. You can use the back of a fork to press the sides of the log and create the characteristic churro marks.

Step 3: Air Fry the Churros

Lightly oil the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush the churros with oil on all sides. Place the shaped churros into the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch each other. You may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Air fry the churros for 10-15 minutes at the desired temperature, flipping them halfway through the cooking process. The churros are ready when they have a light golden brown color and crispy edges. Adjust the cooking time as needed, depending on the size of your churros.

Step 4: Coat the Churros in Cinnamon Sugar

While the churros are cooking, prepare the cinnamon-sugar coating by mixing cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl or plastic bag. As soon as the churros come out of the air fryer, toss them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat them evenly. The sugar will adhere better if the churros are still warm.

Step 5: Serve the Churros

Churros are best served warm and fresh out of the air fryer. You can serve them as-is or with a variety of dipping sauces, such as Nutella, dulce de leche, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or whipped cream. Enjoy!

Coating the churros

Preparing the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

Start by preparing a shallow bowl or plastic bag with cinnamon sugar. Combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in equal parts. You can adjust the ratio to your taste preferences, adding more cinnamon for a spicier kick or increasing the sugar for a sweeter coating. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together until they are well combined and evenly distributed.

As soon as your churros come out of the air fryer, it's time to coat them. Working in batches, place the warm churros into the cinnamon sugar mixture. You can toss them gently to ensure an even coating, or use one of the following techniques for better adherence:

• Brush the surface of the churros with melted butter, avocado oil, or a neutral non-stick cooking spray before tossing them in the cinnamon sugar.
• If the cinnamon sugar isn't sticking well, try spraying the churros with water or a non-stick cooking spray, and then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Serving Suggestions:

Churros are best served warm, so it's recommended to enjoy them immediately after coating. You can serve them with a variety of dips, such as:

• Nutella
• Dulce de leche
• Sweetened condensed milk
• Chocolate sauce
• Caramel sauce
• Whipped cream
• Honey
• Salted caramel sauce
• Mexican chocolate dip

Now you have a step-by-step guide to coating your air-fried churros and making them sweet, crunchy, and delicious!

Frequently asked questions