Easy Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Churros: Your Guide to Crispy Homemade Perfection
Craving a delightful dessert that’s crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar? Look no further than these incredible Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Churros! Forget the hassle and mess of deep-frying; with your air fryer, Ninja Foodi, or Ninja Speedi, you can create a healthier, yet equally delicious, version of this classic treat right in your kitchen.
While making churros from scratch involves a specific process, the air fryer simplifies the cooking method significantly. This means you can enjoy that authentic churro texture without a drop of excess oil, making it a fantastic alternative to traditional fried desserts. If you’re ready to impress your taste buds and loved ones, let’s dive into how you can whip up these air-fried marvels!
Why Choose Air Fryer Churros Over Traditional Frying?
Traditional churros are typically deep-fried to achieve their signature crispy exterior and fluffy interior. While undeniably delicious, this method comes with a significant amount of oil, extra calories, and a messy cleanup. This is where your air fryer truly shines! By using hot circulating air, an air fryer can mimic the crisping effects of deep-frying with minimal to no oil, offering a much healthier and more convenient option.
Making churros in an air fryer allows you to enjoy the same beloved taste and texture with fewer guilt-inducing calories. It’s also a safer process, eliminating the need to handle large quantities of hot oil. Plus, cleanup is a breeze! This method is perfect for those who want to indulge in a sweet treat but prefer a lighter approach to their favorite desserts. It’s a game-changer for homemade churros, bringing this popular street food into your home kitchen with ease.
How Do You Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Churros? A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating perfect air fryer churros involves a few key steps to ensure they turn out just right. Don’t be intimidated by the process; with attention to detail, you’ll be enjoying homemade churros in no time!
Crafting the Perfect Churro Dough
The foundation of any great churro is a well-prepared dough. This recipe starts with a classic choux pastry base, which gives churros their characteristic light and airy texture. You’ll combine butter, sugar, water, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan, bringing it to a boil while stirring constantly. Once boiling, reduce the heat and quickly mix in the flour to form a smooth dough. It’s crucial to use a sturdy Danish dough whisk or a robust wooden spoon for this step, as a regular whisk might get clogged with the sticky dough. After the dough comes together, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool slightly before incorporating the eggs one at a time. This gradual addition ensures the eggs are fully integrated, creating a pliable dough that’s perfect for piping.
The Importance of Chilling the Dough
One of the most important steps for achieving ideal air fryer churros is to chill the dough before piping and cooking. After preparing your churro batter, transfer it to a piping bag and then let it chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight. This refrigeration period allows the dough to firm up, making it much easier to handle and pipe. A cold dough prevents sticking in the air fryer basket and helps the churros hold their shape beautifully during cooking, resulting in a superior crispy texture.
Piping and Air Frying in Batches
Once your dough is perfectly chilled, it’s time to pipe! You’ll need a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, such as a Wilton 1M tip, to create those iconic ridged churro shapes. Carefully pipe 4-inch long tubes directly into the basket of your preheated air fryer. For easy release, you can lightly coat the air fryer basket with a non-stick spray like grapeseed oil, though many find they don’t have issues with sticking if the basket is clean. A crucial tip for air frying is to ensure there’s enough room around each churro for the hot air to circulate freely. Overcrowding the basket will lead to uneven cooking and less crispiness. Therefore, you will need to cook these churros in batches. As each batch bakes, make sure to return the remaining dough in the piping bag to the fridge to keep it cold, as this yields the best results.
Achieving the Perfect Golden Crisp
Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for about 5 minutes. This ensures the air fryer is at the optimal temperature for instant crisping when the churros are added. Once piped, air fry the churros for 8-9 minutes. Cooking times can vary slightly depending on your air fryer model and the thickness of your churros, so keep an eye on them. They should be beautifully golden brown and crispy. If you notice they aren’t as crispy as you’d like, you can cook them for an additional minute or two. The goal is a delightfully crunchy exterior with a soft, warm interior.
Cinnamon Sugar Coating and Serving Suggestions
Once your air-fried churros emerge from the basket, it’s time for the final, irresistible touch: the cinnamon sugar coating! While still warm, brush each churro with melted butter. This not only adds a rich flavor but also helps the cinnamon sugar adhere perfectly. Immediately after brushing, roll the churros in a mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until fully coated. The warmth of the churro helps to slightly melt the sugar, creating a beautiful, sparkling crust.
What to Serve with Your Air Fryer Churros?
Churros are fantastic on their own, but they truly shine when paired with a dipping sauce. Traditionally, churros are served with a rich hot fudge or chocolate sauce. Our personal favorite is a decadent chocolate sauce that perfectly complements the cinnamon sugar. Other popular dipping options include dulce de leche, caramel sauce, or even a simple vanilla glaze. For an extra treat, serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. These air-fried churros are an excellent dessert for parties, family gatherings, or just a cozy night in.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Churros
While churros are undoubtedly best served fresh and warm, you might find yourself with a few leftovers. If you do, don’t worry! Churros can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. However, be aware that they will lose some of their initial crispiness over time. To revive their crunchy texture, simply place them back in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 2-3 minutes. This quick reheat will bring back much of their original appeal, making them almost as good as fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Churros
Can I make the churro dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! Preparing the churro dough in advance is highly recommended. You can make the dough, place it in a piping bag, and store it in the refrigerator overnight. This not only allows the dough to chill thoroughly, which improves piping and texture, but also saves you time when you’re ready to cook.
My churros aren’t crispy enough, what went wrong?
Several factors can affect crispiness. Ensure your air fryer is preheated adequately. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as proper air circulation is vital for crisping. Also, your dough might have been too warm or too wet. Always chill the dough and ensure the consistency is firm but pliable. If they still aren’t crisp after the recommended time, air fry for an additional 1-2 minutes until golden and firm.
Can I use a different piping tip?
Yes, you can use different star tips, but keep in mind that the cooking time might need to be adjusted. Thicker churros will require a longer cooking time, while thinner ones will cook faster. A larger star tip like the Wilton 1M is generally preferred for the classic churro shape and size.
What if I don’t have a Danish dough whisk?
While a Danish dough whisk is excellent for mixing thick doughs, a sturdy wooden spoon will also work effectively. The key is to thoroughly incorporate the flour into the boiling mixture to create a smooth, cohesive dough without lumps.
Can I make these gluten-free?
This particular recipe uses all-purpose flour. To make them gluten-free, you would need to experiment with a good quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, preferably one designed for baking. Results may vary, as gluten-free flours behave differently in choux pastry. Alternatively, if you enjoy air-fried desserts, you might also love these Air Fried Oreos, which have a gluten-free option!
Air Fryer Churros
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Ingredients
- 1/3 Cup Salted Butter
- 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
- 1 Cup Water
- 1/8 Tsp Salt
- 1 Cup Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 3 Whole Eggs
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Topping
- 2 Tbsp Melted Butter
- 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
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In a saucepan, combine the butter, granulated sugar, water, and salt.
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Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the butter is fully melted and sugar dissolved.
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Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and quickly mix in the flour using a Danish dough whisk or a sturdy wooden spoon until a smooth dough forms.
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Continue mixing until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the pan. (It’s essential to use a heatproof utensil.)
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Remove the dough from the heat and let it cool for 5-6 minutes in the saucepan.
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Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly with a handheld mixer after each addition until fully incorporated.
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Stir in the vanilla extract.
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Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (like a Wilton 1M tip).
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Refrigerate the dough in the piping bag for a minimum of 30 minutes, or ideally overnight, for best results.
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When ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for 5 minutes.
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Carefully pipe 4-inch long churro tubes directly into the air fryer basket. Use scissors to cleanly cut the dough from the piping bag after each churro. Ensure churros are spaced apart.
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Air fry at 360°F (180°C) for 8-9 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Cooking times may vary with different air fryer models or piping tip sizes.
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Carefully remove the cooked churros from the basket.
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While still warm, brush each churro with melted butter, then immediately roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated.
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Place on a cooling rack to cool slightly before serving warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
After extensive testing, this specific method and ingredient ratio yielded the best and most consistent results for air fryer churros.
Nutrition
Making homemade churros has never been easier or healthier thanks to the air fryer. This recipe delivers all the classic flavors and textures you love, with a fraction of the oil and mess. Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or just a sweet craving, these Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Churros are guaranteed to be a hit. So grab your air fryer and get ready to enjoy this delightful treat!