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Air Fryer Churros Recipe

ByAmanda
Jump to Recipe· 4.6 from 7 reviews

If you love the idea of classic churros but want a quicker, less greasy version, then this Air Fryer Churros Recipe is going to be your new best friend. I’m telling you, the air fryer gives these churros that perfect crispy outside and tender inside without the mess of deep frying. Plus, they’re ready to eat in under 30 minutes once the dough has rested – making them ideal for a cozy weekend treat or an impressive dessert after dinner.

What really makes this Air Fryer Churros Recipe special for me is how accessible the ingredients are and how fun it is to pipe out those little donuts with a star tip. It’s a bit like therapy, honestly. And let’s be honest, the cinnamon-sugar coating—oozing with warm spice—is the kind of comfort that wraps around you like a soft blanket. If you want to impress your family or just enjoy a sweet snack without hauling out a pot of oil, give this recipe a go. I know you’ll love it!

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Why This Recipe Works

  • Less Oil, Same Crispiness: Using the air fryer lets you skip deep frying while still getting that golden, crunchy shell.
  • Simple Ingredients: Ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, meaning no last-minute grocery runs.
  • Easy to Master: Even if you’re new to churros, this recipe guides you through every step, from dough to coating.
  • Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a quick after-school snack or a fun weekend dessert, these churros deliver every time.
A close-up view of several golden brown churros stacked in a slightly messy pile on a white marbled surface. Each churro has a ridged texture with a crispy outer layer and is covered evenly with fine sugar granules. The churros have a light, warm yellow color with hints of darker toasted edges, showing their crunchy coating. The white sugar contrasts with the warm tones of the churros, and some sugar is scattered around them on the surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7 this …

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Air Fryer Churros Recipe keeps things simple but flavorful. Each ingredient plays a key role in creating that iconic churro texture and taste you’re craving.

  • Water: The base that hydrates the dough for that tender structure.
  • Unsalted butter: Adds richness and a slight tenderness to the churros.
  • Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough just right and mixes with cinnamon for the iconic coating.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
  • All-purpose flour: Provides the structure needed for crispy outside and chewy inside.
  • Eggs: Give the dough elasticity and ensure a light, airy interior.
  • Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle warmth that pairs perfectly with cinnamon sugar.
  • Oil spray: Helps the air fryer crisp the exterior evenly.
  • Cinnamon & sugar: The star of the finishing touch, giving churros their signature sweet-spiced coating.
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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love making this recipe my own by playing with flavors or textures. Don’t be shy to experiment—you might find a variation that becomes your signature churro.

  • Chocolate-Infused Dough: Once, I added a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to the dough and it resulted in a deep chocolatey churro that paired beautifully with the cinnamon sugar.
  • Spicy Cinnamon Sugar: I sometimes toss in a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sugar coating for a subtle kick—unexpected but addictive!
  • Vegan Alternative: Swapping eggs with a flaxseed “egg” works surprisingly well for a slightly denser texture but still tasty results.
  • Sweet Dipping Sauces: Beyond classic Nutella or chocolate, try caramel or raspberry sauce for variety.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Air Fryer Churros Recipe

Step 1: Get Your Dough Just Right

Start by adding water, cubed unsalted butter, sugar, and salt into a saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce it to medium-low and add the flour all at once. Stir vigorously and constantly with a rubber spatula—this is key to prevent lumps. You’ll notice the dough pulls away from the pan and forms a smooth ball; that’s when it’s ready. Let it cool a bit so it’s safe to handle but still warm enough for the next step.

Step 2: Mix in Eggs and Vanilla

Transfer your slightly cooled dough to a mixing bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, then mix with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. The dough will thicken and get that gluey mashed-potato look. Don’t fret if it looks sticky — that’s perfect! Use your hands to gather any lumps together into a smooth ball, ready for piping.

Step 3: Pipe and Chill

Fit a large piping bag with a star tip and fill it with your dough. Pipe 4-inch lengths onto a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat and sprayed with oil—this prevents sticking. Cut the dough with scissors when you’re done piping each piece. Here’s a little secret: chilling the piped churros in the fridge for an hour firms them up and helps them keep their shape while air frying. Trust me on this one!

Step 4: Air Fry to Perfection

Carefully place your churros in the air fryer basket with enough space so they crisp evenly. Give them a light spray of oil—it encourages that beautiful golden finish. Cook at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, checking near the end to make sure they don’t get too dark. Depending on your air fryer size, you might need to do this in batches, so patience pays off here.

Step 5: Cinnamon Sugar Coating & Serve

While the churros are hot, toss them immediately into a cinnamon-sugar mixture so the coating sticks perfectly. I like to keep a warm dipping sauce nearby—Nutella or a rich melted chocolate works wonders. Serve immediately, bite in, and savor that crispy outside with a soft inside. It’s pure bliss!

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Pro Tips for Making Air Fryer Churros Recipe

  • Don’t Skip the Chill: Piping the dough and chilling it lets the churros hold shape better and crisp up perfectly.
  • Use a Star Tip: That star shape isn’t just for looks; it creates more surface area for the cinnamon sugar to cling on.
  • Spritz, Don’t Soak: Lightly spray oil just enough to crisp without making them oily.
  • Space Them Out: Avoid overcrowding your air fryer basket so each churro cooks evenly and crisps up nicely.

How to Serve Air Fryer Churros Recipe

A close-up shows a golden brown churro covered in sugar being dipped into a smooth, thick, dark chocolate sauce inside a white bowl. The churro is held by a woman's hand, bringing it into the creamy chocolate, with more churros visible blurred in the background. The scene is set on a surface with a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually stick with that classic warm cinnamon sugar dusting because it’s nostalgic and so satisfying. Sometimes I’ll sprinkle powdered sugar for a touch of elegance or drizzle a bit of melted chocolate or caramel on top for extra indulgence. Fresh berries on the side add a bright, tangy contrast that balances the sweetness beautifully.

Side Dishes

Hands down, I love serving these churros with a small bowl of thick hot chocolate or a rich Nutella dipping sauce. For grown-ups, a cup of coffee or Mexican hot chocolate pairs amazingly well. You could also go savory with some spicy chili chocolate sauce if you’re feeling adventurous—it’s a fun combo that surprises guests!

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I lay churros like a little crown on a festive platter and place dipping sauces in the center. Another fun idea is serving each churro standing upright in a mason jar with a drizzle of chocolate inside—so cute and snack-friendly for parties. I’ve also wrapped churros in parchment cones with the sugar on the outside, perfect for handing out at gatherings or movie nights.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers (which is rare in my house!), I store cooled churros in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They don’t lose too much crispiness initially, but to enjoy the best texture, I re-crisp them before serving.

Freezing

I’ve frozen piped but unbaked churros on a tray, then transferred to a freezer bag. When ready to eat, you can pop them straight into the air fryer, adding a couple minutes to the cooking time. This trick saves so much prep time if you want to keep churros on hand for a spontaneous treat.

Reheating

To bring back that fresh-out-of-the-air-fryer crisp, reheat your churros in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. Avoid the microwave—it makes them soggy and chewy, which is just not the vibe for churros. This quick reheat method works like a charm every time!

FAQs

  1. Can I make churros without an air fryer?

    Absolutely! While this recipe is optimized for the air fryer, you can deep fry the churros in hot oil until golden brown, or bake them at high heat, although they won’t be quite as crispy. The dough is the same, so you get delicious churros either way.

  2. Do I have to use a star-shaped tip for piping?

    The star tip is traditional and helps create that crispy ridged texture that holds onto the cinnamon sugar really well. But if you don’t have one, a large round tip will do in a pinch, though the texture will be a bit different.

  3. Why do I need to chill the churros before air frying?

    Chilling firms the dough so the churros hold their shape during cooking and don’t spread too much. It also helps the interior bake through while the exterior crisps up.

  4. Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

    You can try substituting the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend suitable for baking. Keep in mind texture and crispiness might vary slightly, so it’s worth experimenting with different GF blends and adjusting liquid levels as needed.

  5. How long do air fryer churros stay fresh?

    They’re best eaten fresh, but if stored properly, churros will stay decent for 1-2 days at room temperature. Recrisping them in the air fryer before serving revives their texture remarkably well.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Air Fryer Churros Recipe feels like a little nightly celebration in my kitchen whenever I make it. It’s simple, rewarding, and the kind of recipe you want to share with friends and family over cozy coffees or weekend movies. If you’ve been hesitant about making churros because of the mess or oil, this version is a fantastic way to jump in. Give it a try and let me know how your churros turn out—I’m betting you’ll be hooked, just like me!

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Air Fryer Churros Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.6 from 7 reviews
  • Author: Amanda
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Air Frying
  • Cuisine: Spanish
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Description

Delicious homemade churros cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer, offering a healthier alternative to traditional frying. These crispy, cinnamon-sugar coated treats are perfect for a sweet snack or dessert and come together with simple ingredients like water, butter, eggs, and flour.

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

  1. Prepare Baking Mat: Put a silicone baking mat on a baking sheet and spray it with oil spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Make Dough Base: In a medium saucepan, combine water, cubed butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
  3. Add Flour: Reduce heat to medium-low and add the flour to the saucepan. Stir constantly with a rubber spatula until the dough comes together and becomes smooth, forming a thick paste.
  4. Cool Dough: Remove the dough from heat and transfer it to a mixing bowl. Let it cool for 4 minutes to avoid cooking the eggs when added.
  5. Mix in Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the cooled dough. Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to combine until the dough becomes smooth and gluey like mashed potatoes. Use your hands to press any lumps together into a ball.
  6. Pipe Churros: Transfer the dough ball to a large piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped tip. Pipe 4-inch lengths of dough onto the greased silicone baking mat. Cut the ends with scissors.
  7. Refrigerate: Place the baking sheet with piped churros into the refrigerator for 1 hour to firm up the dough.
  8. Air Fry Churros: Carefully transfer the churros to the air fryer basket using a cookie spatula, leaving about a 1/2-inch space between each churro. Spray the churros lightly with oil spray. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
  9. Cook: Air fry the churros at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy.
  10. Coat with Cinnamon Sugar: In a shallow bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Immediately transfer the hot churros to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and toss them to coat evenly.
  11. Serve: Serve the churros warm with Nutella or chocolate dipping sauce for a delightful treat.

Notes

  • Refrigerating the piped churros is essential to help them hold their shape and achieve a crispy exterior.
  • If you don’t have a star-shaped piping tip, you can use a large round tip, but star tips give churros their traditional ridged texture.
  • Adjust the air fryer temperature and time depending on your model to avoid burning or undercooking; cook until golden brown.
  • Use oil spray sparingly to keep the churros crispy and reduce added fat.
  • Store leftover churros in an airtight container and reheat in the air fryer for best texture.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 220 kcal
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 70 mg

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