There’s something about churros that brings me back to county fairs and Sunday suppers — warm, sweet, and a little bit crunchy where the sugar holds on. These air fryer churros make that memory easy to call up in your own kitchen, without standing over a pot of oil. Try a simple cookie to share alongside while the cinnamon scent fills the house.
Why make this recipe
Because life is better with warm sugar-dusted treats and the kind of comfort that comes from hands-on baking. These Air Fryer Churros cut the fuss and keep the heart of the recipe — tender, hollow centers with a crisp, cinnamon-sugar coat — so you can make a little celebration any evening. They’re quick, less messy than frying, and beloved by both little ones and grown folks.
How to make Air Fryer Churros
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (cut into pieces)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted (for brushing))
Directions:
- Create the Cinnamon Sugar Mix: In a shallow dish or on a plate, whisk together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Set it aside.
- Start the Dough Base: In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter, and salt. Place it over medium heat and bring it to a rolling boil.
- Incorporate the Flour: Turn the heat down to low and add the all-purpose flour all at once. Stir vigorously until the mixture forms a thick, cohesive ball of dough. Keep stirring for about 60 seconds.
- Cool the Dough: Transfer the hot dough ball to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Let it cool for about 5 to 10 minutes until just warm to the touch.
- Beat in the Eggs: With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs one at a time, waiting until the first egg is completely incorporated before adding the second. Beat in the vanilla extract.
- Prepare for Piping: Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (like a Wilton 1M).
- Pipe and Air Fry: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Pipe 4 to 5 inch lengths of dough into the basket, using kitchen scissors to snip the dough. Work in batches, leaving space between churros.
- Cook to Golden Perfection: Air fry for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the churros are a deep golden brown and feel crisp to the touch.
- Coat and Serve: As soon as the churros come out of the air fryer, use a pastry brush to lightly coat them with the melted butter. Immediately roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until generously coated. Serve warm.
How to serve Air Fryer Churros
Serve them in a basket lined with a kitchen towel, like you’d hand down at a family table. They’re lovely on their own, but for a gentle Southern twist, offer a small ramekin of warm chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, or even a bowl of vanilla ice cream. For a cozy dessert spread, pair with a batch of warm cookies — I like linking simple recipes like this easy air fryer cookies so everyone can nibble and chat.
How to store Air Fryer Churros
Churros are best the day they’re made. If you must store them, cool completely, then place in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. To refresh, pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2–3 minutes to crisp up before rolling in a little extra cinnamon sugar.
Tips to make Air Fryer Churros
- Keep your eggs at room temperature so they incorporate smoothly and give the dough structure.
- Let the dough cool slightly before adding eggs — you don’t want scrambled eggs in your batter.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer; give each churro room to puff and crisp.
- If your churros aren’t browning evenly, rotate the basket halfway through cooking.
- Use a large star tip for that signature ruffled crust that holds cinnamon sugar so well.
Variations
- Chocolate-churro: Dust with cocoa sugar mix or drizzle melted chocolate.
- Lemon-sugar churros: Replace half the cinnamon with lemon zest for a bright twist.
- Filled churros: Pipe cooled churros with dulce de leche or pastry cream using a small tip.
FAQs
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
A: You can make the dough and refrigerate it for a short while, but bring it back to room temperature and give it a quick beat before piping. Chilled dough may not pipe as easily.
Q: My churros are soft inside — what did I do wrong?
A: They may need a touch more time in the air fryer or a slightly higher temp. Make sure they’re golden brown and crisp to the touch; the hollow center comes from good steam and enough heat.
Q: Can I fry these instead of using an air fryer?
A: Yes — if you prefer traditional frying, heat oil to 350°F and fry until golden, then roll in cinnamon sugar. Air frying simply gives a lighter, less messy option.
Q: Is this dough suitable for piping without a stand mixer?
A: You can mix by hand, but it takes some elbow grease to beat in the eggs smoothly. A hand mixer works fine too.
Conclusion
There’s nothing fancy about bringing sweets to the table — it’s the warmth and the sharing that matters. If you’d like another take on air-fryer churros or want to compare methods, I found a couple of great resources that feel like friends in the kitchen: Air Fryer Churros – Plated Cravings and The best Air Fryer Churros – Lifestyle of a Foodie.
Come on back and tell me how yours turned out; I’ll be right here, apron on, ready for a second helping and a story to go with it.
Air Fryer Churros
Ingredients
Method
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon to create the cinnamon sugar mix. Set it aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter, and salt. Place it over medium heat and bring to a rolling boil.
- Turn the heat down to low and add the all-purpose flour all at once. Stir vigorously until the mixture forms a thick, cohesive ball of dough, about 60 seconds.
- Transfer the hot dough ball to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs one at a time, ensuring the first egg is completely incorporated before adding the second. Beat in the vanilla extract.
- Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Pipe 4 to 5 inch lengths of dough into the basket, using kitchen scissors to snip the dough. Work in batches, leaving space between churros.
- Air fry for 8 to 12 minutes or until the churros are a deep golden brown and feel crisp to the touch.
- As soon as the churros come out of the air fryer, use a pastry brush to lightly coat them with melted butter, then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until generously coated. Serve warm.