Cinnamon Sugar Churro Bites
Little churro puffs, air fried then rolled in cinnamon sugar.
Before You Start
Real churro dough, no deep fryer. You make a quick choux paste on the stove, pipe little bites, and the air fryer puffs them golden. Rolled warm in cinnamon sugar they taste like the fairground. Weigh the flour if you can, since a heavy cup makes the dough stiff.
Instructions
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Bring the water, butter, 1 tablespoon sugar and salt to a boil in a pan. Once the butter has melted, tip in all the flour at once.
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Stir hard over low heat for about a minute until it forms a smooth ball that pulls away from the sides. Take it off the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes, or it will scramble the eggs.
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Beat in the eggs one at a time. It will look split at first, then come together into a thick, glossy, pipeable paste.
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Spoon into a piping bag with a star nozzle. Pipe 5 cm lengths onto baking paper cut to fit your basket, snipping the ends with scissors.
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Preheat to 180°C / 350°F. Air fry the bites, paper and all for the first minute, for 8 to 12 minutes until golden and firm. Don't open too early or they can deflate.
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Mix the coating sugar and cinnamon on a plate. Roll the warm churro bites until fully coated. Serve with chocolate or dulce de leche for dipping.
♨️ Air fryer notes
- Cook at 180°C / 350°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
💡 Cook's tips
- Cool the paste before adding the eggs, or they cook and the dough splits.
- Pipe onto paper cut to your basket so you can lift them straight in without squashing.
🔀 Make it your own
- Fill cooled bites with chocolate hazelnut spread using a piping tip.
- Add a pinch of orange zest to the cinnamon sugar for a churros con naranja twist.
📦 Storing & reheating
Best the day they're made. Re-crisp leftovers at 180°C for 2 to 3 minutes, then re-roll in fresh cinnamon sugar.
❓ Frequently asked
How many grams is a cup of flour for churros?
About 125 g per US cup. A scooped cup can weigh 150 g or more, which makes the paste stiff, so weigh it if you can.
Why did my churro bites deflate?
Usually opening the basket too early or underbaking. Let them set and turn firm and golden before you check, and beat the eggs in well for structure.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
More air fryer recipes
A note on cooking safely. Recipes are provided for informational purposes only and are not medical or nutritional advice. Cooking times, temperatures and quantities are suggestions: use your own judgement, and check that meat, poultry, fish and eggs are properly cooked before serving.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements.