Description

A kid-friendly recipe for crispy, cinnamon-sugar coated churros made from scratch. This recipe uses simple ingredients and a ziplock bag piping method, making it an accessible and fun cooking project for families.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
4 cups vegetable or canola oil (for frying)
1/2 cup sugar (for coating)
1 tablespoon cinnamon (for coating)

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat, then immediately remove from heat.
Add all the flour at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula until a smooth ball forms. Let the dough cool in a mixing bowl for 5 minutes.
Once the dough is cool enough to touch but still warm, stir in the vanilla extract and the egg until fully incorporated and the dough is smooth and glossy.
Mix the coating ingredients (1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon) in a shallow dish. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep pot or Dutch oven.
Fill a piping bag (or a ziplock bag with the corner cut off) with the dough. Pipe 4-5 inch strips directly into the hot oil, cutting them off with a spoon or knife.
Fry 3-4 churros at a time for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Flip once to ensure even cooking.
Remove churros with a slotted spoon, let excess oil drip off, and immediately toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat evenly.
Place coated churros on a wire rack to drain and serve warm.

Notes

Ensure oil stays between 350°F and 375°F to prevent greasy or burnt churros. Do not refrigerate finished churros as they will become soggy. For best texture, serve within 30 minutes of frying. If dough is too thick, add a teaspoon of water; if too runny, add a bit more flour.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 churro
Calories: 180
Sugar: 15
Sodium: 120
Fat: 9
Saturated Fat: 3
Carbohydrates: 22
Fiber: 1
Protein: 3

Keywords: churros, cinnamon sugar, kids cooking, homemade dessert, fried dough, family activity, easy recipe