Churro Bites

Churro Bites

Golden, crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside churro bites made effortlessly in the air fryer. Rolled in a fragrant cinnamon-sugar coating right out of the basket, these bite-sized treats deliver all the classic churro flavor without the mess of deep frying. Perfect for a quick dessert, snack, or party treat the whole family will love.

4 servings · Prep 15 min · Cook 10 min · Total 25 min

Mexican · Spanish · Dessert · Snack

Main

  • 1 cup water
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 0.25 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp cooking spray for coating the air fryer basket

Cinnamon-Sugar Coating

  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted, for brushing

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Stovetop
  • Air Fryer
  • Saucepan
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Cooking Spray
  • Pot
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Kitchen Shears
  • Piping Bag
  • Basket
  • Piping Tip (Large)
  • Saucepan (1 Quart)

Instructions

  1. In a #[Saucepan] over ^[medium-high heat], combine the @[Water], @[Butter], ~[1 tablespoon] @[Granulated Sugar], and @[Fine Sea Salt]. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and immediately add the @[All-Purpose Flour] all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture pulls away from the sides and forms a smooth ball, about ~[1–2 minutes].
  2. Let the dough cool for ~[5 minutes] so it doesn't scramble the @[Eggs]. Add the @[Eggs] one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. Stir in the @[Vanilla Extract]. The dough should be smooth, glossy, and thick enough to hold its shape when piped.
  3. Transfer the dough to a #[Piping Bag] fitted with a #[Piping Tip (Large)] (or a zip-lock bag with a corner snipped off). Preheat your #[Air Fryer] to ![375°F] for ~[3 minutes]. Lightly spray the #[Air Fryer] basket with #[Cooking Spray]. Pipe ~[1½-inch] lengths of dough directly into the basket, using scissors to snip them off. Leave about ½ inch of space between each bite. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding.
  4. Air fry the churro bites at ![375°F] for ~[8–10 minutes], flipping halfway through, until they are puffed, golden brown, and cooked through. They should feel firm and dry to the touch on the outside.
  5. While the churro bites cook, mix together the @[Granulated Sugar] and @[Cinnamon] in a shallow dish. As soon as each batch comes out of the #[Air Fryer], brush them lightly with melted @[Butter] and immediately toss them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until evenly coated. Serve warm.