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Crispy Air Fryer Churros

Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Cooking Temperature350 degrees Fahrenheit

The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!

Air fryer churros are a great way to make churros without all the extra oil. They are a classic sweet dessert or snack that can be enjoyed whenever!

This simple recipe without egg creates perfect churros that are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and deliciously dippable in thick hot chocolate or other dips of your choice.

air fried churros on white plate with mug of hot chocolate behind with churros dipping into it.
Our air fryer churros are ready for eating!

There are different versions of churros. Some doughs have egg in them but ours does not.

Egg makes the churros puff up and a little softer overall but you can also taste the egg. We like to keep things simple with this easy recipe!

Ingredients

bowls with ingredients for churros on counter top with labels.
Everything you’ll need for these easy churros!

To make these churros in the air fryer, you’ll need these ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour – Use one cup of all-purpose flour.
  • Water – You’ll need one cup of water.
  • Butter – To add some flavor.
  • Salt – Just a pinch of salt.
  • Oil Spray – To make them turn out crispy in the air fryer.
  • Granulated Sugar – The churros get coated in sugar once they are cooked.
  • Cinnamon – Optional; to make the cinnamon-sugar.

Recipe Tips

For these air fried churros, have a quick read through these recipe tips so that you have all the right information before you dive into the recipe:

  • Freezing the piped churros for 30 minutes makes it easier to handle them so we wouldn’t recommend skipping this step.
  • Be sure to cook the churros all the way through. They can be misleading when the outside looks hot and crispy but the middle dough is still just a little underdone. If you’re unsure, you could ways break one in half to check.
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Step by Step Instructions

This section has all the recipe steps and process photos for how to make churros in the air fryer so that you can follow along with us.

Otherwise, you can find the complete air fryer churro recipe in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

flour in glass bowl on counter top with other ingredients around.
Add flour and salt to a bowl.

Start by add the flour and salt to a heat resistant mixing bowl. Then set it aside.

butter and water in metal sauce pan sitting on wooden board on counter top.
Bring the water to a boil.

Add the water and butter to a small pot and heat it on the stove until the water is just boiling and the butter has melted.

mixing water from silver pot into glass mixing bowl with fry ingredients.
Add the water to the flour.

Pour the water into the flour mixture in small increments while whisking and/or mixing the batter – either with a spatula, spoon, or whisk.

sticky dough in glass mixing bowl being mixed with wooden spatula.
Mix well.

Keep mixing until there are no more lumps in the dough.

piping raw churros onto red silicone mat.
Pipe the churros.

Add the dough into a piping bag with a star tip – we use a Wilton 1m. Pipe the churros onto a plate or baking mat which has been sprayed with oil spray.

The churros should be 3-4 inches long. It’s easiest to cut the dough with scissors near the piping tip to “end” each churros as you pipe the dough.

red silicone mat covered in raw churros in rows.
Freeze the churros.

Place the churros into the freezer for 30 minutes. Alternatively, place them into the fridge for 1 hour. This will make it easier to transfer them to the air fryer later.

two forks lifting raw churros dough from red silicone mat.
Lift the churros with two forks.

After the time is up, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

two rows of raw churros in black air fryer tray on white counter.
Add the churros to the preheated air fryer.

Transfer the churros into the air fryer while leaving some space between them. You’ll likely have to cook the churros in batches.

Spray them with oil spray once they are in the air fryer. Place the churros that you’re not cooking back into the fridge or freezer.

crispy churros in black air fryer tray on white counter.
The churros will turn out crispy and slightly browned.

Air fry the churros at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes until fully cooked and browned on the outside.

The exact cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the churros and your air fryer.

small bowl full of cinnamon and sugar on white counter.
Make the cinnamon-sugar.

While the churros are in the air fryer, mix the granulated sugar with the cinnamon in a small dish (large enough to lay a churros flat).

The cinnamon is optional – you can also just roll the cooked churros in granulated sugar.

cooked churros on plate covered in cinnamon and sugar mix.
Roll the churros in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

When the churros are done, take them out of the air fryer and immediately roll them around in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat them.

Then place them on a separate plate.

crispy churros on white plate with mug of hot chocolate behind.
Air fryer Churros are delicious.

Repeat the steps until you have air fried all the churros. Serve them hot with Spanish hot chocolate or other dips of your choice – hey are great for dipping!

Storage Tips

We’d recommend serving the churros hot and fresh right out of the air fryer because they taste best when they are fresh. Once the churros cool off they just aren’t as good.

That said, if you have leftovers you can store them in a sealed container on the counter for up to two days – but eat them sooner rather than later.

You can reheat the churros in the air fryer at 280 degrees Fahrenheit for just for a couple of minutes until they are warm again but they likely won’t be as tasty as when they are fresh.

What to Serve Air Fryer Churros With

Churros taste great with just their (cinnamon)-sugar coating but a classic Spanish way to enjoy them is to dip them in Spanish hot chocolate. This variation of hot chocolate is very thick and deliciously sweet!

Alternatively you can dip them in Nutella, Dulce de Leche Dipping sauce or other sauces of your choice.

FAQ

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about in the air fryer:

What are churros?

Churros are a fried dough originally of Spanish and Portuguese origin. Served hot, churros are coated in sugar – although there are a number of regional differences with regards to dough ingredients, final shape, and what churros are eaten with.

Where are churros from?

Churros are originally of Spanish and Portuguese origin. These days, they are popular in a number of Latin American countries and other parts of Europe.

Can you make churros in an air fryer?

Yes, churros can be made in the air fryer – although they might taste slightly different since they are not completely submerged in oil and deep fried but rather air fried in less oil.

How to make churros in the air fryer?

To make churros in the air fryer, combine the dry ingredients with the water/butter mixture and mix. Place the dough in a piping bag and create churros sticks of few inches in length. Allow them to cool in the fridge or freezer, then spray with oil and place in the air fryer. Cook churros at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes until golden brown on the outside and fully cooked on the inside. When done, roll in (cinnamon)-sugar and serve hot!

Related Recipes

If you’re looking for more sweet air fryer dessert recipes, here are some of our favorites that you should try out!

crispy churros on white plate with mug of hot chocolate behind.

Air Fryer Churros

Air Fryer Churros are crispy and delicious. They are air fried to perfection and coated in a delicious cinnamon-sugar mix!
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 5

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • a pinch of salt
  • avocado oil spray

Topping

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, optional

Instructions

  • Add the flour and salt to a heat resistant mixing bowl. Then set the bowl aside.
    1 cup all-purpose flour, a pinch of salt
  • Add the water and butter to a small pot and heat on the stove until the water is just boiling and the butter has melted.
    1 tablespoon butter, 1 cup water
  • Pour the water into the flour mixture in small increments while whisking and/or mixing the batter – either with a spatula, spoon, or whisk – until there are no more lumps in the dough.
  • Add the dough into a piping bag with a star tip – we use a Wilton 1m. Pipe the churros onto a plate or baking mat which has been sprayed with oil spray. The churros should be 3-4 inches long. It's easiest to cut the dough with scissors near the piping tip to "end" each churros as you pipe the dough.
  • Place the churros into the freezer for 30 minutes. Alternatively, place them into the fridge for 1 hour. This will make it easier to transfer them to the air fryer later.
  • After the time is up, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Transfer the churros into the air fryer while leaving some space between them. This works well with two forks. Spray them with oil spray once on the tray in the air fryer basket. You'll likely have to cook the churros in batches – place the churros that you're not cooking back into the fridge or freezer.
    avocado oil spray
  • Air fry the churros at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes until fully cooked and browned on the outside. The exact cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the churros and your air fryer.
  • While the churros are in the air fryer, mix the granulated sugar with the cinnamon (optional). Alternatively, you can also just use granulated sugar. When the churros are done, take them out of the air fryer and immediately roll them around in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat them. Then place them on a separate plate.
    1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Repeat the steps until you have air fried all the churros. Serve them hot with Spanish hot chocolate or dips of your choice – they are great for dipping!

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 243IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.

Course Dessert
Cuisine Spanish
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This recipe was contributed by
Lisa is the founder and main creator for Simply Air Fryer. As the author of two successful food blogs, she's usually found measuring ingredients, trying out new combinations, or hiding behind the camera snapping photos of food. She bought her first air fryer over 3 years ago and has since used it over 500 times. With the help of her trusty sidekick (husband), she's created and tested lots of recipes for Simply Air Fryer.

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