Air Fryer Churros: Crispy State Fair Treats in 10 Minutes

Last Update : 01/10/2025

Picture this: It’s Saturday afternoon, the kids are asking for something sweet, but you don’t want to deal with messy deep frying or complicated pastry techniques. These air fryer churros deliver authentic Spanish bakery results with none of the oil mess and half the time.

I used to think churros were impossible to make at home, too much oil, too much mess, too much risk of burns. The breakthrough came when I discovered that air fryer churros get that perfect crispy exterior and tender, airy interior without a single drop of hot oil.

Perfect Air Fryer Churros Recipe

Ingredients

For the Churros:

• 1 cup water
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

For Chocolate Dipping Sauce:

• 4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon butter

Method

Step 1: Make Choux Pastry

• Bring water, butter, and salt to boil in saucepan
• Remove from heat, add flour all at once, stir until smooth
• Return to low heat, cook 2 minutes stirring constantly
• Transfer to bowl, cool 5 minutes
• Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla until smooth

Step 2: Pipe and Freeze

• Pipe 4-inch lengths onto parchment using star tip
• Space 2 inches apart for air circulation
• Freeze 15 minutes to set shape

Step 3: Air Fry

• Preheat air fryer to 375°F
• Place parchment with churros in basket
• Spray lightly with cooking oil
• Cook 8-10 minutes until golden brown

Step 4: Coat and Serve

• Roll warm churros in cinnamon sugar
• Serve immediately with chocolate sauce

Serves: 4-6 | Prep: 15 min | Cook: 10 min | Total: 25 min

Notes

• Don’t skip the freezing step – it prevents collapse
• Work in batches to avoid overcrowding
• Best served immediately while crispy
• Internal temperature should reach 190°F for fully cooked choux

3 Flavor Variations

1. Classic Spanish Style

Traditional cinnamon sugar coating with rich chocolate dipping sauce. Perfect for first-timers.

2. Dulce de Leche Drizzle

Skip the cinnamon sugar, drizzle with warm dulce de leche and toasted coconut. Decadent and restaurant-worthy.

3. Orange Cardamom

Add orange zest to the dough, coat with cardamom-sugar blend. Sophisticated flavor for special occasions.

Perfect Pairings

Complete Dessert Experience:

• Churros + hot chocolate for authentic Spanish merienda
• With vanilla ice cream for à la mode treatment
• Alongside café con leche for weekend brunch
• With fresh fruit salad to balance the richness

Party Serving: Set up a churros bar with multiple dipping sauces, chocolate, caramel, berry coulis, and Nutella.

Storage Tips

Immediate Serving (Best Option):

• Serve within 30 minutes of cooking for maximum crispiness
• Keep warm in 200°F oven if needed

Short-term Storage:

• Store in airtight container up to 2 days
• Recrisp in air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes

Make-Ahead Strategy:

• Pipe and freeze churros up to 1 month
• Cook directly from frozen, add 2-3 minutes to cooking time
• Dough can be refrigerated overnight before piping

Frequently Asked Questions

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Air Fryer Churros

Crispy Spanish bakery-style churros made in the air fryer with no messy deep frying. Authentic choux pastry technique creates perfectly crispy exterior and tender, airy interior. Ready in 25 minutes with classic cinnamon sugar coating!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 12 4

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Mexican

Calories: 240

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• For the Churros:
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Cooking spray
• For Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• For Chocolate Dipping Sauce:
• 4 oz dark chocolate chopped
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon butter

Method

 

1. Step 1: Make the Choux Pastry
2. Bring water, butter, and salt to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture pulls away from sides and forms a ball (about 30 seconds). Return to low heat and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to develop proper structure.
3. Step 2: Add Eggs
4. Transfer dough to a bowl and let cool for 5 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until smooth and glossy. The dough should be pipeable but hold its shape, like thick pudding consistency. Add vanilla extract and mix until combined.
5. Step 3: Pipe the Churros
6. Fill a large piping bag fitted with a star tip with the churros dough. Cut parchment paper to fit your air fryer basket. Pipe 4-inch straight lines onto parchment, leaving 2 inches between each churro for proper air circulation. Use kitchen shears to cut dough cleanly.
7. Step 4: Freeze to Set Shape
8. Freeze piped churros for 15 minutes. This crucial step sets the shape so churros maintain their form during cooking and don’t collapse.
9. Step 5: Air Fry
10. Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes. Place parchment with frozen churros in the basket. Spray churros lightly with cooking oil for golden color. Cook for 8-10 minutes without flipping until deep golden brown. They should sound hollow when tapped and reach an internal temperature of 190°F.
11. Step 6: Make Chocolate Sauce (Optional)
12. While churros cook, heat heavy cream until just simmering. Pour over chopped chocolate and butter. Let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.
13. Step 7: Coat and Serve
14. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish. While churros are still warm, roll them in cinnamon sugar coating. Serve immediately with chocolate dipping sauce for maximum crispiness.