You don’t have to travel to Disney Parks to enjoy delicious churros. Kids and adults alike love these fried cinnamon sugar treats dipped in chocolate or caramel!
Everyone loves a churro! With this recipe, you can make the tasty sticks of fried dough right at home.
These are reminiscent of the famous Disney churros that are a favorite for theme park goers, but even if you’ve never been to Disneyland you NEED to try this recipe.
Thankfully, this recipe is straight from Disney Parks, so you know it’s authentic!
What are churros?
They are pieces of pastry dough often twisted into sticks, then deep fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar.
Churros are Spanish in origin but eaten all over the world, especially at fairs, carnivals and theme parks (like the Disney parks!).
To make it easier to enjoy the sweet taste of a freshly made churro at home, I like to make these into bite sized pieces.
The dough is easier to shape this way but it also means you can have a LOT of treats instead of just one.
How to serve Churros
I’m all about any recipe that lets me feel like I’m eating a lot of something, especially if that something is a sweet fried pastry! It’s probably why I love these Cinnamon Muffins so much!!
Churros are similar to donuts only instead of a yeasted dough or a cakey batter, the pastry is more similar to choux, with lots of eggs and butter.
They taste amazing all on their own, but you can also pair them with dipping sauces to make them even better.
In Mexico, churros are often dipped in hot melted chocolate. I also love mine with warm dulce de leche (caramel)!
Disney Parks Churro Bites
This copycat Disney churro recipe comes straight from the park itself!
I know for many folks, a Disney trip isn’t complete without a taste of one of the famous churros they sell throughout the parks, a piece of their Churro Toffee, or even a cup of Dole Whip.
If you’re missing your Disney vacation right now, I hope this recipe can bring some of the magic home to you!
My kids and I all loved these churros! They have a slightly crispy exterior with a fluffy inside and a delicious cinnamon sugar flavor.
They’re best served hot fresh from frying, which was no problem for us because we couldn’t stop eating them!
Ingredient Notes
- Flour– all-purpose flour is best
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Sugar
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1. Prepare the dough
Combine water, butter, salt, and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon in medium size saucepan over medium heat. Bring to rolling boil.
Once boiling, reduce heat to low. Add flour and stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball of dough. Remove from heat and let cool. Add eggs to the dough, one at a time, and stir until fully combined. Set aside.
STEP 2. Fry the churros
Heat oil in medium skillet or 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat or until temperature reaches 350˚.
Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over saucepan, cut with knife, and drop into hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill saucepan with room to fry.
Fry churros until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon or mesh strainer and place churro bites on paper towel.
Love Fried Food? These Southern Hush Puppies are a delicious side dish idea for dinner!
STEP 3. Dust with cinnamon sugar
Mix sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in a bowl. Sprinkle over the churros while still hot!
Tips & Tricks
- Prep the cinnamon sugar ahead of time so you can dust the fried churros right away after frying. The cinnamon sugar will stick better if the churro bites are still hot.
- If you do not have a piping bag, you can substitute a ziploc style plastic bag. Spoon dough into the bag and cut a hole in one corner. Squeeze the dough from the bag into the hot oil as directed.
- Keep a close eye on the churros as they fry! If they begin to brown on the outside immediately or begin to turn black, your oil is probably too hot. Depending on your stove, you may have to adjust the heat settings a few times to keep it consistent.
- Uses– Add a fresh mini churro to these churro cupcakes. Delicious treat.
Recipe FAQs
Check the oil temperature by dropping a small amount of the batter into the hot oil. If it sizzles right away, you’re ready to fry the churros. If it smokes or burns, your oil is too hot!
These churros are at their best when served immediately after frying, while still hot and crispy! If you must store them, keep them covered in a dry place and serve the same day.
Churros have a soft inside with a slight crispy outside. The fried dough creates the perfect texture when paired with the cinnamon sugar. Churros are chewier than a doughnut.
More Cinnamon Recipes
Churros
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon divided
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ cups vegetable or canola oil
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions
- Combine water, butter, salt, and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon in medium size saucepan over medium heat. Bring to rolling boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low. Add flour and stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball of dough. Remove from heat and let cool for 5-7 min.
- Add eggs to the dough, one at a time, and stir until fully combined. Set aside.
- Heat oil in medium skillet or 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat or until temperature reaches 350˚.
- Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over saucepan, cut with knife, and drop into hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill saucepan with room to fry.
- Fry churros until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon or mesh strainer and place churro bites on paper towel.
- Mix sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in medium bowl. Toss in churro bites until coated. Place on serving plate and serve with favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Prep the cinnamon sugar ahead of time so you can dust the fried churros right away after frying. The cinnamon sugar will stick better if the churro bites are still hot.
- If you do not have a piping bag, you can substitute a ziploc style plastic bag. Spoon dough into the bag and cut a hole in one corner. Squeeze the dough from the bag into the hot oil as directed.
- Keep a close eye on the churros as they fry! If they begin to brown on the outside immediately or begin to turn black, your oil is probably too hot. Depending on your stove, you may have to adjust the heat settings a few times to keep it consistent.
Video
Nutrition
Bring home a little taste of magic with these easy Disney Churros! They’re guaranteed to make any day a little bit sweeter!
Can these be made the day ahead?
you can, but they definitely taste fresher on the day made.
Can the batter be piped out into churros and frozen…to fry as and when needed
Hi Aimee
Can I bake them instead of frying? also can I use my kitchen aid to mix everything?
I never buy unsalted butter so I always use regular salted butter and it never makes any difference that I can tell.
I will make a double batch and leave half to cool without cinnamon sugar and then freeze them. I reheat them in my airfryer for two minutes then roll in cinnamon sugar. They taste fresh from the deep fryer.
Thank you.
Can olive oil be used in place of vegetable or canola oil for frying the churros?
Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable or canola oil to fry them as that is all I have on hand?
Olive oil is not a good oil to use for frying.
My daughter requested these so I decided to give them a try. They were super easy to cook and I’m told they taste delicious (not a fan of cinnamon so I’m trusting her opinion!). Thanks for sharing 🙂
can you put the mixture in the fridge and fry when you need?
I haven’t tried that yet!
I trying that tonight bc there was too many in one batch for my house. I’ll let you know how they turn out the next day after being in the fridge.
Sounds silly, but can I use salted butter and then not put in the extra salt? I’ve always wondered about that. I really want to try these and love your recipes!
You sure can!
Perfect way to get to enjoy one of the flavors from the parks while we can’t be there. So wonderful!
Aimee, churros are my weakness! Seriously – you just changed my life for the good.