Spanish Churros with Chocolate Sauce

Churros are Spain’s iconic street food dessert — crispy, golden sticks of fried dough coated in cinnamon sugar and dunked into thick, rich hot chocolate. Originally a humble snack enjoyed by Spanish shepherds, churros have evolved into a worldwide phenomenon. The simple dough yields an incredibly satisfying crunch on the outside with a soft, doughy interior that’s impossible to resist.

Ingredients

Churros

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Oil for deep frying

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Chocolate Dipping Sauce

• 4 oz dark chocolate (60-70% cacao), chopped
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Combine water, sugar, salt, and oil in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil.
2. Remove from heat, add flour all at once. Stir vigorously until dough forms a smooth ball and pulls from the pan sides.
3. Cool 5 minutes, transfer to a piping bag with a large star tip.
4. Heat 2-3 inches of oil to 375°F (190°C).
5. Pipe 6-inch strips into hot oil, cutting with scissors. Fry 4-5 at a time.
6. Fry 2-3 minutes per side until deeply golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
7. Roll hot churros in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
8. For the sauce: Heat cream and milk until simmering. Pour over chopped chocolate, let sit 1 minute, then whisk smooth. Add sugar and salt.

Pro Tips

• Star tip is essential: The ridges create more surface area for maximum crunch and help cinnamon sugar stick.
• Oil temperature matters: At 375°F, churros cook quickly and stay crispy. Too low and they absorb oil; too high and they burn.
• Eat immediately: Churros are best within minutes of frying — they lose their crunch quickly.

Serving Suggestions

Serve hot with warm chocolate dipping sauce. In Spain, the traditional pairing is thick Spanish hot chocolate. Set up a churros bar with chocolate, dulce de leche, and strawberry sauces. Also amazing drizzled with Nutella and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Servings: About 20 churros

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• French Crème Brûlée — Another European dessert classic to try