Easy Classic Air Fryer Churros (23-Minute Recipe)
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Air fryer churros are cooked to golden perfection and coated in cinnamon sugar. These come out just as airy and crisp as the traditional version without needing thermometers or a big pot of oil. Enjoy delicious air fried churros without the mess of deep frying!
Making homemade churros is a game changer! I love making these for Cinco de Mayo and using the air fryer makes them a breeze.
The key to making the perfect air-fried churros is to make smaller batches by air frying them! (and least that’s what I think!)
Since you only need a few simple ingredients, this delicious treat takes minimal prep time to make, and the heat of the air fryer has them cooked in no time at all.
Once you make your first batch, you’ll be getting requests for more of this popular dessert!
If you’re a fan of the texture of crispy churros, this is the recipe for you. The printable recipe card below shows all the easy steps to make these easy air fryer churros.
This delicious dessert still has the same taste as a traditional churro recipe, but with a super fun spin! Add this to your list of must make air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Churros
Making a churro recipe in the air fryer is so much simpler than it seems — and you only need a handful of ingredients!
Start with a simple homemade choux pastry, then pipe it straight into the basket in 3-inch segments.
Once the air fried churros are done, coat them in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and serve them warm!
For another sweet treat, use your countertop appliance to make these light and flaky donuts!
Simply change up the frosting colors and sprinkles to match any season or celebration.
Want to stick with the Mexican theme? You’ll love these boozy margarita cupcakes made with ribbons of lime zest and plenty of tequila.
Or this Disney Churro Toffee Recipe that is so easy to make!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Water & Milk – You’ll need both to get the right consistency in the dough.
Don’t try to use all of one or the other for this air fryer churro recipe — it won’t turn out the same! - Unsalted Butter – With so few ingredients, you’d really be able to taste the salt if you use salted butter instead.
- Eggs – Bring these to room temperature if you can! It further reduces the chance that they’ll scramble when added to the warm dough.
- Vanilla Extract – Adds warmth and a little sweetness to the dough. Use a high-quality brand if possible — it really makes a difference!
- Cinnamon & Sugar – Regular granulated sugar is all you need for the sweet churro cinnamon sugar mixture.
Experiment with different varieties of cinnamon to see which you like best. You could also try brown sugar, but it will vary the sweetness and flavor.
Tips and Tricks to Make This Churro Recipe With an Air Fryer
- Make clean, evenly-sized pieces.
Use a pair of kitchen shears to snip as you go so the ends are flat and smooth instead of pointed.
- Chill the dough as needed.
If your kitchen is particularly warm, you may want to pipe the dough onto a plate or sheet pan and refrigerate it for about 15 minutes first.
This will help the churros hold their shape, and the chilled dough pieces can go straight into the basket before cooking.
Don’t chill this air fryer churros recipe for longer than 1 hour, though, or the dough will dry out.
- Work in batches.
Don’t overcrowd the basket or the air fryer churros won’t come out as crisp. Also, leave enough space for them to expand as they cook.
Make sure that you’re adding them in a single layer so that the cooked dough has the space it needs.
- Don’t forget to spray!
A spritz of nonstick cooking spray helps these crisp up and get that gorgeous golden brown color on the outside.
You don’t want to lose any of these delicious churros by having bits stick to the pan!
- Immediately coat in cinnamon sugar.
The heat will help the mixture stick better to the surface. Coat those Spanish churros with sugar and cinnamon powder and have fun!
Prep Ahead
- Bring eggs to room temp
- Mix cinnamon sugar coating
- Fit piping bag with 1M tip
- Make dipping sauces
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
- 4 Quart Saucepan – You’ll need plenty of room to start the dough.
- Electric Hand Mixer – I’ve had this one in my kitchen forever, and it still works beautifully.
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- Piping Bag with Large Open Star Tip to quickly and easily form each churro.
Serving Suggestions
The cinnamon sugar coating is one of the best parts of this air fryer churro recipe! Roll each churro in the mixture while it’s still warm so every crevice is evenly coated.
Air fryer churros are best served warm, so don’t prepare them too far in advance! Over time they will get chewy and evenly dry out.
Pair these with a small bowl of homemade chocolate or caramel sauce for dipping.
Air Fryer Churro Recipe FAQ
Not a problem! While an open star pastry tip gives air fried churros their classic shape, these treats will taste just as delicious without the ridges.
If you don’t have a piping bag either, simply use any zippered food storage bag and snip off the bottom corner.
While I don’t find it necessary for this churro recipe air fryer style, it wouldn’t hurt! If you think about it, the air fryer will be preheated for every batch you make after the first one.
You can make the dough in advance and store it in the refrigerator or freezer — more on that below!
But churros should be cooked just before serving for the best flavor and texture.
I’m all about dipping the cooked churros in chocolate sauce! A lot of people say that the best way to eat these treats is without a dipping sauce, but I say that you should eat them how you like.
Storing and Reheating Air Fried Churros
While they are perfectly safe for a few days in a sealed container (not airtight!), air fryer churros just won’t taste as good as when they are fresh.
You’ll get the most life out of them if you store them in a closed paper bag. Reheat in the air fryer until warm and crispy again.
If you know you won’t be able to eat them all right away, split the dough in half or quarters and cook off just what you need.
Wrap the rest tightly in plastic and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Then, allow the dough to come to room temperature before piping so it’s easier to handle.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Easy Classic Air Fryer Churros (23-Minute Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 stick, cut into tablespoons
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
cinnamon sugar coating
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
toppings
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine water, milk, butter and 1 tablespoon sugar
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently
- Remove from the heat and stir in the flour with a wooden spoon until completely incorporated
- Return saucepan back to the heat and stir constantly for 2 minutes until dough comes together in a smooth ball
- Transfer dough to large mixing bowl
- Beat with an electric mixer until fluffy, this will cool the dough so the eggs don’t cook
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and vanilla extract
- Slowly add egg mixture, beating after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl
- Fit a disposable pastry bag with a #1M open star decorating tip
- Then add dough to bag
- Pipe dough directly into air fryer basket and cut end with scissors
- Spray churros with non-stick cooking spray
- Cook at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown
- While churros are cooking, combine cinnamon sugar mixture in a medium bowl
- Remove churros from air fryer, and add to cinnamon sugar mixture, toss to coat and set on baking rack to cool
- Serve immediately with chocolate sauce or caramel sauce
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published April 2021, updated and republished February 2025
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Sweet and delicious, with such a simple cooking method too. Amazing!
These air fryer churros are everything! They turned out so delicious and golden brown. Definitely making them again.
Hi Gwen!
We’re so glad that you enjoyed!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn