Easy and Delicious Air Fried Churros

These Air Fried Churros are incredibly easy to make, foolproof, and absolutely delicious. I tried several recipes and attempts until I made my own additions and got these perfect.

Kitchen Tools: Air Fryer, Mixer (Handheld or stand) Pastry Bags, a large star tip like this one, a rubber band, mixing bowls. shallow bowls, spatula, and tongs. 

• • Dough:

    • 1 cup water
    • 1/4 cup salted or unsalted butter, diced into small cubes
    • 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
    • 1/2 a teaspoon of ground cinnamon
    • 1/4 tsp salt (skip if you used salted butter already)
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour (scoop into a dry measuring cup then level the top with a knife)
    • 1 large egg
    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    • Vegetable oil for spraying/greasing the fryer pan and churros.
    • 
      

    Topping:

    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

    
    

    Frosting:

    Russian Buttercream Icing

    2 Tbsp of butter (softened but still cold)

    4 Tbsp of condensed milk (chilled)

    1/2 to 3/4 cup of powdered icing/confectioners sugar

    2 Tbsps of unsweetened cocoa powder (optional if you want a chocolate frosting instead) I prefer this one.

• 
  
• Directions:
  
• Add water, butter, sugar, and salt (if using unsalted butter only) to a medium saucepan.  
  Stir this mixture and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
  
• Pour in flour and reduce heat to medium-low. and cook. Stir constantly with a silicone spatula until the mixture comes together and it is mostly smooth. (Don't worry about a few lumps.) 
  The dough should also begin pulling away from the sides and form somewhat of a ball. Turn off the heat at this point.
  

  • Next, you'll want to wait until the dough cools down enough so that it's comfortable to touch and no warmer than lukewarm or room temp. I make the toppings at this point so that the dough can cool for at least 10 minutes.  
    For the topping mix together the remaining sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish, and set aside. You can also use this to sprinkle the mixture on. 
    For the frosting, you want to use slightly softened butter. To accomplish this I place the butter in the microwave for 5 to 15 secs, checking it at 5-second intervals (it depends on your microwave wattage.) 
    The butter should be soft enough to press an indentation in using your finger yet still look solid and feel somewhat cold. (Room temperature butter I found is too soft for this recipe.)
    Whip the butter with a mixer on high until it becomes lighter in color. Add the vanilla extract. Then slowly spoon in chilled and canned condensed milk and continue mixing. ( I leave the can in the fridge overnight or at least a few hours before making this.) Having both the butter slightly soft and condensed milk chilled is essential for this frosting to come out super light and fluffy. 
    Once the milk is incorporated you can then add powdered sugar until you get the thickness and sweetness you desire. You can add in some unsweetened cocoa powder if you prefer a chocolate frosting. 

Now you can return to working with the churro dough after checking that it is cooled down enough. Using a spoon or your spatula, make a well in the middle of the dough (press in an indention until you have a small bowl-like shape.)

Crack the egg into the well and add the vanilla extract and cinnamon. Use a mixer on low to incorporate everything. At first everything will start to seperate, but if you keep mixing for a few minutes more until you have a smooth slightly sticky dough. 

Place the dough into an extra-large pastry bag with a star tip. 

Spray or grease your air fryer pan/tray. Squeeze out about 4-inch strips of dough. Twist and press the tip down at the end to release and separate the dough. Some people use kitchen scissors and snip the dough off instead. 

Repeat until your pan is filled leaving about 1/2 inch between each churro. They don't expand very much so you don't need a ton of space around them. But you want the air to be able to circulate enough around each churro so it comes out crispy. 

I like to give brush or spray some more vegetable oil on top of the churros because it gives something for the cinnamon sugar to adhere to later. 

You will have enough batter to make about three to four trays worth of churros.

Set your air fryer to 380 Fahrenheit and 10 minutes.

Once the churros come out, you can sprinkle them and/or toss them in a bowl of sugar and cinnamon while warm. I find a tong helps.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! 

Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions. Also if you make the recipe I would love to know how it turned out.