What are Churros?


What are churros? What are churros made of and why are they so popular?


churros with dipping sauce

What are churros?

You may be asking yourself, what is a churro? Well, churros are a Spanish or Mexican pastry, a bit like a donut or cruller, and are made from deep-fried unsweetened dough and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Churros are normally formed into long lengths of dough pushed through a piping nozzle and then slowly added to a deep fryer or pan filled with hot oil until golden in color. Churros ingredients are pretty simple; they consist of water, butter, sugar, salt, flour, egg, and vanilla extract made into a dough and then deep-fried. Then, of course, sprinkled in sugar and normally served with a warm chocolate dipping sauce.

churros with dipping sauce

What do churros taste like?

Churros taste very similar to a cinnamon sugared doughnut, just better. The dough of the churro is passed through a piping bag with a star-shaped nozzle attachment; this creates long crispy ridges in the pastry as it fries; these ridges help hold the cinnamon sugar in place. Churro’s are soft on the inside and crisp on the outside and taste best when they are freshly cooked and warm.

How long do churros last?

You can store your fried churros in an airtight container, and add a couple of sheets of kitchen paper towels to line the bottom of the container to soak up any excess grease. Churros will last up to 2 days at room temperature stored this way; don’t be tempted to refrigerate them as they can soak up moisture making them soggy and damp. Churros are best eaten on the day they are made.

Why are churros so popular?

Churros are very popular in Mexico and Spain. When I walked around the city of Barcelona I could see stands with people selling hot freshly made churros in nearly all the street markets. The smell was out of this world and the scent of cinnamon sugar wafting in the air was too much of an enticement to resist. One taste and I was hooked. I think one of the main reasons for churros being so popular is not only the amazing flavor but the shape. The long-shaped stick of warm dough is easy to hold and eat as you walk around city streets or even amusement parks. It’s the perfect sweet dessert on the go.

Churro's with Chocolate Dipping Sauce
These Churro's are soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. The cinnamon sugar just adds the perfect amount of sweetness to this delicious churro recipe.
churros with chocolate dipping sauce

What are Churros Made of?

Churros are a traditional tube-shaped Spanish and Portuguese sweet snack made from choux pastry that are deep-fried in oil and then sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, and other sweet toppings. The dough is made with all-purpose flour, butter, salt, water, and eggs, combined together to form a thick paste that is then piped into hot oil to fry. The result is a crispy and crunchy treat that is sweet and delicious.

Are Churros Sweet or Salty?

Churros are usually a sweet treat, as they are usually served with sugar, cinnamon, and other sweet toppings. However, they can also be served savory with salt, herbs, and other savory ingredients, making them a great snack for any occasion. Whether sweet or savory, churros are sure to be a hit with all who try them!