Can I bake these in the oven instead of an air fryer?

Yes. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pipe the churro portions onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, brush with butter, and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown and firm. Roll in cinnamon sugar immediately while warm. The texture will be slightly less crispy than the air fryer version but still very delicious.

Why do the churro bites need to cool before adding the egg?

The dough must cool for 4 to 5 minutes before the egg is added because if the dough is still too hot it will begin cooking the egg on contact and produce small scrambled egg pieces distributed through the dough rather than a smooth incorporated emulsion. The slightly cooled dough accepts the egg and vanilla and produces the glossy smooth piping consistency that makes these churro bites so perfectly shaped and textured.

Can I make the dough ahead for a Cinco de Mayo party?

Yes. The finished dough can be made up to 24 hours ahead and stored in the piping bag in the refrigerator. Take the cold piping bag out 30 minutes before your guests arrive and allow to come to room temperature before piping and air frying for the freshest and most perfectly crispy churro bites.

Air Fryer Churro Bites Easy Cinnamon Sugar Cinco de Mayo Recipe

Description

The most easy and crispy Air Fryer Churro Bites made with a simple cooked choux dough of water butter salt sugar flour egg and vanilla piped into bite-sized portions in the air fryer until golden and rolled warm in cinnamon sugar. A completely mess-free and extraordinary Cinco de Mayo churro treat with no deep frying required.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup Water

1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter

1 tsp Salt

2 tbsp Granulated Sugar

1 cup All-Purpose Flour

1 large Egg

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1 cup White Sugar for coating

1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon for coating

Chocolate Sauce Caramel Nutella or Dulce de Leche for dipping

Instructions

1. Combine water, butter, salt, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a full boil.

2. Reduce heat. Add flour all at once. Stir vigorously until dough forms a smooth ball and pulls from sides.

3. Remove from heat. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

4. Cool 4 to 5 minutes. Do not add egg yet.

5. Add egg and vanilla. Beat with electric hand mixer until completely smooth and glossy.

6. Transfer dough to piping bag with large star tip.

7. Preheat air fryer to 375°F. Spray basket generously with non-stick spray.

8. Pipe 2 to 3-inch churro portions into basket without overcrowding.

9. Brush with melted butter.

10. Air fry 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown. Work in batches as needed.

11. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.

12. Roll warm churro bites in cinnamon sugar immediately until evenly coated.

13. Serve immediately with dipping sauces.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dessert, Snack
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: Mexican American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 3 pieces
Calories: 195
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 105mg
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 28mg

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