Craving that perfect churro experience but don’t want to deal with messy deep frying? These Air Fryer Churro Bites are your answer! Golden, crispy on the outside, impossibly fluffy on the inside, and coated in that iconic cinnamon sugar blend we all love. Plus, they’re ready in under 20 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Churro Recipe
These bite-sized churros are a game-changer for dessert lovers. Here’s what makes them absolutely irresistible:
✨ Quick & Easy – No deep frying mess, just pop them in the air fryer!
✨ Perfectly Fluffy – The choux pastry creates that signature airy texture
✨ Healthier Option – Uses significantly less oil than traditional deep-fried churros
✨ Kid-Friendly – Perfect bite-sized portions that little hands can manage
✨ Customizable – Easy to adapt with different coatings and dipping sauces
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Churro Dough:
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cooking spray (for air fryer)
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Optional Dipping Sauces:
- Dulce de leche
- Chocolate sauce
- Caramel sauce
- Nutella
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the Choux Pastry
In a medium saucepan, combine water, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt, and butter. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until butter is completely melted.
Step 2: Add the Flour
Remove from heat and immediately add the flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a smooth ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
Step 3: Cool and Add Eggs
Let the dough cool for 2-3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. The dough should be smooth and glossy. Stir in vanilla extract.
Step 4: Prepare for Air Frying
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (or use a ziplock bag with the corner cut off). Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
Step 5: Pipe and Cook
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Pipe 2-inch lengths of dough directly into the basket, leaving space between each piece. You may need to work in batches.
Air fry for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until churros are golden brown and crispy.
Step 6: Coat in Cinnamon Sugar
While churros are still warm, brush with melted butter and immediately roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture until evenly coated.
Pro Tips for Perfect Churro Bites
🔥 Temperature Matters – Don’t skip preheating your air fryer. The initial high heat creates that perfect crispy exterior.
🔥 Don’t Overcrowd – Give each churro bite space to breathe. Overcrowding leads to uneven cooking.
🔥 Work Quickly – Coat the churros in cinnamon sugar while they’re still hot for the best adherence.
🔥 Consistent Size – Try to make all your churro bites roughly the same size for even cooking.
🔥 Fresh is Best – These are definitely best enjoyed warm and fresh from the air fryer!
Flavor Variations to Try
Chocolate Churro Bites
Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to your flour for rich chocolate churros. Perfect with vanilla ice cream!
Orange Zest Churros
Add 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest to your dough and use orange-cinnamon sugar (add 1 teaspoon orange zest to the coating).
Maple Churros
Replace 1 tablespoon of the sugar in the coating with maple sugar for a cozy fall twist.
Mini Filled Churros
Use a small knife to create a pocket and fill with dulce de leche or Nutella after cooking.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Storage: Store leftover churro bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 1 month.
Reheating: Pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to restore that crispy exterior. You can also use a toaster oven.
Make-Ahead Tip: You can prepare the dough up to 4 hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature before piping.
Nutritional Information
Per serving (based on 6 servings):
- Calories: 245
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Protein: 6g
- Sugar: 18g
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Churros are too dense: Make sure your water is at a full rolling boil when adding flour, and don’t over-mix after adding eggs.
Not crispy enough: Increase cooking time by 1-2 minutes or check that your air fryer is properly preheated.
Coating won’t stick: Make sure to brush with melted butter while the churros are still hot, and roll immediately in the cinnamon sugar.
Perfect Pairings
These air fryer churro bites are amazing on their own, but here are some perfect serving suggestions:
- Hot chocolate or café con leche for dipping
- Vanilla ice cream for a temperature contrast
- Fresh berries for a lighter finish
- Whipped cream with a drizzle of caramel
Final Thoughts
These Air Fryer Churro Bites prove that you don’t need a deep fryer to create restaurant-quality churros at home. They’re quick, relatively healthy, and absolutely delicious. Whether you’re hosting a party, satisfying a late-night sweet tooth, or looking for a fun weekend baking project with the kids, these churro bites deliver every time.
The best part? Once you master this basic recipe, you can experiment with different flavors, coatings, and fillings to make them uniquely yours. So fire up that air fryer and get ready to fall in love with these irresistible little bites of heaven!
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Fluffy Air Fryer Churro Bites Recipe – Crispy Outside, Soft Inside!
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Fluffy Air Fryer Churro Bites are crispy on the outside, soft inside, and coated in cinnamon sugar. Quick, easy, and kid-friendly, perfect for desserts without the deep-frying mess.
Ingredients
For the Churro Dough:
1 cup water
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray (for air fryer)
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons melted butter
Optional Dipping Sauces:
Dulce de leche
Chocolate sauce
Caramel sauce
Nutella
Instructions
1. Make the Choux Pastry: Combine water, 2 tbsp sugar, salt, and butter in a medium saucepan. Bring to rolling boil until butter melts.
2. Add Flour: Remove from heat, add flour all at once. Stir until a smooth ball forms.
3. Cool and Add Eggs: Let dough cool 2-3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each. Stir in vanilla extract.
4. Prepare for Air Frying: Transfer dough to piping bag with star tip. Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
5. Pipe and Cook: Spray air fryer basket. Pipe 2-inch dough pieces, air fry 6-8 minutes until golden, shaking halfway.
6. Coat in Cinnamon Sugar: Brush with melted butter, roll in cinnamon sugar while warm.
Notes
- Preheat air fryer for perfect crispy exterior.
- Avoid overcrowding for even cooking.
- Coat churros in cinnamon sugar while hot.
- Make bites roughly the same size for consistency.
- Best enjoyed warm and fresh.
- Store leftovers in airtight container 1-2 days, or freeze up to 1 month.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 70mg