Easy Air Fryer Churros (Crispy & No Deep Frying)

I’ve always loved churros.
When you walk through the street markets in Paraguay, you can smell them from a block away. That warm, sweet aroma pulls you straight toward the little cart where churros are being made fresh. You don’t even need to see them; you just follow the smell.

As much as I love churros, the truth is I rarely make them at home. Not because they’re difficult, but because I don’t enjoy deep frying. Oil splatters everywhere, the kitchen turns into a mess, and you’re left wondering what to do with all that leftover oil.

That’s why I was so excited when I bought my air fryer. I wanted to try making the foods I love without all the hassle.

At first, I honestly didn’t think churros would work in the air fryer. I assumed they wouldn’t get crispy. But they surprised me. They come out crispy, with that familiar churro aroma I grew up with. I tested this recipe several times to get the right temperature and timing. Let's just say that my family definitely didn’t complain about having to taste test so many churros. 😄

They’re not exactly the same as traditional churros, but they’re delicious, much easier to make, and especially great for beginners.

If you love churros but don’t want to deep-fry, this recipe is for you.

Watch How to Make Air Fryer Churros

Why Make Churros in an Air Fryer?

Making churros in an air fryer is a great option if you want something a little lighter and a lot less messy.

When churros are deep-fried, the dough absorbs quite a bit of oil. With the air fryer, you use little to no oil, which means fewer calories and a cleaner kitchen. And honestly, that alone makes this recipe worth it.

Another big plus? Cleanup. No oil splatter, no heavy frying smell, and no stress.

So, if you’ve ever wondered, can you make churros in an air fryer?
Yes! and they turn out surprisingly good.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Churros

One thing I really love about this recipe is how simple the ingredients are. You probably already have most of them at home.

You’ll need:

• Unsalted butter
• Water
• All-purpose flour
• A pinch of salt
• Ground cinnamon
• Granulated sugar
• Eggs

For coating and serving:

• Granulated sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Chocolate sauce or dulce de leche (optional, but highly recommended)

These homemade air fryer churros are made completely from scratch, using the same dough as traditional churros.

How to Make Churros in an Air Fryer (Step by Step)

This is where most people get nervous, but don’t worry. I’ll walk you through how to make churros in an air fryer from scratch, with the details that are helpful.

Making the Churro Dough

The most important part of this recipe is the dough consistency.

The dough should be thick, smooth, and sturdy. Think of something that holds its shape easily, not runny or loose.

• If the dough is too thick, it will be very hard to pipe.
• If the dough is too soft, the churros will spread and turn flat.

One mistake beginners often make is not cooking the dough long enough on the stovetop. It needs to pull away from the pan and form a smooth ball before you remove it from the heat. This step makes a huge difference and helps create the best dough for air fryer churros.

Shaping the Churros (With or Without a Piping Bag)

If you want long, classic looking churros, you have a few options.

You can use:

• A piping bag with a star tip (the same one used for decorating cakes), or
• Any plastic bag with the corner cut off.

No piping bag? No problem.
If shape isn’t a big deal, you can use two teaspoons to form small churro bites instead.

Here’s a tip that really helps: pipe the churros onto greased parchment paper, then place them in the freezer for about 15 minutes. This makes them much easier to handle and transfer into the air fryer.

Also, lightly grease your air fryer basket. It helps prevent sticking and keeps the churros from breaking.

Air Frying the Churros

For crispy air fryer churros, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

Place the churros in the basket, leaving about 2 inches of space between them. They expand as they cook, so spacing matters.

If you’re not using parchment paper inside the air fryer, there’s no need to flip them.

Air fryer churros usually take about 10 minutes, or until they’re golden and firm to the touch.

While they’re still hot, roll them in cinnamon sugar and enjoy right away.

If you enjoy classic Latin desserts like churros, you might also like this floating island dessert, or these Brazilian brigadeiro truffles.

Recipe

Air Fryer Churros vs Traditional Churros

Traditional churros are deep-fried in oil. They’re crispy on the outside, with a slightly denser crumb inside. These are the churros you often see sold from street carts, sometimes filled with dulce de leche or simply rolled in cinnamon sugar.

Air fryer churros use the same dough, but instead of oil, they’re cooked with hot air. This gives you a crispy exterior and a lighter, more airy inside.

Both are delicious, it just depends on what you’re in the mood for.

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