Name: Air Fryer Churros Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 27 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 cup water; 1/3 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Oil spray; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Jump to Recipe· 4.7 from 15 reviews

If you’ve ever craved churros but wanted a lighter, less greasy version, this Air Fryer Churros Recipe is about to become your new best friend. I love how it delivers that classic crispy outside and soft, doughy inside, all without the mess and extra calories from deep frying. Whether you’re whipping these up for a cozy weekend snack or impressing friends at a casual get-together, these churros never disappoint.

One of the best parts about making churros in the air fryer is how hands-off the cooking process feels — less lingering smell of oil in the kitchen and way less fuss cleaning up. Plus, I found that the dough crisps up beautifully in the air fryer, giving you that golden-brown exterior with just the right amount of cinnamon-sugar sweetness. Trust me, once you try this Air Fryer Churros Recipe, it’s going to be your go-to whenever that craving hits.

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Why This Recipe Works

Healthier Alternative: Air frying cuts down on oil usage but keeps that satisfying crunch you want in churros.
Simple Ingredient List: Uses just pantry staples so you don’t have to hunt down anything fancy.
Hands-Off Cooking Time: Once piped and resting, the air fryer does the heavy lifting with even cooking and golden color.
Fun to Customize: You can easily tweak spices or dipping sauces to suit your taste or occasion.

A close-up view of several golden brown churros stacked in a slightly messy pile on a white marbled surface. Each churro has a ridged texture with a crispy outer layer and is covered evenly with fine sugar granules. The churros have a light, warm yellow color with hints of darker toasted edges, showing their crunchy coating. The white sugar contrasts with the warm tones of the churros, and some sugar is scattered around them on the surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

For this Air Fryer Churros Recipe, the ingredients come together with ease but deliver big on flavor and texture. Each component plays a key role — the butter and water create the perfect dough base, while the eggs bring richness and help with structure after baking.

Water: Hydrates the flour and melts the butter for a smooth dough consistency.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and flavor without extra salt sway; using unsalted lets you control seasoning precisely.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough slightly and contributes to the cinnamon sugar coating.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
All-purpose Flour: The base of the dough, providing that chewy-yet-crisp texture once cooked and coated.
Eggs: Helps bind the dough and adds moisture, creating that perfect chewy interior.
Vanilla Extract: Brings subtle warmth and aroma, elevating the overall flavor.
Oil Spray: Ensures a perfectly crispy exterior without frying in lots of oil.
Cinnamon: Classic spice for churros that pairs beautifully with sugar in the coating.
Cinnamon-sugar coating: The finishing touch to deliver that iconic churro flavor you can’t get enough of.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I like to get creative with my Air Fryer Churros Recipe by tweaking the cinnamon-sugar coating or pairing it with different dips. You can easily personalize these to suit whatever you’re craving or whatever pantry staples you have on hand.

Variation: I’ve swapped cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice during fall, and trust me—it adds such a cozy warmth that really elevates the snack.
Dietary Tweaks: For gluten-free, try a blend of gluten-free flours but expect a slightly different texture.
Difficulty Level: Newbie cooks will love how forgiving the dough is; just don’t skip the resting step to help it firm up for piping.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Air Fryer Churros Recipe

Step 1: Make Your Dough with Love

Start by combining water, butter, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil — this melts everything together beautifully. When it boils, add your flour all at once and stir vigorously; it’ll look like a big clump at first, but keep stirring until it forms a smooth ball and pulls away from the pan. This step ensures the starches cook properly, giving you that perfect chewy texture inside your churros.

Step 2: Cool & Add Eggs

Once off the heat, let your dough cool for about 4 minutes — this stops the eggs from cooking when you add them. Then, beat in the eggs and vanilla until the dough comes together like sticky mashed potatoes; this gluey texture will pipe beautifully and expand perfectly in the air fryer.

Step 3: Pipe, Chill, and Prep for Air Frying

Transfer your dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip; this gives the churros their signature ridges. Pipe the dough onto a greased silicone mat in 4-inch lengths. Here’s a tip: chilling the piped churros in the fridge for an hour helps them firm up and hold their shape better during air frying.

Step 4: Air Fry to Golden Perfection

Carefully move the chilled churros to your air fryer basket, spacing them about half an inch apart. Give them a light spritz of oil spray to encourage browning. Air fry at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until they’re the perfect golden brown. I like to check at 10 minutes and adjust time slightly depending on my air fryer model — every machine’s a little different!

Step 5: Coat and Serve Warm

While still warm, toss your churros in the cinnamon-sugar mixture so they soak up that classic sweet coating. Serving them immediately is ideal because that crunch is unbeatable right out of the fryer. I swear, the first bite is pure magic!

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Tips from My Kitchen

Rest your dough: Refrigerating the piped churros really helps maintain shape and crispness during air frying.
Watch your air fryer: Different models cook at slightly different speeds — check a minute or two early the first time to avoid overcooking.
Don’t skip oil spray: A light coating of oil ensures crispy ridges without heavy frying.
Use a silicone mat: It prevents sticking and makes transferring churros easier after piping.

How to Serve Air Fryer Churros Recipe

A close-up shows a golden brown churro covered in sugar being dipped into a smooth, thick, dark chocolate sauce inside a white bowl. The churro is held by a woman's hand, bringing it into the creamy chocolate, with more churros visible blurred in the background. The scene is set on a surface with a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I like to keep it classic with a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar, but sometimes I add a sprinkle of powdered sugar for a little extra sweetness and eye appeal. Fresh fruit slices or a sprinkle of chopped nuts can add a fun texture contrast if you’re feeling fancy.

Side Dishes

Churros and chocolate dip are an unbeatable duo in my house. I’ll also serve them alongside fresh berries or a creamy vanilla ice cream to balance the warm cinnamon flavors with something cool. These pairings turn this snack into a tiny celebration.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthday parties, I like arranging churros in a cone-shaped “bouquet” wrapped in parchment paper tied with twine — it looks adorable and is super easy for guests to grab. Another fun idea: serve churros skewered with fruit and marshmallows for a churros kabob. It’s playful and perfect for sharing.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers (and usually, I don’t), keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day. The texture is best enjoyed fresh, but storing them properly helps preserve some crispness.

Freezing

I’ve frozen churros before after air frying and cooling completely. Just place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen, then transfer to a zip-close bag. When you’re ready, air fry them again for a few minutes to re-crisp. The texture is surprisingly close to fresh when done this way!

Reheating

To reheat and bring back that crunch, pop leftover churros in the air fryer at 350°F for about 3-4 minutes. Avoid microwaving if you want them crispy — that just makes them soggy and sad.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of flour for the Air Fryer Churros Recipe?

While all-purpose flour gives the best texture and structure for classic churros, you can experiment with gluten-free flour blends. Just keep in mind the texture might be a little softer or crumbly depending on the mix you use.
Do I have to chill the piped churros before air frying?

Chilling is a really helpful step because it firms the dough up, helping the churros maintain their shape and get that perfect crispy exterior. Skipping this step might result in churros spreading a bit and losing those beautiful ridges.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?

You can prepare the dough a few hours ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Just give it a quick stir before piping. However, letting the piped churros chill an hour before air frying still works best for texture.
What dipping sauces go best with Air Fryer Churros?

Traditional chocolate or Nutella is my favorite, but caramel sauce, dulce de leche, or even strawberry jam work wonderfully as well. It’s all about what flavors you want to highlight!
How do I prevent churros from sticking to the piping bag?

Make sure your dough isn’t too hot when filling the piping bag and use a sturdy bag with a large star tip. Also, piping directly onto a lightly greased silicone mat helps avoid sticking and makes cleanup easier.

Final Thoughts

This Air Fryer Churros Recipe is such a joy to make — it brings back fun memories of fairgrounds and sweet treats with way less cleanup and guilt. I hope you enjoy the process as much as the delicious results. Once you get the hang of these, feel free to experiment and make them truly your own snack masterpiece. Grab that piping bag, set your air fryer, and treat yourself to some golden, crispy, cinnamon-sugared bliss.