Some Latin foods don’t need translating anymore. That is the case of churros. Crisp and golden on the outside, soft and almost moist in the center, and covered in a gritty mix of sugar and cinnamon. They have to be some of the most, if not the most, irresistible fritters.
Mexicans don’t get the credit for inventing them though. That battle is still disputed between the Portuguese and the Spanish. But we do owe the Spanish for helping churros find their way to our Mexican kitchens, where we have found a way to make them our very own. More than five centuries later, so rooted they have become, it is hard to find a town, small or large, that doesn’t sell them.
You can find churros being sold by street vendors in little paper bags, in baskets, or in stands that have a heating light to keep them warm – people tend to underestimate how chilly Mexican nights can get. But there are also churrerías, places that only sell churros and different kinds of hot chocolate to accompany them.
Then there are extra dipping sauces that, of late, have become fillings. Some industrial churro press machines pump out churros with an inner tunnel that can be filled with dulce de leche or cajeta, chocolate or fruit jams. I go for the traditionally plain ones, without the inner tunnel, with cajeta or dulce de leche on the side to dip as I please.
Just like other extremely popular street food goodies, many people have the misconception that something so good must be impossible to make at home. Well, wrong and wrong. All you need is a good recipe – and my boys and I did the legwork for you – and a churro-making tool.
On the recipe, it was a team effort. You know how many takes my boys sampled? The dough was too thick, then too sweet, then too crackly. Or once shaped into churros, it hardened too fast, its center dried too soon and the grooves didn’t stay smooth.
Finally, we nailed down the most irresistible and fool-proof one. With the recipe nailed down, the issue became the tool. As the perfect masa needs to be heavy and thick, it resists being pushed around in a cookie cutter or in a pastry bag. Ask my oldest son, he came to the kitchen to my rescue one too many times to help push the dough out from a cookie cutter press, we ended up breaking, and the pastry bag attempts were too much of a work out.
I finally caved. Though I am usually one to complain about stores trying to sell you special tools for certain cooking tasks, or for dealing with ingredients that do not require a special tool at all. Take the egg slicer, for example. Not only does it not work, it is messy and it does not make impeccable slices. Or the nutmeg grinder, nothing a normal grater can’t handle. I have to admit, the humble plastic churro press (less than $20 and many brands available online), is a great thing to have if you want fresh churros at home just about any afternoon.
Since the dough can be made in just a few minutes, you can have churros pressed and fried, seamlessly in less than a half hour.
Churros con Cajeta or Dulce de Leche
Recipe Yield
Cooking time
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Ingredients
- Vegetable oil for frying plus ¼ cup
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup sugar plus ¼ cup
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon plus ½ teaspoon
- 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt
- 2 cups flour
- Cajeta or dulce de leche optional dipping sauce
To Prepare
- In a large, heavy and extended casserole, or cast iron, high-sided skillet, heat about 1 1/2-inches of canola oil over medium heat until the oil temperature reaches 350 degrees (or test with a piece of tortilla or bread; it’s ready when the oil bubbles actively all around it). It will take awhile to heat, so get this started before making the dough.
- On a large plate, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the water, 1/4 cup oil, vanilla extract, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the flour all at once, turn off the heat and use a wooden spoon to stir vigorously until the mixture forms a dough as smooth as possible with no flour lumps. It will take about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip or a churro press. Pipe the dough into about 6 to 8-inch pieces (or if you want to replicate a churro store, pipe a rope-like dough of about 24-inches) and carefully place in oil. Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes, until golden and crisp, flipping in between. Use tongs to remove them and place on a paper towel lined baking sheet or drying rack.
- While the churros are still very hot, toss them in the sugar and cinnamon mixture to coat. If desired, serve with cajeta or dulce de leche as a dipping sauce and Mexican hot chocolate on the side.
Comments
59comments inChurros Don’t Need Translating Anymore
Irma
Feb 01
Hola Pati! Muchísimas gracias por compartir tan generosamente tus recetas. Anoche hice churros por primera vez gracias a tus claras intenciones. Mi pregunta es: ¿Qué hice mal? Pues mis churros sabían muy bien pero todavía tenían un tenue sabor a harina.
Pati
Feb 14
Trata de batir la masa un poco más para que se mezclen muy bien los ingredientes. Trátalo de nuevo!
Patty Lugo
Oct 08
Pati,
Me encanta ver tu programa. Me haces recordar de mi niñez, gracias por las recetas especialment los churros! Yo soy de Guadalajara, Jalisco ahora vivo en California donde te adoramos. Me siento muy orgulloza de ser Mexicana y enseñar a mis amigos tu programa en de television. Hasta mi Tia Gladys (Puerto Rico) vive en New York ve tu programa.
Patty Lugo
1564 Gary Lane
Redlands, CA 92374
pattylugo@yahoo.com
Pati
Oct 08
Uy mil gracias, Patty! Salúdame mucho a tu tia.
Karina Mitrovic
Aug 04
I am from Michoacan and I see how the basic traditions are getting lost being in another country. My mom can’t even make tamales and I would love to learn my history/culture especially through our food. So when I want to try something I come to your website and appreciate your love of Mexico and sharing it with the world. It is more than just beans and rice. So here I am looking for a churro to make my kiddoes. So thank you y mucha suerte con el futuro!
Pati
Aug 06
Oh thank you so much Karina! It makes me so happy to know you are passing on the traditions to your kids. I hope you all have lots of fun kitchen adventures!
Meg McAlister
Dec 18
Hola, Pati! We are from Mississippi and are fortunate to be spending Christmas in the Yucatan. We love every minute and every bite. Today I discovered a dessert pastry called Rosca De Reyes which contains a baby Jesus figurine! It reminds me of the King Cake served in New Orleans during Mardi Gras which also is traditionally shaped in a circle and contains a baby Jesus. Whoever gets the baby must provide the next King Cake. Could Mexico be the source of this sweet Cajun tradition?!
Pati
Dec 22
Oh in Mexico we eat Rosca de Reyes for sure! But we are not the only country to do so.
lola
Dec 14
I have been a fan for 3 years now I love your cooking
Pati
Dec 14
Oh wow! Thank you for being such a loyal fan, Iola!
Magdalena Flores
Oct 15
I just recently found your show and I’m hooked! I was wondering if I can make the churro dough and refrigerate it to fry the next day? Thank you!
Pati
Oct 31
Hm. The problem is that then it will harden and be harder to press through. If you refrigerate and then take it out and let it come to room temperature you will have more success.
Arnie
Oct 15
Hola, Pati… i made some churros today using your recipe and they were so good! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Best regards.
Pati
Oct 20
Yay!!!
Rosalie
May 01
To Prepare portion is missing on this recipe.
Can you please add it on.
Thank You
Pati
May 05
Thank you for letting us know Rosalie!
Jayme Maria
Apr 29
When I hit my goal number on the scale, I am going to reward myself with an occasional treat, and this is one of them! In the meantime, I have been feasting my eyes on your foods – thank you. By the way, the link for your cajeta isn’t working.
Pati
May 05
Thank you for sharing Jayme!
Anonymous
Mar 08
Hi Pati,
Love your show and always look forward to see every week.
You make me appreciate the real traditional Mexican food as you also
show the food in areas of the town & cities — where the foods really
look so so yummy.
I like the way you show the cooking technique which make it easy to
follow you through in the simplest way.
The food you make looks really yummy and certainly love the way you
have your kids get involved, which make me think that you are not only
a good cook but also a very good and loving “MOTHER”
More success in your show and endeavor in life.
All my best wishes to you and your family.
Pati
Mar 09
Thank you so much!
Ivanna
Dec 13
These look amazing!!!! Really hope to try these soon for my hubby 🙂
Ivanna
Dec 13
These look amazing!!!! Really hope to try these soon for my hubby 🙂
Pati
Dec 13
Thank you, Ivanna!
Nancy
Apr 12
Hi Pati,
My mom and I are a huge fan of yours! We love your show and cant wait to see the new cook book. I was searching the web for a
churros recipe, and notice most recipes call for butter instead of oil. Is there a reason why you prefer the oil over the butter when cooking the dough?
Pati
Apr 14
Haven’t tried them with butter! =)
Bruce
Feb 09
Taco Bell is selling, now, just plain, sadly they don’t offer any type of chocolate, so disappointing…so must make them…
Johanna
Oct 20
Pati! You are still the best!!
Nancy moua
Oct 15
I can’t wait to try this recipe! Where can I purchase the churros press? Thank you
Pati
Oct 15
Thank you for writing! Here is the churro maker: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CPCEYGW/ref=s9_simh_gw_p325_d16_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=146DQ68TFXVQ88V65N1M&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268722&pf_rd_i=desktop
mary machado
Sep 30
Goodmorning,
Well tried the churros but they too wet not done enough inside, 4 to 5 minutes left 1 or mjnutes still uncooked, oil 350 degrees, what did I do wrong?
Thank you Patti
Mary Machado
Terry
Sep 23
Thank you they were delicious. Been looking for this for while. Really enjoy your show. Thank you thank you…
Pati
Sep 28
My pleasure!
mary machado
Aug 31
I &my husband Richard enjoy your show very much &have trie a few recipe s but do cook mexican food start off always with tomatoes&onions con garlic.
I am going to try making churros
Your familia is precious, bless you.
Thank you,
Mary, as my husband calls me Maria Machado
Pati
Sep 06
Thank you, Mary! Hope you like the Churros.
Connie
Aug 16
Hi Pati,
I’m from New Zealand and I have yet to try an authentic churro recipe until this! Most recipes has eggs and I wonder why as they
don’t taste good at all. Thank you for your wonderful recipe as
this one would be the one and only churro recipe I’d stick to for the rest of my life!
Pati
Aug 21
Thank you, Connie!
Sandra
Jul 20
Hi Pati,
I am looking forward to trying the churros. My 4 year old grandson spent a week with me in Isla Mujeres and we had some crispy on the outside, soft on the inside churros. Loved them. I wanted to say how much I look forward to your shows. I love how much you love the food and how lovingly you describe the cooking. I also love that you actually eat and enjoy your food. Thanks for a great way to spend Saturday mornings on PBS.
Pati
Jul 23
Hi Sandra, Thank you so much for watching and for taking a minute to write to me! We eat this food all the time in my home, and it is my pleasure to share it with you. I hope the churros live up to the ones from Isla Mujeres…you will have to let me know!
Dawn Stockwell
Jul 18
I love this show!! I learn a lot and look forward to trying some of your recipes. I seen this episode, but I can’t seem to find the caramel sauce recipe you made in the copper pot.
Pati
Jul 19
Thanks, Dawn! Here you go http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/2013/02/homemade-cajeta/
Ben
Jun 27
I love Churros! I get them every time I go out and now thanks to you I get to make them on my own! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
Pati
Jul 01
Hi Ben, So happy you are going to try them! I hope you enjoy…
Karen Wood
Mar 15
It calls for vegetable oil for frying plus 1/4 cup, then it only calls for 2 tablespoons to go in the dough. Is that right; just 2 tablespoons?
Pati
Mar 16
Thanks for noticing and I corrected, it is 1/4 cup oil, thanks Karen!
Rhonda
Mar 14
Pati
Thanks for the recipe on churros, I tried them and
now iam hooked on them rhonda
Pati
Mar 14
Yay!
Rhonda
Mar 14
hi Pati
Thank you for sending me this email about churros.
This is really good, I tried them and now Iam hooked on them Thanks again Rhonda
Thomas
Mar 13
Pati,
I am always excited to try your recipes. They are all very good. I thought the authentic churro had queso fresco finely crumbled in the batter. Is that correct?
Pati
Mar 14
Well, not that I know of, Thomas. But that sounds tasty!
Rosa
Mar 12
Made them tonight and were easy and delicious!
Pati
Mar 12
Awesome!
Lorena
Mar 12
YUM!I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. Thank you, to you and your sons, for perfecting the recipe 🙂
Churros were my favorite treat during my childhood, when my mom would take us to Ciudad Juárez to shop and visit family. I’m with you, I prefer the traditional plain ones vs. the filled;)
Pati
Mar 12
Now I want to go to Ciudad Juarez to try the ones you liked…
Karen Wood
Mar 12
All of the other churro recipes that I’ve seen are made with a cream puff dough. Basically the same but with eggs. I guess they aren’t authentic. I can make these when I have a sweet tooth but no eggs! Thank you Pati..
Pati
Mar 12
Thanks for writing, Karen!
Karen Wood
Mar 16
Thank you Pati. Lol I made them with the 2 tablespoons and they weren’t that good. Texture and density was wrong. I will try again with the 1/4 cup.
Karen Wood
Mar 16
I only made a half of a batch since I wasn’t sure.
Pati
Mar 16
Smart!
Karen Wood
Mar 16
I ate them anyway too. I was in the mood for something crispy fried so they still worked 🙂