Making churros in an air fryer oven is an easy way to enjoy a golden, crisp dessert without deep-frying in a pot of oil. This recipe uses a simple cooked dough made with water, butter, brown sugar, cake flour, and egg. The dough is piped onto a lined baking tray, air fried until crisp, then finished with a light cinnamon-sugar coating.
The churros cook in Air Fryer mode at 200°C (392°F) for approximately 10 minutes, until golden brown and crisp on the outside.
For the best result, use an open-star piping tip to create the classic ridges. Those ridges give the churros more surface area, helping them crisp more evenly in the air fryer oven. After cooking, lightly brush the warm churros with melted butter before adding cinnamon sugar. This small step matters because air-fried churros are drier on the surface than deep-fried churros, so the butter helps the coating stick evenly.
Why Make Churros in an Air Fryer Oven?
Traditional churros are deep-fried, but an air fryer oven offers a less oily way to make a similar treat at home. You still get a cooked, golden exterior and a soft interior, but you do not need to fill a pan with oil.
This recipe is designed for an air fryer oven and a baking tray. The dough is piped directly onto baking paper, then cooked using circulating hot air. Make sure there is space between each churro so the air can move around the dough during cooking.
If you are using an air fryer for the first time, start with the air fryer first-time guide for general setup and safety basics.
Serve the churros warm with cinnamon sugar, chocolate dipping sauce, or both.
Ingredients
For the Air Fryer Churro Dough
- 75 g water
- 10 g brown sugar
- A pinch of salt
- 38 g butter
- 50 g low-gluten flour (cake flour)
- 1 egg
Cake flour is the practical U.S. equivalent for low-gluten flour. All-purpose flour can also work in a pinch, but cake flour gives the churros a softer, more tender interior.
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A little melted butter, for brushing
Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl before the churros finish cooking.
Optional for Serving
- Chocolate dipping sauce
Chocolate sauce is optional, but it is a classic match for cinnamon-sugar churros. Serve it warm in a small bowl alongside the finished churros.
Equipment You Will Need
- A saucepan
- A sturdy spoon or heat-safe spatula
- A piping bag
- An open-star piping tip, such as a Wilton 1M
- A baking tray
- Baking paper
- A pastry brush
- An air fryer oven
The open-star tip is important for creating defined ridges. A round piping tip will make smooth dough sticks instead of traditional-looking churros. The ridged shape also helps the outside develop a more even crisp texture.
How to Make Churros in an Air Fryer Oven
1. Heat the water, butter, sugar, and salt
Add the water, brown sugar, salt, and butter to a saucepan. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
Stir as needed so the butter melts and the brown sugar dissolves into the liquid.
2. Add the cake flour
Once the mixture is boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the cake flour and mix thoroughly until the flour is fully incorporated.
The dough should begin to come together quickly. Keep stirring until there are no visible dry patches of flour.
3. Cook the dough over low heat
Return the saucepan to low heat. Continue stirring until the dough moves easily around the pan and forms a smooth ball.
This step helps remove excess moisture and gives the dough a texture that is easier to pipe. The finished dough should pull away from the sides of the saucepan rather than spreading like batter.
4. Cool slightly and add the egg
Turn off the heat and allow the dough to cool slightly. Add the egg and mix until the dough becomes smooth, glossy, and elastic.
At first, the dough may look separated after you add the egg. Keep mixing until it comes back together into one smooth mixture.
5. Pipe the churros
Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with an open-star tip. Line a baking tray with baking paper, then pipe the dough into long strips.
You can make straight churros, curved shapes, or short churro bites. Keep the pieces similar in size so they cook evenly.
Leave space between the churros. Do not overcrowd the tray, as proper airflow is essential for even browning in an air fryer oven.
6. Air fry until golden and crisp
Set the air fryer oven to Air Fryer mode at 200°C (392°F).
Place the baking tray on the middle rack of your air fryer oven. This helps the hot air circulate evenly without browning the tops too quickly.
Cook the churros for approximately 10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crisp on the outside.
For timing and temperature ranges for other foods, use the air fryer cooking-times guide as a starting point.
While the churros are still warm, brush them very lightly with melted butter. Do not soak them—the goal is simply to create a thin layer that helps the cinnamon sugar adhere.
Coat the Churros in Cinnamon Sugar
Combine the 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
After brushing each warm churro with a little melted butter, gently roll it in the cinnamon sugar until evenly coated. The butter helps solve a common air fryer churro problem: without frying oil on the surface, dry cinnamon sugar may slide off instead of sticking.
Coat the churros shortly after cooking, while they are still warm. This gives you the best coverage and the most familiar cinnamon-sugar finish.
Serve With Chocolate Sauce
Serve the churros immediately for the best texture. They are especially good with chocolate dipping sauce on the side.
You can also serve them with:
- Dulce de leche
- Caramel sauce
- A dusting of extra cinnamon sugar
- Fresh berries
For more ideas like this, browse the air fryer recipe collection.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Churros
- Use cake flour for a softer, more tender interior.
- Use an open-star piping tip for classic churro ridges.
- Keep the churros evenly sized.
- Leave space between the strips on the tray.
- Cook at 200°C/392°F for about 10 minutes.
- Brush lightly with melted butter before coating.
- Roll in cinnamon sugar while still warm.
- Serve immediately for the best crisp texture.
Storage Note
Air fryer churros are best served fresh. If you have leftovers, refrigerate them within two hours of cooking in a refrigerator kept at 40°F/4°C or below.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. This recipe makes churros in an air fryer oven using a lined baking tray instead of deep-frying in oil.
Air fry the churros at 200°C (392°F).
Cook them for about 10 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.
Use an open-star tip, such as a Wilton 1M. It creates the ridged shape associated with classic churros.
Air-fried churros do not have the oily surface of deep-fried churros. A light brush of melted butter helps the cinnamon sugar stick evenly.
All-purpose flour can work in a pinch, but cake flour is preferred because it creates a softer, more tender interior.
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