Healthy Air Fryer Churro Bites
Crispy, cinnamon-sugar coated churro bites made healthier in the air fryer. These naturally vegan treats deliver all the delicious flavor of traditional churros with significantly less oil and guilt-free indulgence.
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Piping bag with star tip (or Ziploc bag)
- Kitchen shears
- Small mixing bowl
- Tongs
Ingredients
- For the Churro Dough:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil canola or vegetable
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Cooking spray or melted butter for brushing
Instructions
- Prepare the coating: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.
- Make the dough: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine water, oil, 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves.
- Form the dough: Remove from heat and immediately add flour all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a smooth ball and pulls away from sides of pan. Let cool for 2-3 minutes.
- Add optional ingredients: If using, stir in Greek yogurt and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Preheat air fryer: Set air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and preheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Shape the churros: Transfer dough to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe 1-2 inch portions directly into the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece. Use kitchen shears to cut dough from tip.
- Cook: Lightly spray churros with cooking oil. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through with tongs, until golden brown and crispy.
- Coat: Immediately transfer hot churros to cinnamon sugar mixture and toss until evenly coated.
- Serve: Enjoy warm for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Storage: Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat in air fryer for 2-3 minutes to restore crispiness.
- Freezing: Freeze cooked churros for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in air fryer.
- Gluten-Free: Substitute 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Cooking time may need adjustment.
- Oil-Free Option: While minimal oil is used, you can experiment with reducing it further, though texture may be affected.
- Scaling: Recipe doubles easily for larger batches. Cook in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Alternative Shapes: Can be made as full-size churros (4-6 inches) or swirl shapes with adjusted cooking time.