Churro Recipe (Disney Copycat Churros) + Video

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This churro recipe uses simple ingredients and is a copycat for Disney churro bites. Learn how to make cinnamon churros from scratch right at home! This is my favorite Mexican dessert! 

titled: homemade churros recipe


 

This easy churro recipe makes the most delicious homemade churros I have ever had. They are soft and light on the inside with a lightly crispy outside.

Coated with cinnamon sugar and paired with a sweet dip, these are the ultimate dessert! 

Make them yourself with the official Disney Parks recipe and enjoy them anytime you want.

This easy churros recipe proves that you can have your own fried dough once that craving hits. 

churro recipe dough in a large saucepan

Churro Recipe

If all you’ve ever had are the frozen and reheated churros, you are in for a definite treat with this easy Disney churro recipe.

The secret? Making them from scratch, of course! 

Not only will you learn how to make churros in your very own kitchen, but I have a few tips for frying them with perfect results.

Missing Disney? Try a homemade version of their famous Dole Whip or Butterfinger Cupcakes

I’ve even got copycat recipes for tonga toastcorn dogs, or a Cafe Orleans Monte Cristo sandwich if you’re craving something savory.

churro dough in a bowl and piping bag

How To Make Cinnamon Churros

While these treats may look a bit intimidating, they are relatively easy to make.

Since this Disney churro recipe involves squeezing the batter into hot oil, you will need a large piping bag fitted with an open star tip. 

That’s what gives your cinnamon churros their distinctive shape!

  1. Make the dough. Heat the water, butter, salt, and cinnamon in a pan on the stove. Whisk in the flour, then let it rest. 

    After several minutes, stir in the eggs one at a time and set the mixture aside.
  2. Heat the oil. Bring oil to 350°F in a deep skillet or saucepan.
  3. Fry the dough. Spoon dough into the piping bag. Squeeze out 1-inch strips, slicing them off into the hot oil with a knife. 

    Cook until golden brown, then remove and drain on a paper towel.
  4. Coat in sugar. While your homemade churros are still warm, toss them in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar until well coated.
slicing churro dough into pot of oil as it comes out of piping bag

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Get your oil just right. Check the temperature using a candy thermometer. Too hot, and your Disney churros will burn.

    Too cold, and they will soak up the oil instead.
  • Use the right piping tip. A star tip gives more definition to the ridges, making those edges nice and crispy.

    Also be sure to have a sturdy piping bag so that you can make the best churros possible. 

    The more closed the star tip is, the crispier the edges will be.
  • Let the dough rest. If you add the eggs to warm dough, they may end up scrambled. No one wants bits of egg in their churro!
  • Don’t crowd the pan! Only fry a few pieces at a time. Adding too many will lower the temperature of the oil or cause the bites to be unevenly browned.
  • Be sure to drain. Get rid of any excess oil before tossing in cinnamon sugar, or your treats will be too greasy.
frying disney churro bites

Kitchen Tools You Will Need 

  • Medium Saucepan – Heats evenly and is easy to clean too.
  • Deep Skillet – This is my go-to pan that I’ve had for over a decade!
  • Piping Bags – Disposable means fewer things to wash!
  • Large Open Star Tip – I like the Wilton 4B tip, and it’s easy to find at supermarkets and craft stores.
  • Slotted Spoon or Spider Strainer for fishing out your churro bites

Disney Churro Recipe FAQ

What is a churro? 

Churros are fried pastries. They are popular in Spain, Mexico, many Latin-American countries, and (of course) the United States. Some are long and thick, while others are thin and twisted in shape.

They can resemble a donut or cruller and are made from unsweetened dough. Once fried, they are sprinkled with sugar or cinnamon sugar depending on the recipe.

What is the best way to eat churros? 

With a tasty dip, of course! These Disney churros are certainly sweet enough on their own, but I highly recommend adding one of these sweet dips:

No-Fail Caramel Sauce
Double Chocolate Hot Fudge Sauce
Simple Homemade Chocolate Syrup

You can easily vary the dipping sauce for these hot churros, so have fun trying out different flavors. 

I’m all about homemade chocolate sauce for these fried dough sticks, but fresh churros are versatile in how they are eaten. 

Classic churros really do rely on the cinnamon-sugar mixture to be the star of the show, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun. 

You can even add the cinnamon sugar mixture to these Spanish churros and have a dipping sauce, too! 

Is this homemade churro recipe hard? 

Not at all. It’s actually an easy recipe to make. Just take your time, follow the steps on the recipe card to make the churro dough, and focus on deep frying it to golden brown perfection. 

Fried churros might seem daunting, but I can assure you you’ll be able to make the perfect churros in no time at all. The crisp edges paired with the soft dough make the best churro recipe ever! 

This delicious dessert will have you whipping up a second batch in no time at all. Everyone will love how these Mexican churros taste! 

churro bites in mesh strainer above pot of oil

Prep Ahead Instructions

Homemade churros really are best when prepared fresh. That said, you can make the dough up to a day in advance if needed.

Follow this easy churro recipe through the step when you stir in the eggs. Allow the dough to cool, then wrap tightly in plastic and place it in the refrigerator.

When you’re ready to fry, bring the dough back to room temperature before transferring to a piping bag.

bowl of mini cinnamon churros

How To Store Homemade Churros

When you make this churro recipe, it’s best to eat them warm as soon as they’re made. But, if you want to save them for a few days, you can.

Just place the cooled churros in a plastic bag or airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.

You can also freeze your Disney churro bites for up to 4 weeks. 

Since they lose their crunch when frozen, you can try warming them in the oven to restore some of the crispiness.

Arrange them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Then, place them in the oven for 5 to 8 minutes at 375°F.

dipping homemade churros in chocolate sauce

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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overhead: plate of churro bites with bowl of chocolate dip

    churro bites with chocolate sauce for dipping

    Churro Recipe (Disney Copycat Churros) + Video

    Donna Elick
    This churro recipe uses simple ingredients and is a copycat for Disney churro bites. Learn how to make cinnamon churros from scratch!
    5 stars from 4 reviews
    Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Mexican
    Method Stovetop
    Servings 8 people

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup water
    • 8 tablespoons butter
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
    • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil, or peanut or canola oil, for frying
    • 1/2 cup sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Combine water, butter, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in 1 1/2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring the pot to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to low.
    • Add flour and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat and allow it to rest for 5-7 minutes.
    • Add eggs, one at a time, and stir until combined. Set aside.
    • Using caution, heat oil in a heavy bottomed frying skillet or 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat or until temperature reaches 350˚F.
    • Spoon dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over the saucepan, cut with a knife, and drop into the hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill saucepan with room to fry.
    • Fry churro bites until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon or mesh spider strainer and drain on paper towels.
    • Mix sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl. Toss in churro bites until coated. Place on serving plate and serve with favorite dipping sauce.
    • This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version. As a reminder, while preparing this recipe, please supervise children who are helping or nearby.

    Video

    Donna’s Notes

    This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version. As a reminder, while preparing this recipe, please supervise children who are helping or nearby.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3pieces | Calories: 424cal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 188mg | Sugar: 13g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

    All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    churros recipe pinterest image

    Originally published May 2020, updated and republished March 2024

    Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

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    10 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      I made this as a dessert for me and my kids, and we all loved it. It is so sweet, airy, and delicious. It was a great recipe to switch it up and try a new dessert!

    2. 5 stars
      absolutely amazing! donna and chad’s recipes never disappoint, and this one is no exception. so easy to make, and the churros turned out delicious! 5 stars!

    3. 5 stars
      donna’s churro recipe is a winner! I added a pinch of nutmeg for some extra flavor, and it turned out fantastic. So easy to make, and it tasted just like the ones at Disney. 5 stars!

    4. 5 stars
      I’m a huge fan of The Slow Roasted Italian, and this churro recipe is a winner. It’s like bringing a piece of Disney home! Loved it!

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