These Air Fryer Churros Are the Easiest Homemade Churros I’ve Ever Made, and They're Abuela-Approved

Air Fryer Churros

Plated Cravings

Don’t refrigerate the piped churro batter longer than one hour or it will dry out.
Use a 1M piping tip for best results.

For the Batter:
1 cup water
1/3 cup unsalted butter, cubed
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
Oil spray

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Put a silicone baking mat on a baking sheet and spray with oil spray.
In a medium saucepan, add water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce heat to medium-low and add flour to the saucepan, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula until the dough comes together and is smooth.
Remove from heat and transfer the dough to a mixing bowl. Let cool for four minutes.
Add eggs and vanilla extract to the mixing bowl and mix using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until dough comes together. The mixture will look like gluey mashed potatoes. Use your hands to press lumps together into a ball and transfer to a large piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped tip.
Pipe churros onto the greased baking mat, into four-inch lengths and cut end with scissors.
Refrigerate piped churros on the baking sheet for one hour.
Carefully transfer churros with a cookie spatula to the air fryer basket, leaving about 1/2-inch space between churros. Spray churros with oil spray. Depending on the size of your air fryer you have to fry them in batches.
Air fry at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
In a shallow bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon.
Immediately transfer baked churros to the bowl with the sugar mixture and toss to coat, working in batches. Serve warm with Nutella or chocolate dipping sauce.