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You are here: Home » Mexican Desserts

Churros Mexicanos (Authentic Churros Recipe)

Published: Dec 2, 2018 · Updated: Aug 13, 2021 by Mely Martínez

JUMP TO RECIPE

If you are looking for an authentic churros recipe, then you have come to the right place! These churros Mexicanos are light, golden and crispy fried pastries dusted with sugar and cinnamon powder. Sounds delicious, am I right? Luckily, this is an 'easy to follow' recipe! 

Authentic Mexican Churro recipe

Do you like fried dough and sugar? Then, you will probably like churros Mexicanos!

Jump to:
  • The History Behind Churros
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Mexican Churros
  • Churros Mexicano Recipe
  • How To Make Churros: Step by Step Tutorial
  • More Dessert Recipes To Enjoy
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

If you are asking yourself, "What are churros?", I'll tell you all about them. Churros are long sticks of dough that are fried and dusted with sugar. Sometimes, you'll find them dusted with cinnamon instead- or even filled with chocolate or cream.

This has to be one of my favorite desserts to eat and make for my whole family!

The History Behind Churros

Many people tend to wonder where churros originally come from. Well, let me tell you.

The churro that we know today hails from Spain, but the technique of frying dough is believed to have originated in China and introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by Portuguese sailors.

After this, the tradition of churros and other similar fried pastries made their way to the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in America.

Where To Find Churros Mexicanos In Mexico And The US

In Mexico, churros are sold by street vendors in places like shopping centers, municipal markets, or the town fair. Churros can also be found at many Mexican bakeries and on the menus of some restaurants. Additionally, there are the “churrerías”, which are shops dedicated to selling churros (and sometimes other fried pastries).

Churreria el Moro

One of the most popular places to eat churros in Mexico City is the Churreria "El Moro", a business that was founded in 1935 by brothers Francisco y José Iriarte. Nowadays, there are several Churrerias "El Moro around the city and the State of Mexico.

Churro el moro cdmx

Here in the states, churros can be found in cities with a large Mexican population, where they are sold in Latin stores and in some restaurants.

Most people I have met, whether it was here or in Mexico, love these Mexican churros!

churros mexicanos with cinnamon sugar

Frequently Asked Questions About Mexican Churros

Before I share my churros recipe, here are a few questions I've been asked about homemade churros.

What are the most common toppings on a churro?

Wherever you find churros, the most common topping for them is plain white sugar. Some vendors add a little bit of ground cinnamon to make “cinnamon sugar”, but the most common topping is white sugar by itself.

Besides being dusted with sugar, churros can also be found stuffed with a variety of fillings. The first popular filling was chocolate, followed by Cajeta (or other forms of dulce de leche) and strawberry jam.

Nowadays, you can find some places that sell churros filled with vanilla pastry cream, condensed milk, Rompope, and jams ranging from blackberry to guava.

What kind of dough do you use to make churros?

The dough used to make churros is made out of all-purpose flour, eggs, water, and some sort of fat like oil, margarine or butter.

This is essentially a choux dough, but there are many recipe variations for this Mexican dessert out there, including one that appears very often in vintage cooking books that do not use eggs.

The eggless churro recipe only uses flour, water, and a pinch of salt. There are some old recipes books, like the one from Maria A. de Carbia (Circa 1952), that don’t even include salt in the recipe. Simply flour and water, fried in hot oil and dusted with sugar.

Even today, many people still claim this to be the "authentic Mexican churro" recipe.

How do I make the perfect churro?

Many people try to make use of an elaborate churro recipe but always end up with weird or not fully cooked churros.

But, what is the issue with this simple recipe? In my opinion, simplicity is key!

When making churros (or any baked good), it's important to pay very close attention to not only the recipe but the ingredients. Many home cooks (and even some professional chefs) end up with a dessert that explodes if the recipe is not well prepared.

You need to have a well-mixed dough, the oil has to be at the right temperature, and you have to avoid touching churros or the oil while it is bubbling, or your churros will explode. Additionally, the dough is a little bit hard to work with if you are not using a proper churro machine.

Small details but it makes all the difference and it can keep you from making the perfect churro.

What supplies do I need to make these churros at home?

To make this fried dessert at home, you will need a pastry bag and a star-shaped tip. You can buy this set on Amazon, which includes several bags and tips (I use the “1M” tip).

There is also a churro gun you can buy which is quite fun to use, but given the price, it’s only worth the investment if you plan to make a lot of churros (or make churros frequently).

Can churros be made ahead of time?

Yes, they can be made ahead of time, but this brings us to another question...

How do you reheat churros?

I’ve tried reheating churros in the oven at low temperature, but they always come out dry and don’t taste as nearly good as freshly made ones.

If you really want to make them ahead of time, I’d recommend taking the churros out of the oil before they’re fully cooked, so that they can continue to cook in the oven whenever you reheat them. Remember to not dust the churros with sugar until you’re ready to serve them (If they have sugar when baking in the oven, it’ll melt and turn into syrup).

Can you make the dough in advance?

You can make the dough in advance and store it in the fridge (the dough will keep for up to 2 days in the fridge). Just make sure to bring it to room temperature before using it to make this dessert.

The dough needs to be very soft before using, otherwise, the churros will be raw inside.

Mexican churros with sugar

Churros Mexicano Recipe

Here is the list of ingredients you will need:  

  • Water
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Large egg
  • Vegetable oil
  • Sugar
  • Ground cinnamon (optional)

Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!

JUMP TO SEE INGREDIENTS & INSTRUCTIONS

Cooking Tips:

  • Prepare a tray or plate covered with a paper towel to place the churros on after frying.
  • Mix the sugar and cinnamon and place it in a shallow dish to coat the churros.
  • You can either squeeze the dough from the pastry bag directly into the hot oil or form them first and place them on a tray lined with parchment paper before frying, as you see in the photos.
  • I used a laser thermometer to check the temperature of the oil, but you can also use a candy thermometer.
  • The best choice of oil for frying the dough is canola or vegetable oil.

How To Make Churros: Step by Step Tutorial

To make things easier for you, I am going to breakdown the directions to this recipe into sections.

Make The Churro Dough

First things first- preheat the frying oil at 320 degrees while you make the churro dough. You can use a candy thermometer to check the temperature.

  • While the oil is heating up, place the water, vanilla extract, salt, and butter in a saucepan at medium-high heat.
  • Once it comes to a rolling boil, stir in the sifted flour all at once. It is very important that the water is boiling to ensure that the dough will render crispy churros.
steps to making churro dough
  • Mix the dough vigorously using a wooden spoon or spatula. You have to do this step very quickly!
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat, wait about a minute, then add the egg.
  • Keep mixing until the egg is completely integrated into the dough (you can use a mixer for this step). In the beginning, the dough will want to separate after adding the egg but keep mixing until the ingredients are well combined and you have a smooth and soft dough that separates from the bottom of the pot. This step will take a few minutes.
step by step to make Mexican churro dough

Prep The Pastry Bag

  • Place the dough in the pastry bag fitted with a star-shaped tip. Make sure there aren’t any bubbles of air in the dough while you place it inside the bag.
prepping pastry bag to pipe churros

Pipe The Churros and Cook

  • Pipe 6-inch strips of dough on a prepared tray and then fry them (see notes). You can also pipe the strips of dough directly into the hot oil, cutting them with your kitchen scissors.
  • The oil will start bubbling when you add the raw churro, and at this point, you must not touch the oil or the churro, to avoid having an explosion.
  • Fry the churros for about 2 to 2.5 minutes in the hot oil until golden brown (in total it should take 4-5 minutes to cook each churro), and then turn the churros to have an even crispiness and golden color.
cooking churros in hot oil

Eat And Enjoy!

  • Once they are golden, remove from the heat, place on the paper towel to drain for a few seconds, and then roll in the sugar.

I hope you enjoy your crispy churros!

crispy sugar churros

What To Serve With Churros

When I serve this Mexican dessert recipe, I like to make some cafe de olla to go with it! I also like to serve it with a chocolate sauce or dulce de leche to dip it in.

How to make Authentic Mexican Churros Recipe

More Dessert Recipes To Enjoy

If you enjoyed this recipe for churros, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:

  • Chimbo Sweet Bread
  • Buñuelos de Viento
  • Homemade Mexican Flan
  • Chocolate Tamales
  • Carlota De Limon

I hope you make this recipe for Mexican churros! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!

¡Buen provecho!

Mely,

📖 Recipe

churros recipe authentic Mexican - 3

Churros Recipe

Mely Martínez
Churros are a golden and crispy fried pastries dusted with sugar and cinnamon powder. This is an easy to follow recipe. Enjoy them today!
4.75 from 47 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Desserts
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 churros
Calories 118 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • ⅛ tsp. salt
  • 2 tbsp. Butter
  • 1 cup of flour sifted at least 2 times. (140 grams)
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2½ cups vegetable oil for frying the churros
  • Sugar to dust
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon Optional

Instructions
 

Please read all the notes and instructions before you start cooking. It is very important in order to have great results.

  • Preheat the oil at 320F degrees while you make the churro batter. You can use a candy thermometer to check the temperature.
  • Place the water, vanilla extract, salt, and butter in a saucepan at medium- high heat.
  • Once it comes to a rolling boil, stir in the flour all at once. It is very important that the water is boiling to ensure that the dough will render crispy churros.
  • Mix the dough vigorously using a wooden spoon or spatula. You have to do this step very quickly.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat, wait about a minute, then add the egg. Keep mixing until the egg is completely integrated into the dough (you can use a mixer for this step). In the beginning, the dough will want to separate after adding the egg, but keep mixing until the ingredients are well combined and you have a smooth and soft dough that separates from the bottom of the pot. This step will take a few minutes.
  • Place the dough in the pastry bag fitted with a star-shaped tip. Make sure there aren’t any bubbles of air in the dough while you place it inside the bag.
  • Pipe 6-inch strips of dough on a prepared tray and then fry them (see notes).  You can also pipe the strips of dough directly into the hot oil, cutting them with your kitchen scissors. The oil will start bubbling when you add the raw churro, and at this point you must not touch the oil or the churro, to avoid having an explosion.
  • Fry the churros for about 2 to 2.5 minutes in hot oil ( 320F)  until golden brown (in total it should take 4-5 minutes to cook each churro), and then turn the churros to have an even crispiness and golden color.
  • Once they are golden, remove from the heat, place on the paper towel to drain for a few seconds, and then roll in the sugar.

I hope you enjoy your Crispy Churros!

    Notes

    • *Prepare a tray or plate covered with paper towel to place the churros on after frying.
    • * Mix the sugar and cinnamon and place it in a shallow dish to coat the churros.
    • *You can either squeeze the churros from the pastry bag directly into the hot oil or form them first and place them on a tray lined with parchment paper before frying, as you see in the photos.
    • * I used a laser thermometer to check the temperature of the oil, but you can also use a candy thermometer.
    • * The best choice of oil for frying the churros is canola or vegetable oil.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 44mgPotassium: 16mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 80IUCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.6mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anel

      August 14, 2021 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      Those churros where so easy to make, I’m just wandering if I could freeze them before I frying them, I want to make churros for my wedding and I’m trying to save me some time 😅.
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        August 18, 2021 at 1:56 pm

        Hello Anel,
        I know some people freeze the dough, but I have never seen anyone freezing the already shaped churros. If you do, let me know how it goes,

        Reply
    2. Victor Hernandez

      April 23, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Mely,
      My dad used to sell churros when we lived in Monterrey, Mexico. The taste of these churros reminded me of him.

      Thank you.
      Victor Hernandez

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        April 24, 2021 at 12:26 pm

        Hello Victor,
        Oh, wow! That is good to know, I love the churros sold across the street from the Mercado Juarez in Monterrey. I live in Monterrey for several years. Nice memories, too.

        Reply
    3. Adam Starry

      October 20, 2020 at 4:28 pm

      Thank you very much Mrs. Martinez, I always try to go authentic and do right by the tradition so I know my wife and I get to try the real deal. The way you explain everything and take pictures is perfect. When I was a kid churros were always a special treat and I havent had any since my late teens and I am now In my 30s and plan on surprising my wife when she gets home from work with a fresh batch. This recipe will be added to my official family hand-me-down cook book so we can enjoy it for generations (its just a PDF saved to a thumb drive and a print out in a folder, nothing published, I hope you dont mind.) So sorry for the long comment!

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        October 21, 2020 at 11:47 am

        Hello Adam.
        Have fun and please do read all the instructions carefully. Churros are kind of tricky to make for those making them for the first time.

        Reply
        • Glenda Knox

          May 22, 2021 at 12:19 am

          I love your recipe. It is awesome. I was curious about the coating. I have been to numerous Mexican restaurants, some drizzle a chocolate sauce and add whipped cream. Is this authentic?

        • Mely Martínez

          May 22, 2021 at 9:45 am

          Hello Glenda,
          No, that is not a common topping for churros.

    4. Juana de Ponce

      January 16, 2020 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for the step by step photos. I prefer photos that videos, I know, weird!
      My kids were begging for churros like the ones they had when we go to Mexico. Muchas gracias, hice double la receta.

      Reply
      • William

        March 12, 2020 at 4:14 pm

        I don't have any piping tips or bags and I cannot see buying them for just one recipe. Are they a must when making churros?

        Reply
        • Mely Martínez

          March 13, 2020 at 10:45 am

          Hello William,
          Some people just cut a hole to a freezer bag to make them and others use a plastic bottle cap and cut out a star shape to it, place it inside the bag with the dough.

    5. Makayla

      December 18, 2019 at 8:52 am

      5 stars
      I tried this recipe among other recipes and this was by far my favorite recipe that I tried

      Reply
    6. lesley fay

      September 30, 2019 at 12:26 am

      Hi my Churros I make from a churro machine they taste delicious but when they hit the oil the expand and end of quite large it’s like they rise in the oil ! Is this due to the flour I used a cream flour

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        September 30, 2019 at 8:52 am

        Hello Lesley,
        For the flour, use all purpose flour.

        Reply
    7. John Sam

      July 21, 2019 at 12:32 am

      Could you recommend a substitute for the butter for a child with milk allergies?

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        July 22, 2019 at 8:52 pm

        Hello John,
        Use vegetable oil. You can even use olive oil but you will taste its flavor.

        Reply
    8. Sandy Díaz Wright

      March 25, 2019 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for the recipes. My kids now want me to make churros every weekend!

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        March 26, 2019 at 12:02 pm

        Hello Sandy,
        I bet your kids are more than happy about it!

        Reply
    9. Ella

      March 09, 2019 at 1:21 pm

      What type of flour do you recommend for this recipe? I have all-purpose and bread at home and was wondering if I could use one of those? This recipe sounds amazing by the way. Cannot wait to try it!

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        March 09, 2019 at 4:23 pm

        Hello Ella,
        All-purpose flour.

        Reply
    10. Cristy cajeta

      March 03, 2019 at 5:40 am

      Canl i stock the raw churros without putting on the refrigerator? Because i'm planning of having a kiosk in a canteen and i want to prepare ahead..thnks mam

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        March 03, 2019 at 11:14 pm

        Hello Cristy,
        Not sure since they have egg, it gets spoil soon.

        Reply
    11. Riya Yerramilli

      January 24, 2019 at 3:34 am

      5 stars
      Me gusto este receta mucho. este churros es los mejores churros que he tenido. el sabor es fantástico y también los churros estuvieron muy crujientes.

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        January 24, 2019 at 10:06 am

        Hola Riya,
        So glad to know you like them. Enjoy your churros!

        Reply
    12. Margarita

      December 10, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      I have often countered "stuffed" churros that have caramel in the center; how do I accomplish that?I

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        December 14, 2018 at 6:40 pm

        They are made using a larger tip to form the churros, they are stuffed with a special tool. You can use the following tool to accomplish the same effect at home. https://amzn.to/2Eo1hNo

        Reply
    13. cp

      December 03, 2018 at 11:57 am

      how do you store them to prevent them from hardening or getting soggy?

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        December 03, 2018 at 12:49 pm

        I place them in a plastic container and store in my pantry. But, without dusting them with sugar. And, only for 1- 2 days. I wrote a note about it above.

        Reply
    14. Tracy

      December 02, 2018 at 4:12 pm

      I didn't see what temperature the oil should be, only to use the thermometer to make sure it's the right temp. Could you tell me what it needs to be so I can make these delicious churro's.

      Reply
      • mmartinez

        December 02, 2018 at 4:14 pm

        Hello Tracy, Thank you for catching that. It's 320 F degrees. You have to adjust it everytime you place a new batch of churros, the oil's temperature lowers after you place them. if you see that you churros are getting too brown around the edges too soon, lower the heat.

        Reply

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    ABOUT ME

    Mexico in my kitchen | Mely Martinez

    Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.

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