Tiny Churro Bites get paired with a Spicy Chocolate Sauce for a sweet treat that’s guaranteed to satisfy any donut, pastry, sugar or chocolate craving!
Another day, another dessert. We’ve gone a little sweets wild this month but you know what? It’s okay once in awhile plus if you are going to indulge let it be during the holiday season. Come January 1st you can jump aboard the healthy train again but in December, let’s enjoy all those cookies, cakes and chocolates.
Also today is my birthday and if I want to eat fresh churros, I’m going to do it!
You should always get to eat whatever you want on your birthday, the calories don’t count then anyway right? Well it’s what I’m going to tell myself for one day a year at least.
I don’t have many birthday traditions but one of my favorites the last few years has been a birthday shopping spree. For a few years Braden will drop me off at a store of my choosing, cash in hand and will tell my to have fun. He’s the best husband isn’t he?
I’m not one for shoes, fancy clothes, makeup or jewelry. What gets my heart a flutter is the housewares section. I have always been this way, pretty pots, pans, serving ware, kitchen gadgets, glasses. You name it, I want it.
Now considering the size of our apartment, this is a bad habit to have but I can’t help myself. I just consider it all “part of the job”. Some people have to buy nice clothes for their job, I have to buy nice kitchen supplies. At least that’s what I told myself after I discovered Restaurantware – pretty much the perfect source for my habit and maybe yours too?
Restaurantware is especially perfect for this time of year and stocking up for holiday entertaining needs. I picked out a bunch of glasses that are just the right size for small bites or holding chocolates, mini pots for dips (like my chocolate) and that fry basket! Can it be any more perfect for these churro bites?
In general, I have a pretty strict no frying policy. It’s not because I don’t like fried foods (oh I do, I really do), it’s that I don’t want to deal with frying at home. However, sometimes you have to treat yourself and sometimes baked versions of fried foods just won’t cut it.
Sure, churros are simple a pate a choux dough that’s been fried and that dough is easily baked but would it taste the same? No it doesn’t!
Plus like I said, it’s my birthday and I wanted to eat freshly fried hot churros! If you are going to do it, do it right!
Turns out the frying wasn’t so bad after all either. A deep pot, a clean organized kitchen, an open window and a vent helped keep things under control.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoons cane sugar + 1 cup
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon + 1 1/2 teaspoons
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- vegetable oil for frying
- 2 cups whole milk
- 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60% cacao)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat combine the butter, sugar, cinnamon and water. Heat until the butter is melted and then add the flour. With a wooden spoon, mix the flour with the water and cook for about 2-3 minutes until the raw flour taste is cooked out. The dough will form into a ball and roll around the pan.
- Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes before adding the egg, it'll look curdled at first but the egg will combine the with the rest of the dough.
- Let the dough cool down for about 10 minutes before adding to a pastry bag filled with a large star tip.
- Fill a large pot ( a dutch oven works best) with oil, until it's about 2 inches deep. Attach a fry thermometer and heat the oil until it reaches 375 degrees.
- You can pipe the dough directly into the oil but I found it easier to pipe the shapes onto parchment paper. Pipe small circles or 3 in long sticks. Whatever you prefer.
- When the oil comes to temperature very carefully drop the piped dough in and fry for 2 minutes, using chopsticks to flip the dough over for even browning.
- Make sure now to crowd the pot when you fry, best to do no more than 5-6 at a time.
- In between batches make sure the oil comes back up to the correct temperature otherwise the churros will be greasy.
- Drain on a paper towel before toss with cinnamon sugar.
- For the cinnamon sugar, place the 1 cup of sugar with 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a brow paper bag or large bowl and mix together.
- To make the chocolate sauce - in a medium sauce pan combine the milk, chocolate, cornstarch, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and salt. Bring to a simmer and stir until the chocolate is melted. Bring up to a boil and then back down to a simmer, the sauce should be thickened at this point.
- Serve the dipping sauce hot with the churros.
- Churros are best eaten the day they are made.
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This post is sponsored on behalf of Restaurantware. As always all opinions are my own and thanks for supporting brands that I work with.
Well firstly a very, very happy birthday to you. These churros look so tempting, especially with that spicy sauce to go with them. Mmmm just thinking about them makes my mouth water. I’m the same with home frying, but you know, I think I have to break out of that mould and give these little lovelies a try. Thanks for a fab post. Sammie.
Thank you Sammie! I absolutely think these are worth breaking the no fry at home rule. Like I said, somethings like donuts and “fried” chicken you bake and have it taste just as delicious as a the deep fried version. You just can’t pull that off with churros!
First of all, Happy birthday! Secondly, I’m in love with the idea of making these at home. Any time I see churros, I get a nostalgic feeling for the time I lived in Spain and churros con chocolate where a weekly thing. Definitely worth the mess and hassle of frying in your house to recreate that deliciousness.
Thank you! Spain is on my travel to-go list for the very near future and I keep dreaming of churros and jamon. Plenty of both!
churros…YUM and I NEED that fry basket like ASAP
I love this fry basket so much. Makes me want to fry more things!
I love your version of sweets gone wild! What’s life without a few sugar-coated churros. These look amazing.
Oh how I would just be in heaven with these, and dunked in chocolate… perfect
UM I need a husband who will drop me off with money to buy props 😀 I think this is the perfect recipe to celebrate any birthday because hello churros and chocolate sauce!
Churros are so gooooood! I love that you made them mini and paired them with the most delicious sounding spicy chocolate sauce. So good!
This is a lovely photo!
These are definitely birthday worthy! I love churros and the spicy chocolate sauces sounds perfect for dunking.
Where do I begin to tell you how much I love this. The styling, the colors…the churros! And I always eat cheesecake on my birthday. 😉
Anita is this a hint that you want me to make and deliver a cheesecake on your birthday? 😉
MY birthday is actually coming up next week now, and damn, churros sound like a great idea!
How about we find some churros in Charleston?
Yesssss! LET’S DO THIS.
I can’t get over how gorgeous these photos are, Susan!! You hit it out of the park on this one. The churros looks insane, too. So freaking yummy!