Chilean Churros — Homemade Churros with Manjar and Chocolate Recipe

Versión en Español

Homemade churros are a simple dough of flour, boiling salted water, piped through a churro maker and fried in hot oil until golden and crisp, then filled with manjar, dipped in chocolate, or dusted with sugar. They take 45 minutes of preparation and about 20 minutes of frying, and serve 8.

Churros are hugely popular in Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and beyond, and in Chile they are a favorite street treat, especially filled with manjar.

How to Make Homemade Churros?

The flour is stirred into boiling salted water until it forms a thick paste, kneaded smooth while warm, and piped straight into oil heated to 180°C (356°F). Fry the dough right away, since it is very firm and hardens quickly when exposed to air.

Nutritional Information

Each serving of churros contains approximately 450 kcal, 6 g of protein, 22 g of fat (5 g of saturated fat), 20 mg of cholesterol, 60 g of carbohydrates, 15 g of sugars, and 300 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

Homemade Churros Recipe

Preparation: 45 minutes
Cooking: 20 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 kg (8 cups) of all purpose flour
• 1 liter (4 cups) of water
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Chocolate coating
• Manjar (dulce de leche)
• Sugar or powdered sugar
• Oil for frying

Instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot with the salt, add the flour, and stir for about 2 minutes until it forms a thick paste. Turn the dough out onto a smooth surface while still hot and knead until smooth and even.

2. In a fryer or deep pot, heat the oil to 180°C (356°F), checking with a thermometer. With the dough still warm, pipe 10 to 15 cm churros from a churro maker into the oil and fry until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Fill with manjar and dip in chocolate, or dust with powdered sugar and fill.

Additional Tips

Fry right away

The dough is very firm and hardens quickly in contact with air, so fry the churros as soon as the dough is made.

Use the right oil

Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as sunflower or canola, and avoid strong flavored oils like extra virgin olive oil.

Make them in an air fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (392°F), line the basket with parchment paper, and cook the churros without touching for about 10 minutes until golden.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I make the dough ahead of time?

It is not recommended, since the dough hardens quickly when exposed to air. It is best to fry the churros right after making it.

2. Can I bake them instead of frying?

You can bake or air fry them, although they will not be as crisp as fried churros. It is a lighter option.

3. How long do churros keep?

They are best freshly made. They lose texture over the hours, although you can reheat them briefly in the oven or air fryer.

4. Can I freeze churros?

Yes, freeze them shaped and unfried, then fry them straight from frozen without thawing.

Churros in Chile

In Chile, churros are sold at street carts and fairs, often filled with manjar and sometimes dipped in chocolate, and they are a winter favorite with a cup of hot chocolate.

History of Churros

One theory traces churros to China, where Portuguese traders encountered youtiao, strips of fried dough eaten for breakfast and always served in pairs, a reference to the Song dynasty official Qin Hui and his wife.

Did You Know?

The name churro is often linked to the Churra sheep of Spain, whose ridged, curly horns resembled the fried dough coming out of the shepherds’ simple presses.

Recommended

• Chilean Berlines Filled Doughnuts Recipe
• Chilean Homemade Manjar Recipe
• Chilean Hot Chocolate Recipe
• Punta Arenas Fried Pastry Ribbons Recipe