Description
Delight in these charming heart-shaped churros, perfectly crisp and coated in cinnamon sugar, served warm with a rich chocolate dipping sauce. This Mexican-inspired dessert is ideal for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or any time you crave a sweet, festive treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Churros
- 1 cup water
- 2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for coating)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Chocolate Dipping Sauce (optional)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a medium saucepan, combine water, granulated sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then remove from heat and stir in the all-purpose flour until a smooth dough forms. Let the dough cool slightly before piping.
- Pipe heart shapes: Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Cut parchment paper into squares and pipe heart-shaped churros onto them. Allow the shapes to sit for 5 to 10 minutes to firm up. For best shape retention, chill the piped hearts in the fridge for 10–15 minutes before frying.
- Heat oil for frying: In a deep skillet or saucepan, heat vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C). Make sure there is enough oil to submerge the churros for even frying.
- Fry churros: Carefully slide the heart-shaped churros off the parchment paper into the hot oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry for about 2–3 minutes per side or until they turn golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the churros and drain them on paper towels.
- Coat with cinnamon sugar: While the churros are still warm, toss them in a mixture of 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ensuring they are evenly coated.
- Make the chocolate dipping sauce: In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream until it just begins to simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chopped semi-sweet chocolate in a bowl. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, then stir in vanilla extract until smooth and glossy.
- Serve: Serve the warm heart-shaped churros with the chocolate dipping sauce on the side for dipping. Enjoy fresh for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- To maintain the heart shapes, chilling the piped dough before frying is recommended.
- You can also bake or air-fry churros, but they will be less crispy than fried versions.
- Use a large star piping tip to get traditional churro ridges which help hold the cinnamon sugar coating.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute the heavy cream and chocolate with non-dairy alternatives.
