Churros are a beloved dessert, known for their crispy, golden exterior and soft, doughy interior. Traditionally made with eggs and dairy, vegan churros offer a cruelty-free alternative that is just as delicious. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through how to make irresistible vegan churros that will satisfy your sweet tooth without any animal products. Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or just for a treat, these vegan churros are easy to make and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients for Vegan Churros
To make your own homemade vegan churros, you’ll need the following ingredients:
1. 1 cup water
Water serves as the base for the churro dough. It helps to create the right consistency for the dough and ensures that all the dry ingredients combine smoothly. It’s essential for activating the flour and providing the necessary hydration for the dough to hold together.
2. 1/2 cup vegan butter
Vegan butter adds richness and flavor to the churro dough, making it tender and buttery while maintaining a dairy-free profile. It contributes to the overall texture, ensuring the churros are light and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.
3. 1 tablespoon sugar
Sugar helps to sweeten the churro dough slightly, contributing to the overall sweetness of the churros. While the primary sweetness will come from the coating, a little sugar in the dough ensures a more balanced flavor.
4. 1/4 teaspoon salt
Salt enhances the sweetness and provides a flavor balance to the dough. It helps to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients and ensures the dough isn’t overly sweet, making for a more harmonious churro experience.
5. 1 cup all-purpose flour
All-purpose flour is the main ingredient in the churro dough. It forms the base structure and creates the dough’s texture. Flour gives the churros their light, airy consistency while maintaining the perfect balance between crispiness and softness.
6. 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Ground cinnamon adds a warm, comforting spice to the churro dough. It gives the churros that signature cinnamon flavor, which pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the sugar coating after frying.
7. 1/4 cup sugar
This sugar is used for rolling the churros after frying. It creates a sugary crust on the churros that gives them a sweet, crisp exterior that contrasts beautifully with the soft, pillowy inside.
8. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Ground cinnamon is used to coat the churros after frying, giving them their iconic flavor and aroma. The cinnamon-sugar mixture creates the traditional churro experience and is an essential part of the recipe.
For Frying:
9. Oil (vegetable, sunflower, or canola oil)
Oil is needed for deep frying the churros until they become golden and crispy. It’s important to choose a neutral-flavored oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable, sunflower, or canola oil, to ensure the churros fry evenly and don’t absorb too much oil.
These ingredients come together to create the perfect vegan churros—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and coated with a delightful cinnamon-sugar mix for that classic churro flavor.
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Start by combining the water, vegan butter, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Stir occasionally until the butter has completely melted, and the sugar has dissolved.
Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low. Gradually add the all-purpose flour while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring until the dough forms into a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. This should only take a couple of minutes.
At this point, add the cinnamon to the dough and stir to incorporate. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky.
Step 2: Cool the Dough
After the dough has come together, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool for about 5-10 minutes. You want the dough to be cool enough to handle, but still warm when you’re ready to pipe it.
Step 3: Prepare for Frying
While the dough is cooling, prepare a large plate or shallow dish with the cinnamon-sugar mixture for coating the churros after frying. Simply combine the sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Set this aside.
Next, heat the oil in a large pot or deep fryer. You’ll need enough oil to submerge the churros, so fill the pot with a few inches of oil. Heat the oil to about 350°F (175°C). You can check if the oil is hot enough by dropping a small piece of dough into the oil—if it sizzles and rises to the surface, the oil is ready.
Step 4: Pipe the Dough
Now that your dough is ready, it’s time to pipe it into churros. Transfer the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. This will give the churros their signature ridged shape.
Carefully pipe the dough into the hot oil, cutting the dough with scissors or your fingers once the churro is the desired length (about 4-6 inches). Be cautious when working with hot oil, and don’t overcrowd the pan—fry the churros in batches.
Step 5: Fry the Churros
Fry the churros for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown and crispy. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to flip the churros halfway through the frying process to ensure they cook evenly.
Once the churros are golden and crispy, use a slotted spoon to carefully remove them from the oil and place them onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Step 6: Coat the Churros
While the churros are still warm, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Make sure each churro is coated evenly for that perfect, sweet crunch. This step is crucial for giving your churros that signature taste and texture.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy
Your irresistible vegan churros are now ready to enjoy! Serve them immediately while they’re still warm for the best texture and flavor. You can pair them with a delicious dipping sauce like chocolate, caramel, or even fruit jam for an extra treat.
Conclusion
Making vegan churros at home is easy, fun, and incredibly rewarding. With just a few basic ingredients and some simple steps, you can create a crispy, golden dessert that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family. Whether you enjoy them as a snack or a sweet treat after a meal, these vegan churros are sure to be a hit. Plus, they’re cruelty-free, so you can indulge without any guilt! Try this step-by-step guide, and enjoy the magic of homemade churros today.
