These homemade air fryer churros are crispy on the outside, soft inside, and made with just 5 simple ingredients. This easy vegan churros recipe skips the deep frying but still gives you that classic cinnamon sugar finish in under 15 minutes.
If you are looking for a quick, no-fuss dessert that feels a little bit special, this is one to keep on repeat. They are naturally dairy-free and egg-free, making them a great option for anyone baking with allergies or dietary needs in mind.
Perfect for an after-school treat, a cozy movie night, or when you just want something sweet without the mess of frying, these churros are simple, satisfying, and seriously moreish.
Naturally Vegan!
Did you know that Spanish churros are naturally vegan? Churro dough is traditionally made with water, oil, salt and flour, with some recipes also adding sugar. When served with caramel sauce, dulce de leche or chocolate sauce, they are the perfect snack to enjoy with coffee or as a ‘just because’ treat. This recipe follows that traditional style, keeping it simple and naturally dairy-free and egg-free.
Why You Need To Try These Churros
If you love simple desserts that actually deliver on texture and flavour, here is why these are worth making:
- Crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy inside
- No deep frying required
- Ready in under 15 minutes
- Made with just 5 ingredients
- Dairy-free and egg-free
- Perfect for small-batch baking
Why this Recipe Works
This recipe is designed to give you that classic churro texture without the need for hot oil. The air fryer creates a lightly crisp exterior while keeping the inside soft and tender. By skipping the frying step, you get all the flavour of traditional churros with less mess and a much easier clean-up.
Ingredients and Substitutions
This recipe uses basic pantry items that I am sure you will already have. Here is everything you need to make these easy air fryer churros, plus a few helpful tips:
Flour: All-purpose flour (also known as plain flour) works best and gives structure to the churros. For gluten-free, swap with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour replacement such as Bob’s Red Mill. The texture may vary slightly.
Sugar and Salt: A dash of white sugar and salt is added for flavour. Brown sugar will give a more caramel flavour.
Oil: A small amount of neutral oil helps to bind everything together and improves the final texture. Substitute with melted plant-based butter.
Water: No specific temperature of water is needed. Tap or bottled water both work well.
How to Make Churros
These air fryer churros come together quickly with just a few simple steps. Make sure to read the tips below before you start for the best texture. The recipe makes a small batch (approximately 18-20 churro bites), which you can easily scale up as required – check out the handy multiplier in the recipe card.
In a saucepan, combine the water, salt, sugar and neutral oil.
Bring to the boil over a high heat and stir with a wooden spoon to ensure that the sugar and salt dissolve.
Remove from the heat and stir in the flour.
Keep stirring until the flour is fully incorporated. It will clump together into a smooth, soft ball of dough.
Let the dough rest for 10 minutes, until it is cool enough to handle but still warm. This will make it easier to pipe.
Piping the Churros
Add a 2D closed star piping tip (nozzle) to a thick piping bag. Any large star tip will work, or even no tip if you’re not worried about getting the ridged effect. I like to use featherweight bags because they do not transfer heat from the churro dough and are sturdier than tipless bags. A zip-top bag will also work in a pinch.
Spoon the churro dough into the piping bag and twist the end to secure it. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Pipe 2 inch churros onto the paper – we love making bite-sized churros, but you can also pipe longer ones if you prefer. Use scissors to trim the dough as you pipe.
And don’t worry if some are more ruffled than others. That’s part of the natural charm of churros.
I like to get the piping out of the way in one go so that my bag of dough isn’t hanging around while the first batch of churros is in the air fryer. You don’t need to chill the bites before frying them. If it is a particularly humid day, it won’t hurt to pop the second batch in the fridge while the first batch is frying.
Time to Air Fry
Set your air fryer to 360F and preheat for 2 minutes.
Add half of the churros to the basket. Make sure that there is room between them for air to circulate.
Spray the churros with cooking oil.
Fry for 10 minutes, turning over at the 5-minute mark. Don’t skip turning them over, as you want to ensure that they are frying evenly. Give them a shuffle around and then continue to fry for another 5 minutes.
The churros will be lightly golden and crispy on the outside, and slightly tender on the inside.
Bake Angel Tip: Air fryer temperatures can vary slightly. If needed, increase to 375Ā°F for a crisper finish.
Cinnamon Sugar
While the first batch is frying, make the cinnamon sugar by mixing white sugar and ground cinnamon.
Stir together until you have a bowl of wonderfully aromatic cinnamon sugar. So easy!
Once the first batch is ready, immediately toss the warm churros in the cinnamon sugar until fully coated.
I find that it’s easier to use tongs for this step. I found the sugar went everywhere when I shook the bowl, so it is definitely less messy with the tongs.
Add the remaining churros to the air fryer and repeat the process.
Enjoy while warm for the perfect texture.
Serving Suggestions
These easy vegan air fryer churros are delicious on their own, but even better with a dip or drizzle. Here are a few of my favourite ways to serve them:
- Caramel sauce for a rich, sweet dip
- Chocolate ganache for a classic pairing
- Blueberry compote for a fresh twist
- Dusting of icing sugar for a simple finish
If you want to mix things up, create your own dessert board and pair them with mini chocolate donuts, two-bite brownies, and mini Victoria sandwich cakes.
Pro Tips for Perfect Churros
To get the best results every time, keep these tips in mind:
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Give the churros space so they crisp up evenly.
- Pipe evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
- Lightly spray with oil if needed to help them brown.
- Roll in cinnamon sugar while still warm, so it sticks properly.
- Serve fresh for the best texture.
An important note about air fryers as well – keep an eye on your first batch, as air fryers can vary slightly. Smaller baskets may cook faster, while larger models may need an extra minute or two. Always cook in a single layer for best results.
Churros FAQs
Absolutely! Just pipe longer shapes (4 inches) when you are making them. You will need to fry them in smaller batches as well.
Yes. Instead of piping lines, pipe a swirl of the mixture as if you were piping a buttercream swirl on a cupcake. You might need to use a spatula to transfer them to the air fryer to retain their shape. Fry for a few extra minutes to ensure the centre is well cooked. Pair the swirls up and sandwich together with buttercream. Yum!
No, there is no need to chill this recipe. I experimented with a few batches where I chilled some of the churro bites for different lengths of time before frying them. It made no difference to the outcome so you can definitely skip chilling them.
You can definitely bake and deep fry them. Bake on a lined baking tray at 360F for 20 minutes. I recommend keeping a close eye on them as they are more likely to dry out when baked. To deep-fry, add a couple of inches of oil to a deep saucepan, bring to 400F then add 4 churros at a time. Fry for a few minutes on each side until golden. It is always important not to overcrowd the pan when deep frying. Allow draining on kitchen paper before tossing in cinnamon sugar.
These are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store them at room temperature for 1-2 days, then reheat them in the air fryer to bring back the crisp texture. Don’t microwave them, as it will make them soggy.
Yes – they have the same cinnamon sugar flavour, and a soft interior with a lightly crisp outside, just without the heaviness of deep frying.
Tried this Recipe?
If you try these air fryer churros, I would love to hear what you think. Leave a comment below or tag me on socials @itsbakeangel so I can see your creations.
And if you are looking for more quick and easy desserts, be sure to check out my other dairy-free and egg-free recipes for simple baking that fits into real life.
Enjoy!
Easy Air Fryer Churros (5 Ingredient Vegan Churro Bites)
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Wooden Spoon
- Large Star Tip (see note)
- Small bowl
Angela’s Top Tip
Weigh your dry ingredients in grams with a scale for best results!
Ingredients
For the Churro Pastry
- 150 ml Water (1/2 cup + 2 tbsp)
- Ā¼ tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp White Sugar
- 1 tbsp Canola Oil (any neutral oil will work)
- 60 grams All Purpose Flour (1/2 cup)
For the Cinnamon Sugar
- 100 grams White Sugar (1/2 cup)
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
Prep
- Gather all ingredients and equipment before starting. The churro dough comes together quickly, so having everything ready makes the process much easier.
To Make the Churro Bites
- Add 150 ml Water, 1/4 tsp Salt, 1 tbsp White Sugar and 1 tbsp Canola Oil to a small saucepan. Bring to the boil over a high heat and stir with a wooden spoon to ensure that the sugar and salt dissolve.
- Remove from the heat and stir in 60 grams All Purpose Flour. Keep stirring until the flour is fully incorporated and the dough forms a smooth ball. Allow cooling for 10 minutes.
- Fit a 2D piping tip into a piping bag. Spoon in the dough and seal the top. Pipe 2-inch pieces onto a parchment-lined tray, using scissors to cut the dough cleanly.
Air Fry the Churro Bites
- Set your air fryer to 360F and preheat for 2 minutes.
- Add half the churros to the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Spray lightly with oil.
- Fry for 10 minutes, turning the churros over at the 5 minute mark. Don't skip this step as you want to ensure that they are frying evenly. Cook until golden and crisp on the outside with a soft, tender centre.
Make the Cinnamon Sugar
- While the first batch is frying, combine 100 grams White Sugar and 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon in a bowl. Once the first batch of churro bites is ready, immediately toss them in the cinnamon sugar, then set them aside.
- Add the remaining bites to the air fryer and repeat as per the first batch.
- Best enjoyed immediately with a side of homemade caramel sauce.
Tried these and they were amazing! So yummy and easy to make.
So happy I found your recipe. We made these for our NY Eve party and everyone loved them.
Churros are one of my favourite things to make, but I’ve never tried them in an air fryer before! Can’t wait to make this recipe for the family.
They’re so much easier to make in the air fryer. I hope you’ll all enjoy them.
I was surprised by how easy they were to make and how perfectly they turned out. The texture is just right, and the cinnamon sugar is the perfect finishing touch.
Happy to hear that Gianne.
Sweet, delicious and so easy to make too! I’ll be making these for a Cinco de Mayo treat, thank you!
We’ll be making them for Cinco de Mayo as well! Hope you enjoy them.
These churros were delish! Loved them.
Happy to hear that Paula. We love them too!
This saves so much time!
I agree Fay, and less washing up as well.
These air fryer churro bites look so delicious. Thanks for sharing.
They’re so good. Thanks Kushi.