Once upon a time, as a young youth with frizzy hair and giant teeth, I went to Disneyland with my family.
We went on rides. I saw Michael Jackson as Captain EO, and tried to replicate his dance moves for the rest of the day. We got popcorn, I secretly made faces at other children standing in line (I was not trying to make friends… I was simply being a major weirdo), and I remember some sort of parade. There’s always a parade at Disneyland.
We watched the Abraham Lincoln show, which… as a young youth… is the most boring thing I could possibly experience. We stood there as a statue of President Lincoln was illuminated and some prerecorded speech about freedom was played. I think… maybe I don’t remember this correctly. Since I was not shoveling sour candies into my face, I was sure that this show was going to make my eyes bleed from boredom. I was sure it was possible.
Just after the show, as we were exiting, my aunt (who has always been the pillar of clumsiness) stumbled down the stairs and sprained her ankle. Good grief, I thought…. I totally should make my mom buy me sour balls for having to endure this inconvenience to my funtime awesomeday.
Do you know what happens when you fall at Disneyland (back in the 1980’s before everyone sued everyone else)?? I’ll tell you… it’s awesome:
They take you to the backstage/secret/red alert/ what’s even back there anyway/ Disneyland area. The place where Goofy walks around without his head on, and Snow Whites could care less, and Tinkerbell is smoking a cigarette (ok… that didn’t happen… but I SO wish it did)!!! They take you and your family backstage, and sit you down, and give you juice, and ask you if you’re ok, and bring you medical attention… AND YOU GET TO SEE GOOFY WITHOUT HIS HEAD ON!!! Clearly this left a lasting impression on me…. as a young youth.
What do kids have these days? Lawsuits and Disney cruises. Pffft. Weak.
Anyway… Um.
Churros remind me of Disneyland.
So…. yea.
This churros recipe might be different than anything you’ve ever made.
These are my notes… I know, a little kooky.
There will be several point throughout this recipe where you might curse my name, and insist that I’ve made you mess up a recipe and waste ingredients.
Don’t yell. I can’t hear you.
We can get through this together. Promise.
We start by boiling water, butter, sugar, and salt.
If this feels weird… that’s because it is. Melt down these ingredients, whisk em up, and turn the heat to low.
With me?
Over low heat, stir the flour into the hot butter mixture. Stir it up with a spatula. Do not freak out.
Stir through the lumps. Keep the pan over low heat. Trust in the process. After about 30 to 45 seconds, the mixture will form a loose ball, like the one pictured above.
Phew! You did it!
Let’s stir in the eggs. You might freak out again. Stay with me.
Place the dough into a large bowl. Let rest for 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring in with a spatula.
Halfway through stirring in the eggs, the batter will look like this. I know… not cool. Keep stirring.
This will happen. This is exactly what you want to happen.
Sticky, eggy dough. Perfect.
You’ll need a large star tip and a pastry bag, or big ZipLock bag.
Oh! And scissors too!
See, you’ll squeeze the batter into the hot oil, and slice the dough off with the kitchen scissors.
Totes.
They’re a little funny looking.
By funny looking, I mean… totally delicious!
Oh…. also… my cat is INSANE.
After being tossed in cinnamon and sugar, these churros are the perfect food.
I like these dipped in warm chocolate sauce… but I like everything dipped in warm chocolate sauce. So. Yea.
Homemade Churros and Hot Dark Chocolate
makes about 20 small churros
from The NY Times
For the Churros:
canola or vegetable oil, for frying
1/2 cup, plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
For the Chocolate Sauce:
1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks
scant 1 cup heavy cream
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
Add enough oil to a large saucepan or deep skillet to measure 2-inches deep. Attach a candy/deep fry thermometer to to side of the pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cups sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter, water, 1 tablespoon of sugar and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add flour all at once. Quickly stir together with a spatula until no lumps remain, and the mixture begins to form a ball. This will take about 30 to 45 seconds. Remove from heat and place loose dough ball in a large bowl.
With a spatula, beat the eggs into the dough one egg at a time. The mixture may appear to be a broken mess, but keep stirring. Keep the faith.
After the eggs are added, the mixture will be slightly gummy and slightly thick. That’s perfect.
Spoon batter into a large pastry, or strong Ziplock bag with a Aceto 829 (large open star) tip attached.
Heat the oil, over medium heat, to 350 degrees F.
Carefully pipe about 4 inch long dough segments into the hot oil. Use a pair of kitchen sheers to cut the dough from the star tip. It’s hard not to splash yourself with hot oil, just be as careful as possible.
Fry dough for 5 to 7 minutes. This might seem like a long time, but the dough through the center needs to cook through. The churros will be a deep golden brown, and may split slightly when cooked. Keep an eye on the timer. Remove churros from hot oil and place on a paper towel. After slightly degreased, toss in cinnamon sugar mixture and place on a plate to serve.
To make the chocolate sauce:
Place chocolate chunks, pinch of salt, and espresso powder (if using) in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a boil. Pour the heavy cream over the chocolate pieces. Let rest for 1 minute before whisking. Whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Serve warm with warm churros.
Churros are best served just after they are fried. So much yum.
Hira Mahmood
Made these today and yum. Loved them.
It is such a relief when a recipie turns out the way it should.
joythebaker
Thanks so much Hira, I’m glad you enjoyed them!
abraalani
I love baking, but rarely does a recipe’s process make me laugh out loud like this one did! These are so much fun to make! Also, your step by step encouragement photos were wonderful, i was able to keep the faith because of them! Thank you!
Devi
Why is it that I cant get the sugar and cinnamon to stick to my churros??
joythebaker
You have to roll them in the cinnamon sugar right after they come out of the oil. There needs to be a little bit of oil so that it sticks. Perhaps they’ve cooled too much.
Kerena
I just whipped up a batch of these yummies. Delicious and perfect! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
flor
hello, i dont want to boder, but churros dont have eggs, they are just flour and water (you can replace half of the water withe milk) salt and thats all!!!
Amarachi
I made these tonight and they were absolutely delicious. The texture is light and airy and very flavorful. I’ve made churros in the past that didn’t have any flavor. The dough came together pretty well. Thanks Joy
Anna
We made this today and its just perfect for a Sydney winter weekend! Yummy! Thanks for sharing!
The Clumsy Eater
I haven’t had churros since I left LA and now you’ve gone and made me hungry for them. The photos are amazing. Actually, they are amazing throughout the site.
Your cat IS insane. Shesh, I keep going back to that picture.
The Clumsy Eater
Mrose
Visiting from the Philippines where I’m stuck inside the house because of heavy typhoon. This is just the kind of food I need…now! :-)
pamelatang
I’m so glad you have this recipe! I just ate this yesterday and it was delicious!!! Thank you!
Breziil21
OMGsh!! I’ve been craving Churros but don’t wanna buy the BIG ones they sell here in Orange County CA! I Love CHURROS- It’s probably bc I’m MEXICAN hahaha JK
Maggie
Well, that looks truly delicious. Thanks for the post. I will definitely try this one of these days and probably only mildly freak out.
Aveen
Ooh. These don’t remind me of Disneyland (we went to the one in Paris, I don’t think they have churros in France) but they do remind me of some fantastic holidays in Spain, including my honeymoon. Now I really want some. I might just dig out the deep fat fryer.
bianca
OH MY HAT! i went to disneyland when i was about 8 all the way from South Africa and had something cinnamony and sugary and to this day i’ve longed for it but never knew what the name was. THANK YOU JOY! yay now i can bring that old memory back right here in SA :) you’ve just made my day – it’s the small things :)
Kayly
Just wanted to say I love your blog! Stumbled on it some time ago and now I’m hooked!
These are amazing. I will eat them all without shame :)
June
No kidding Joy, I just gained 5 lbs. looking at these pictures and drooling over the recipe. Oh, what the heck…I’m going for it!!
Alison
That looks divine, and on a day like I’m having today that would really hit the spot.
Briel K.
I always have to get a churro when I go to Disneyland! Too funny. And I used to love going to see Captain EO too and would dance my way out of the theatre. So fun.
Mbenda
Your Michael Jackson anecdote(I am a die-hard fan…seriously you should see my room), 80’s Disneyland (I adore Disneyland and the 80s and glare at my parents everyday for conceiving me a decade later. Its boring being 18 in 2011), and drool worthy churros (I died a little from sheer joy when i bit into that little artery clogging piece of heaven) have won me over. I love you. I seriously love you. You have earned my subscription
kate
Joy, I made these and the entire process was great. I felt like such a badass making churros. The end result was a little salty, though. Where could I have gone wrong?
joythebaker
salty!? hm… did you add too much salt? (totally a dumb question)
Dana@TheSundaySweet
Churros make me think of DLand too!! My pass expired in the beginning of may and I told my lover I would miss standing in line with him while eating a churro. Ahh, memories :)
Susan
Love Disneyland even though I never got to go as a kid. Churros are great too! One thing though, you can be a youth but you really can’t be a “young youth” as shown below – unless you want to be a “young young”! LOL
YOUTH:
1 the condition of being young.
2. the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of one who is young.
3. the time of being young; early life: His youth was spent on the farm.
I think your cat thinks he’s a “young youth” up on that beam – yikes!!!
Tina Biffle
If you take this recipe, and pipe them onto a baking sheet, and bake them first for 15 minutes @ 450, then for 20 minutes @ 325, and let them cool completely down…..and fill them with cream…… you get puffs t!!!! I love cream puffs…..and eclairs…
Penny
My DH works at Disneyland and they still do everything possible to make each day the best for their visitors. It is clean, beautiful, and frankly – magical – IMHO. :) And last week he had lunch with Mary Poppins! Like I said – magical!
P.S. Churros look great!
Caitlin
ahh! I gasped a little when I saw this recipe. I love churros, they remind me of Uruguay, South America. There was a man there who made them, we called him the churro man. They were delicious.
my spatula
UMM…i have a feeling i would be able to eat these ALL.DAY.LONG.!!!
Julie (Bananas for Bourbon)
Peaking behind the scenes would ruin the experience for me, I think. My friend was in space mountain a few years ago. They had to stop the ride and turn on the lights. Mid-ride! He said it wasn’t the same after that. You can never unsee the room!
You have amazing handwriting. Its so…you. Beautiful, feminine, and just the right amount of whimsy. Mine looks like someone pooped on the page. Hate you!
Totally would add chipotle powder to the chocolate sauce. Because cayenne is too obvious. Yu-um!
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh
Churros are one of my faves and this looks like something I must try. You know, for research. Yeah. Research.
Alli
I am trying to stop but, I can’t. I keep flipping back to this post, these photos and I need a churro. Like now. Hmmmm I do have a season pass to Disney. How much will my love me?
Kathleen
When I was newly-wed (somewhere around the mid-80s), my new husband and I went to Disney World. While riding the energy ride (the one with the dinosaurs where the theater seats turn into trains), the dinosaurs died. We sat there, in our seats, while the lights went on, men in overalls came from behind the scenes, and all the dinosaurs hung their heads and uttered a dying groan. We had to leave by walking behind the dinosaurs. Guess what? There is no behind on the dinosaurs! We walked behind the machinery, through what looked like the back of a factory, and out into Disney.
I don’t remember much about the trip, but my husband and I still talk about the day the dinosaurs died!
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
O. My. Sakes alive. You are SO calling my name with this one.
I love your version of churros.
I love your trashy Tinkerbell thoughts.
Love.
Kate@Diethood
They sound fantastic! We call these Tolumbi/Tulumbi, but we dunk them in simple syrup instead of dusting with cinnamon and sugar.
Amy @ The Savvy Kitchen
Oh.my.word. I need these now. Diet starts tomorrow!
kim
Love all your recipes.Just wanted to let you know!I just made the churros for afternoon tea for friends and they were fantastic.l have made a few different recipes and these were amazing.Thank-you Thank-you.
Jayne
I guess everyone has their own way of personalizing a recipe to their preference. I never really believe that there’s an “original” recipe out there for any kind of “real” food/dish etc. But that aside, Joy, your churros dough looks similar to choux pastry. Totally doable for me! I’ve never had churros before as I don’t live anywhere near a country that churns this. Imma make me some :-)
Samantha Angela
I was also going to mention that it looks a lot like a pate a choux which I guess means it’s relatively easy to make.
Hannah@Bake Five
I love it how the backstage carries the darkest secrets of Disney. :D
and I love how your churros look like a shrimp platter! Super cute!
The Newlywed Chefs
O.M.G.
Bren the Funky Junkie
WOW. I want to make these now. Yum yum yum….I had a completely similar experience in my childhood trips to Disney World. I’m pretty sure the boring historical shows are for the parents to take a much-needed break. However, I LOVED the Mexico ride. Loved it. It was just a boring boat ride with corny graphics and movies, but for some reason it was my favorite.
cindy
churros! disneyland! joy, this is too good. i need a churro.
cocidodesopa
Hi! Let me tell you that “churros” are traditionally and typically from Spain, and more in particular, from its capital city, Madrid. They are usually dipped in hot chocolate drink or covered by sugar. I’m Spanish and I know what I am talking about. May you be interested in knowing how to make the real “churros”, I recommend yo to visit this site: http://www.lacocinadelechuza.com/2007/02/churros-unos-churros-caseros-fciles-de.html, and you will see that no eggs are used.
Hope you find it interesting, and not meaning to offend you.
Yolanda.
Mariana
Random question: how do you write on your pictures (you know, the text you write over the photos)? I want to do that. Thanks. :)
Matt @ StartingtoCook
If you’re blogging with WordPress, as you insert it in you add it in the description (and/or title) box. If you’ve already inserted the image in WP, you just click on it, click the button that pops up and then add it to the text fields. :)
Marina
Thanks, Matt! But I wasn’t clear, I guess. I mean the text over pictures like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22540992@N03/5702555766/
Nic@daydreamaboutfood
I use paintbox on Windows 7. If you open the picture in paintbox then choose the text symbol, you can write over the picture.
Matt @ StartingtoCook
Oh, sorry. I’m a pro photographer so I use Photoshop for that but I 100% recommend everyone who doesn’t own Photoshop gets Gimp then the Gimpshop add on.
http://www.gimp.org/
http://www.gimpshop.com/
Mariana
Thanks, guys! I have a Mac, so I’ll try Gimp.
Emily B
OMG- these look amazing! (and yes, churros make me think of DL too… and I’ll be there in 4 days. Yippee!)
Matt @ Startingtocook
Every once in awhile I’m scanning my blog reader, skimming recipes, then I stop. “This must be Joy!” lol Sure enough, every.single.time it is. It’s a great blog when you have such a clear voice that we can *hear* you as we read you. (Especially post-audio so we know what you sound like.)
These look too rich for my waist but I’ll have to spoil my family with them.
eva
Churros!!! Joy, I love you! :)))))))
Marisa
Mmm. I love churros. My mom and I just went to Disneyland on Tuesday for a couple of hours. We have passes. The churros as Disneyland are $3.50! Can you believe it!? Jeez.
I’m going to make these on Tuesday, but the thing I’m really curious to know is HOW DID YOUR CAT GET UP THERE?
ronni
Have you seen My Cat From Hell? http://animal.discovery.com/tv/my-cat-from-hell/
Ottilia
I too went to the place in Disneyland. So fun. I was 5 and broke out with chickenpox in line for Goofy’s house. The quickly took us to that place where I saw a fancy nurse. We were then given tickets to come back anytime and escorted us out of the park.
So excited to make these churros!
Lucia
This recipe sounds a bit scary, but challenging too. Churros make me think about hot afternoons spent sippping cold lemonade with a big panama hat. I’ll definitely try :-)
carolina
My favorite type of churro are the ones filled with dulce de leche. They are obviously the most common ones here in Argentina!
Sarah
Weird I went to a Mexican restuarant last night and was wondering what Churros were! They look amazing..like mini friend dough sticks with chocolate…yummmmm
margarcia
Love them in the morning when it´s cold outside, with a hot chocolate!!
lisa
These are so yummy! I made churros for the first time on Cinco de Mayo and the fam freaked! Loved the DL story. You crack me up
Megan
Wow! These. Look. Amazing.
I’ve never had a churro. I need one immediately though!
Marisa
I just went on your site! It’s so cute and everything looks delicious!
I can’t believe you’ve never had a churro, though! Make ’em and enjoy the deliciousness.
Hannah
You are such a good writer – I always come to your blog for laughs, pretty pictures, and inspiration
Mandy
Mmm, looks delicious. I once tried to order these in Barcelona but ended up ordering myself some chocolate drink instead! Love your blog!
anna
ooo, churros! i love mexican pastries so much, but i’m always frightened away by the odd steps in the recipes, like boiling together sugar and butter and salt! these look so good though, i will have to give them a try.
i love your cat.
disneyland kinda wigs me out, how it has like, a ‘backstage’. it’s like you’re in a dream. a little unsettling.
tracy
tinkerbell smoking cigarettes. i died.
Sasha (Global Table Adventure)
1. I like all the pictures – more than usual. Lots of pretty things. Especially the your cat near the roof.
2. Handwritten note that says “looks weird until smooth” = epic baking truth. Seems like every dough does this to me :)
Sasha (Global Table Adventure)
Er, I meant that I like that you used more pictures than usual, not that I like your pictures more than usual.
Grace
Can this dough be refrigerated before use??
Addy
Just so you know, this is the PERFECT blog post for me right now! I am in Spain as I write this! Churros con chocolate are a classic Spanish breakfast food!! Awesome post!
Catherine
I’m willing to try this to replace my not quite authentic Southern Living puff pastry version. Thx for posting!
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit
I was giggling while reading this. I would have hoped to see tinkerbell smoke too. These curros look so delicious. I’ve never had a curro (is curros the plural??) but they sound a lot like the mini doughnuts we get at the stampede every year. Gosh, I need to make these gluten free.
Nic@daydreamaboutfood
Big fan of churros but never made them. I have a question; would this work by coating them in oil then baking or are we just looking at profiteroles if I did this? I ask this because I have a deep fat fryer phobia. Weird, I know.
Katrina
Oh my! This looks so tasty. Great idea!
Jen
Churros & chocolate make me think of Toledo in Spain. It’s a very good place to go if you want double servings of sweet things. First you have the churros to fuel you for the walk into the old, walled town and then you go to the mustn’t be missed old bakery making almondy things on the central square :)
Noelle
I had my experience with churros and hot chocolate in Spain. So delicious!
POSTI4
my daughter has the same churro connection with Disney! She thanks you from the bottom of her a little hungry heart!
Suzy
One time we went to DisneyLand with an upset stomach (too many coco puffs for breakfast) and we went to the medical area….and even though I didn’t get sick at the park, they gave us our tickets back so I could come back another day when I was feeling better. That was cool of Disney: ) Now they would probably say, screw you, you can’t have your money back.
christine [the sugar apothecary]
Ohhhhh my goodness, you know the way to a girl’s heart! Those look amazing. And that cat is too funny. My sister’s cat has taken up residence on top of the fridge, where he chooses to spend his days tormenting my dog from the sky.
Stephanie
I love churros but I don’t deep fry anything at home. If I want a churro-fix, I gotta go out for it. Yours look so good I am almost tempted to try it though!
Your cat is wonderful… they do like to be up in high places don’t they? I’d love to know how he got up on that beam!
Alison
You had me at “homemade churros”…..
zingara
dollink,….it’s creampuff/eclair batter!! i used to make creampuffs back in the ice age! your version is excatly the recipe i used. mine ALWAYS had chocolate icing on them & the “hollow centers” were filled w/ whipped cream or vanilla pudding. good to the last drop! joy, don’t ever go away…we need you!
Janet
If you have a food processor, you can make these even easier by putting the dough ball into the processor and adding the eggs one at a time. I do this with my cream puffs…same dough except for the sugar.
Veronica
LOL!! Love your Disneyland memory! I can totally relate to it. I loved getting churros at Disneyland. A couple of years ago I had churros in Mexico City…they were awesome. They filled them with the filling of your choice! I had one filled with cajeta, which seems just like caramel…only somehow different and much more yummy.
Thanks for sharing the recipe. I have tried again and again to make them without much success. :( I will try this one…third times a charm, right? :)
Luana
wow they look delicious ;-)!!!!!
julie
Hmmm, this is pretty much the same recipe I use for making cream puffs, the dough part. I just put big plops of dough on cookie sheet, bake them, cut them in half after baking and fill with chocolate cream, chocolate pudding, chocolate mousse, (yeah, I love chocolate, too), and then drizzle with—yup, more chocolate!
Jill in Atlanta
If you passed out after riding a roller coaster at Kings Island (Cincinnati, era 1980’s) you were ushered into some under the ride room, given a free soda and burger (I’m about to puke folks, no food please) and then a button that read “I survived the Beast”. Which I most certainly did not survive. A churro, that maybe I’d have eaten.
Somaya
I’ve been craving churros for two weeks. Now I have to actually make them. Thanks!
kathryn
okay I’ll give it a try1
Your cats so cute
Kelly
I LOVE your cat!!
Irene
Can you believe I’m Spanish and I have never done churros myself??? I’ll definitely print your recipe and try it some day soon :) But I’ll make them longer. Because this way you can easily eat them the way they’re meant to: dipped in hot chocolate (the Spanish kind, which is so thick it can easily hold a spoon!).
anita
Hey Joy! As someone said here earlier, churros are a very traditional spanish recipe, specially ment for breakfast. In some places you get 2 or 3 of them for free with the breakfast coffe.
joythebaker
that sounds amazing!!
taylor
okay so you know the big castle in the middle of Disneyworld that’s big and grand and.. well just GREAT?! well i was really really young and begged my uncle to take me IN the castle, thinking oh all the pretty princesses live there… right? well we somehow got in (illegally? i dunno.) and inside.. there was snow white and sleeping beauty, in costumes and all, SMOKING. i asked my uncle what they were doing… he didn’t answer and we got out without the police coming.. weird..
glonda
The first time i was scared about Disney is when my cousin showed me a video of Mickey and Donald ‘getting close’. It was scarring. Apparently it was a video for +18 but who knew right? rrrright… :(
Sarah D
I will make them in honor of your big teeth and my large glasses from back in the day.
The Teenage Taste
You got to see Goofy without his head on!?!?!?! LUCKY! :P
These churros look awesome! When I went to Disney Land it was filled with churros! I loved it!
Gen
Awesome recipe! It looks a little like choux, but fried. Anyway, what I rmemnber from Disneyland is candyfloss^^Anyway this recipe is great, even greater with some melted nutella (or is it too much?)!
Jennifer
My cat just ate a piece of red velvet cake I left sitting on the counter. Totally serious. Your cat and my cat should be friends. Oh and I didn’t mention churros because spell check kept changing it to chisels. So not the same.
Baking Holly
Joy- These look kinda funny if you know what I’m saying but Daaaang they look so great. :)
Thanks for mixing it up a bit with the difference in foods–salads to strawberries to churros. Arriba.
Wardrobe Block
I love love love churros. And I also love your disneyland story :)
Patricia
You should try the spanish version. All cofee shops serve them for breakfast. Small ones (churros) or big ones (porras). Recipe is much simpler. Wam the water (about cups) with a pintch of salt. Add the same amount of flour with a teaspoon of baking powder. Mix well. Form the churros and fry in hot oil. Sprinkle with sugar before eating.
Lisa
I LOVE this post!!! What a great way to start a Saturday morning……..sounds like breakfast food to me and my kids are going to thank you :)
Danni
JOY. You’re killing me here. A post including Disneyland [Goofy was my fave] AND chocolate sauce? It’s like my childhood rolled into one page. x
Deana
OK, I’m from Europe and I haven’t got a clue what churros are. I mean, now I do and they look delicious.
BUT! You use the same dough to make cream puffs, and cream puffs are much loved here. You just squeeze the dough out on a piece of parchment paper, bake it at highest possible heat for five minutes, reduce the heat and bake for another twenty minutes. When cold, you cut them in half and fill with creme patissière. Voila!
Kat
If you come to London, don’t forget to head to Borough Market or the Market on the Southbank. They have a stand with only one food item: churros and chocolate. Its especially awesome during the winter months and around Christmas time.
Mazuin
This recipe was fab and yummy!Thanks Joy!Your recipes rocks BIG TIME!
Nicky
OMG. I love churros. every summer there’s this fair in our neighbour town and it’s totally festive. and also, it’s the only time a year when you can get churros around here. (unless you pull a joy and make them yourself, that is. chrispy doughnutty hot pieces of godness. and the sugary cinnamon. yum.
I like to go all in, so on top of it, wait for it, soft vanilla ice cream. delish! frozen youghurt would work too, but that, we don’t have here.
and btw. your cat and my cat, totally look-a-likes.
have a lovely day, joy!
Michelle
I love your writing!! I find it interesting to see how people write, especially after reading their work or hearing them talk. You write and talk differently to what I imagined, but I like it. I dont know really what I imagined, but now I am imagining eating these delicious churros!! yum. you rock.
caroleena
Hahaha, Joy! I worked at Disneyland (several thousand years ago – it was one of my first jobs) & I remember the characters walking by pulling their heads off…very strange. Another memory is of one very overfed sparrow, so full of popcorn & bits of churro that he couldn’t even fly. The ground thudded a little as he tried to hop to his next morsel of food….
Mona
You are an evil baking genius. Please continue! And my husband’s cat would totally be up there with yours.
Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking
Oh my gosh, Joy, my son would love me even more if I made these for him.
I can just feel these melting in my mouth.
Once again you’ve created something wonderful.
Keep it up, girl!
Alexis
i *love* your stories. also, i *love* your cat.
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
Churros remind me of Costco because that is the only place that I’ve ever had a churro from. So sad. This recipe looks SO much better, especially because there is warm chocolate sauce involved. Mmmmm :)
rohan
but Costco’s are so good (too)!! and cheap. wah-hoo.
sheila @ Elements
I’ve never seen anything like these before, Joy, but they sure do look wonderful! :) Do they taste like cinnamon sugar donuts? What’s up with your crazy kitty by the way? He’s walkin’ the plank! LOL! :)
Vanessa
I totally guffawed in my bedroom all alone at the end of your Disneyland story. “Lawsuits and Disney cruises.” Ha!
Michelle
Churros are pate a choux? Awesome!
Tiffany
I love getting a churro at Costco! But yours look really amazing. Your cat is cute too.
Mariana
did you know that churros are soooo good that where i’m from (perú) we call handsome boys “churros”. yeap, we do.
Alex at Oh My God It's a Talking Muffin
Wow, that really makes me smile. It’s the deep-fried version of a studmuffin that’s also rolled around in cinnamon sugar.
Janet
You rock my world. I love love LOVE this post. I laughed out loud several times. :) oh! I’m going to Disneyland in a few weeks….my first time in CA!
Natalie Adams
I really want to make these! Where is the link for the printer friendly version? I love reading your blog!
Katie
Best Recipe EVER!!! Not because I like churros, because I totes hate em, but my husband loves them…that means dessert for him that won’t kill bikini-town…WOOT WOOT!!!! Gracias mi amiga!!
Tiffany
Churros remind me of Disneyland too.. it was the first time I ever had them. I will definitely have to try and make these!! :)
Jen
I have tried to make these TWICE and failed MISERABLY. I just realized why… The scissors. Duh. No wonder mine always ended up looking like poop. … Literally.
misslissa2323
LOL!! even w my annoying cold..your comment had me crackin’ up.. :0) I’m sure they’ll turn out great next go round!
toni
Your post made me laugh so hard. I remember my dad got free tickets when he returned from Vietnam in the late 60’s. I was also subjected to the boring Lincoln thing. I didn’t hear a single word I was busy fantasizing about the teacups and Dumbo ride! I didn’t realize generations later were still being subjected to this exhibit. I guess my kids were spared?
My food memory of Disneyland is eating rice balls. My Japanese mom woke up early and made them. Food was expensive at Disneyland so we went to the parking lot to eat them. They were so good when we were hot and hungry.
Once my over-weight, clumsy Aunt and my grandma from Iowa came with us. They didn’t fall but we didn’t have to see Lincoln again. We got a frozen banana that time. No rice balls.
kimberlycun
willing to do anything for a taste of those!
Lauren (La Maison)
Sooo.. Your cat is crazy?? Between beams on your ceiling and trees, I’m not sure that your cat is scared of anything!
Sonia
Hilarious!
carla
These look like penises.
Nicole
Very interesting; I would never have guessed that churros were essentially fried pâte à choux pastry. I’m highly tempted to make these as making pâte à choux is a breeze, but I’d need to get over my cooking phobia of deep-frying; which reminds me of this NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/dining/04recipes.html?ref=dining&pagewanted=all
What are your recipe deal breakers/cooking phobias?
It's Called Salt
When I was a little kid our town’s shopping mall had a food cart called The Burro Churro. They were only $1.00 a piece and I ate so many of them that I got grounded from the churro cart. Grounded. From the churro cart. I would also eventually be grounded from ordering one more slice of chocolate fudge layer cake from the cafe at the hotel where I lived for a while. Living in a hotel is another story but let’s just say that roller skates and cousins and large, empty, haunted, magical chandeliered ball rooms are happy memories. And so is eating so many custardy, crispy, sugary churros I was grounded from them. Thank you for reminding me of my delicious childhood.
Charlotte au Chocolat
OMG.
A Plum By Any Other Name
Good mother of god, your cat is insane! I had forgotten all about Abraham and Captain EO residing in the same park until you mentioned it. (My family also tortured me with the Hall of Presidents.) I remember the frozen chocolate covered bananas in Adventureland, but I sure as heck don’t remember any churros. Which is a shame. A real shame.
Sarah-Anne
those look SO good, but i can’t get over that crazy cat of yours!! :)
Patty Tomaskovic
Joy,
I couldn’t help but notice your pastry bag. It surprised me. It is totally clear. Wow! Never saw one like this. Is it disposable? Washable and reusable? What?????
I ask because I am looking for a good, commercial-grade pastry bag. My current one is a heavy gauge rubberized/cloth one, and it is starting to tear where the tip edge meets the bag. Not cool to have filling oozing out from the tear. Trust me on this one.
So…what’s your recommendation? I need to order one like…yesterday. Help!
Helen s
Your post made be laugh (but not until my eyes bled). My kids will be amazed if I make churros – they still hark back to having them in Barcelona 4 years ago when they were littler…
Janelle
I grew up in Anaheim, with annual passes to Disneyland. Churros totally remind me of childhood afternoons at the Magic Kingdom. But without the chocolate sauce. Churros need no sauce. Churros are already perfection.
Kat @ Cupcake Kat
Sweet I want to go to backstage Disney Land. I’ve only been to Tokyo Disney Land and there I got a honey churro, it was pretty good. I once made my own churros with spanish hot chocolate to dip them in. That was a delicious day. I need to make churros again. I love you cat
Amanda @Wandering
This whole post made me happy. Disneyland. Churros. Aunt injuries. My aunt conked her head on the way to Disneyland (soooo close to the pearly gates) and required stitches, and my dad still to this day – 26 years later – complains that he had to take her to the hospital. We are hardcore when it comes to the Land. Not the World. DLand.
Emily
I got my mouth/tongue stuck on a lemonade popsicle at Disney World one summer when I was 8. My mom freaked and shoved my head under the nearest water fountain and tons of folks started pouring their drinks on my face as I screamed. I actually burned my tongue and lips! Anyhoo– I too got ushered to that super secret place (its underground in Disney World), was brought normal lemonade instead of a popsicle one, and received ‘medical attention.’
Ahh those were the days.
I couldn’t resist sharing when I read your story.
Stephie
I spent a semester living/studying in Madrid, Spain, so that is what churros always remind me of. Every once in a (great) while, I have to make certain Spanish dishes to keep me from going crazy with second-homesickness (that would be a homesickness for one’s second home…duhhhh). These may have to get added to that repertoire.
Angela
GAHHHHH. Move here, live on my block.
Tamara
These look yummy! I don’t even need the chocolate sauce. :-)
Heidi @ Food Doodles
Those look insane. Somehow I think my hubby might love me more if I made these, but I have to resist! For a little while at least. Wow, those look good :D I remember going to Disneyland once when I was younger(with frizzy hair and big teeth too if I remember correctly). Although I never hurt myself in any way. But I would have purposely tripped or something if I could have seen Tinkerbell smoking. Hilarious!
The Jersey Wife
My son LOVES churros! Thank you so much for posting this. We’ll be making this one real soon!
jomamma
YUM! I love any and everything Mexican! My hubby tells people that I want to be a Mexican when I grow up. Well if it means eating Mexican food 3 meals a day and snacks like chocolate covered churros, then I’m there!!!
Anna
I love churros so much… if you lived in Austin, I’d take you to my favorite churro joint! But now, we can all have them at home! Sweet ace.
Stacy
I had to laugh out loud remembering Disneyland back then. It had to be the magical light show parade, with that funky catchy electronic music! That one was fun. Also, churros look DELICIOUS!
Happy When Not Hungry
Wow these churros look amazing!!! My mouth is watering as we speak!
Maris (In Good Taste)
No wonder Disney is the happiest place on earth! These look incredible! The sauce just takes it over the top!
Ricki
I’m pretty sure I gained 5 pounds just from looking at these pictures! Churros…yum!
Mariana
As a diabetic child, my time eating churros was very short =(
Here in Brazil, it’s very common to eat them with dulce de leche.
Well, I can get just the churro – without the cinnamon and the sugar and the dulce de leche
Paula at Dishing The Divine
My cat who is supposed to love heights loves nothing more than being on the floor. And the breed that isn’t supposed to love heights climbs to the top of a 6 foot tower any chance he can. What gives? Anyway, I want these churros and I’m not even a huge churro fan. I think it’s the chocolate sauce. I *am* a huge chocolate fan. :)
Mama Chicken
pretty sure that I’m going to be a super hero when I make these.
Monica
I made the same recipe the other day as a test… they lasted like 5 minutes, no enough to even take pictures to post them on the blog.. which means I need to make them again and double up the recipe… and yes your KITTY CAT IS NUTS!!!!! That is one high bean… I get the willies just looking at it.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
I love how you tell us to trust in the process of the dough. Lol.
And I love how you have hand written notes. I think all true cooks do!
And I have a 4 year old and we live in San Diego and so when we go to Disneyland, I know now what happens IF you fall. Mystery solved.
Now I just need to get my hot grease ready for the churros!
Erin @ Cake Makes Sense
ohmygoodness. those look amazingly delicious. is it wierd that i have a lot of food-related memories of disney as well? though mine memories involve couscous with cranberries at magic kingdom over thanksgiving break when i was nine. i wish i had a churro memory, though. yum!
A Tablespoon of Liz
These look so good! I’ve always wanted to make churros myself but I’ve always been to scared to, lol. And I don’t know what I would have done as a kid if I saw Goofy with his head off! I probably would have freaked out.
Sarah
Your cat is awesome. If my cat managed to get up there (unlikely, as he hasn’t figured out how to jump over the baby gate, and hasn’t (to my knowledge) ventured on the kitchen cabinets again since he broke a wine bottle and turned on the gas stove on his way down), he would likely fall off. And land on his head, or any part other than his feet. Because he’s just not that coordinated.
Lauren (PB&G)
These churros are awesome. So was Captain EO.. and the leaping water outside the theater. You know, you’re awesome!
Kimberly
Churros are fried. I know this. I’ve always known this. It’s part of what makes them so yummy. Yet somehow I let myself slip into a deep denial when you first mentioned that you were working on a post about churros. I told myself I was going to make – and gleefully eat – yummy homemade churros. I looked forward to the post and practically drooled as I read through it…until the frying. My denial bubble was popped and I remembered that churros are fried. Sigh…
I’m afraid to fry. :(
Manda
Thanks so much, Joy! Churros = great memories for me.
My only big family holiday was Disneyland (we’re Australian and we spent years saving) and I have a shameful photo of me at age 11 in the Main Street of DL complete with frizzy hair and a cartoon character shirt holding a churro. 90s fashion win!
jaclyn
delicious! this seems to be a basic pate a choux dough, right? so i bet you could pipe them onto a sheet pan, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake them to make like, the best eclairs ever, right? maybe fill them with cinnamon-spiced chocolate pastry cream?
oh god, i need to do this now. yum!
Le Man and Wife
Ok you seriously crack me up. BUT I totally saw one of the Cinderella mice (you know, the cute girl mice with the bows in their hair and cute flouncy dresses) with its head off SMOKING A CIGARETTE with a serious 5 o’clock shadow. Yep, a man. Ruined my Disney experience forever.
I also love your connection of Disney to churros. Perfect. Can’t wait to try them! :)
Emily
I too associate Churros with Disneyland…it was a tradition – go through the Haunted Mansion, hit the churro stand at the exit.
Mmmmm. You are evil. Glorious, but evil.
Melissa
SAME EXACT tradition here! Funny thing is when I took my kids there about two years ago they still have the churro stand in the exact same spot as when I was a kid. It was great sharing that tradition with them! :)
Jenn O.
I went to Disneyland when I was, like, 8 or something and barely remember anything…except the totally lame Hall of Presidents or whatever it was. It was the end of a very long day and I’m sure it was something my mom or grandparents thought would be “educational.” I make homemade funnel cakes every so often but never thought about trying churros. Sounds amazing!!
TyInTheSky
Not sure if I’m more excited about the churros or about the Captain EO, but either way, great post!
Michelle
awesomeness. great idea. totally with you. cats are as crazy as they come. totally amazing shit they can find themselves in.
Verelle
I think this is the perfect excuse to make some horchata and margaritas, then get busy making churros!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
I think the first (maybe only?) time I had a churro was in Disney World. These look amazing and now I want to bring them back into my life!
bakingepiphanies
huh, i never saw a churros recipe where the batter starts out like a pate a choux dough. but that might be because i’ve only seen one other churros recipe – so never mind. looks divine, as always. hope the cat survived!
Kristel T.M.
Disneyland and Churros do go hand in hand! Last time I was there I made it my mission to find every Churro stand in the park and I am happy to report that I completed my mission with time to spare. I am totally jealous of your backstage experience!
Thank you for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to tackle it!
Kathryn
Love churros! Except once I start eating them, I can’t really stop so perhaps I should step away from this recipe n
tj
…I’ve never heard of Churros. Chimichangas but never Churros. I know, I know, I need to get out more. *sigh*giggle* :o)
…Seriously tho’, these sound delicious! The dough reminds me of, what are those things called…oh, cream puffs. You kno’, those things where you bake and scoop out the center and fill ’em with custard or whipped cream? That is what I thought as I was watching you bring the dough together…
…Thank you Joy! And watch out Kitty! And also get down from there! ;o)
…Blessings… :o)
Jan
You can’t possible be from California if you havn’t heard of Churros. Am I right??? You are missing our on life! :-)
Brenda
Happy.
Disneyland, frizzy hair, Captain EO, smoking Tink…churros.
Just happy.
Jen of My Tiny Oven
Those look amazing! I wish I had a big plate of them right now.
Hope kitty is ok!!!
Caroline @ Pink Basil
These look so amazing Joy! Hope you got your cat down okay ;)
Barefeet In The Kitchen
Churros made at home? You are just evil, Joy! I am forbidding myself to even print this recipe. Those could be addictive.
jess
They do look perfectly tempting.
Three-Cookies
Water instead of milk? This is the lactose friendly version? Or the budget version?:)
Marianne G
This is the regular recipe – when fried, they are churros, but you can pipe these and bake them to make cream puffs or eclairs.