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.
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.