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.
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! :)