Cheater Churros Recipes

HOMEMADE CHURROS

Steps:

• For the churros: In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the butter, sugar and salt to the water and stir until the butter is melted, the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is returned to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour and cinnamon in a medium bowl until combined.
• Turn off the heat. Using a heatsafe rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in the flour mixture until it's evenly saturated and coming together in a smooth ball. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Use the spatula to break up the dough into small pieces in the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla. Using a hand mixer on medium speed, work your way around the bowl incorporating the chunks of dough, egg and vanilla. The mixture will be lumpy at first. After 5 minutes of mixing, it should be evenly hydrated and smooth.
• Transfer the mixture to a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip. Note: A quart container or large cup is very useful to have standing by, since you will be picking up and putting down your pastry bag quite a bit.
• For the coating: In a baking dish or large bowl, add the sugar, cinnamon and salt. This will be used to coat the churros, so make sure the vessel is large enough that a churro can lay flat in the sugar mixture.
• To a large heavy-bottomed pot, add 1 1/2 to 2 inches of vegetable oil. Set over medium-high heat until a deep-frying thermometer registers 350 degrees F.
• Reduce the heat to medium and using your pastry bag, pipe four 5-inch-long churros directly into the oil. Use kitchen shears or a paring knife to cut off the dough from the piping bag so that it will fall into the hot oil. (The churros should not feel crowded; the number you can cook at a time will vary depending on your pot size.) Cook until the outsides are dark golden brown and the insides are cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes on each side. The churros should be a dark golden color before you flip them. Periodically check your thermometer and increase or decrease the heat as needed to keep your oil at 350 degrees F.
• When the churros are dark golden on both sides, lift them out with tongs and place on a rack to cool slightly and drain excess oil. While they are still warm, toss them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture so they have a nice even coating. Repeat with the remaining dough. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CHEATER CHURROS

Steps:

• Put the vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot fitted with a deep-frying thermometer. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F. Place a cooling rack over a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
• Fit a large piping bag with a small star tip.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the pancake mix, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Pour in the milk and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously to form a thick dough. Transfer the dough to the prepared piping bag and squeeze to press the dough down towards the tip.
• Carefully squeeze about 3 inches of dough into the hot oil. Use a pair of kitchen shears to trim the end of the churro from the piping bag. Repeat this process to create 3 more churros. Fry the churros, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Lift the churros out of the hot oil and allow any excess oil to drip off. Place the churros onto the cooling rack and continue this process until all of the dough has been fried.
• Place the granulated sugar into a shallow bowl. Dredge the warm churros in the sugar until evenly coated on all sides. Serve with the Chocolate Dipping Sauce.
• Put the fudge, cream, cinnamon, chili powder and salt in a small saucepot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cools.