Children love to help make Churros! It is fun, bonding and that feeling of browned sugar and cinnamon on your fingers is priceless (just don't touch your eyes, as the cinnamon will burn!)
Often originating in Spain and Mexico, Churros have become equally popular in non Hispanic cultures and is often a mainstay at neighborhood street festivals. Nevertheless Churros are absolutely Hispanic in origin. There is Mexican chocolate and chocolate from just about every region of the world. You can surely use either milk dark or semi sweet.
For this recipe it is most authentic, if possible, to use MELTED chocolate from Mexico or South America.
CHURROS and CHOCOLATE!
Ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 cup whole milk
1 cup water
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp salt
2 cups all purpose flour
Oil for frying
Chocolate for melting and dipping **(There are many options but milk chocolate generally works/tastes best with Churros.)
Recipe Directions:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, salt and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in flour until mixture forms a ball.
Heat oil for frying in a deep fryer or deep pot to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Pipe 5- to 6-inch strips of dough into the hot oil using a sturdy pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip. Do not overcrowd the oil. Fry until golden; drain on paper towels.
Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll drained churros in cinnamon and sugar mixture.
** Please note the oil will get very hot. Have your kids help gather the ingredients and mix them but leave the frying to the adult. Kids will also LOVE helping to....taste test!
PS The word Churro is a noun (in Spain and Latin America) and it means: a sweet, baton-shaped snack of fried dough.
In Spanish slang the word Churro means: "attractive man!"
Enjoy!
