Disneyland Churros: Homemade Magic

Bring the magic of Disneyland home with these easy-to-make cinnamon sugar churros!

I’ve always had a deep love for churros. The crispy exterior, the soft inside, and the generous coating of cinnamon sugar – what’s not to love?

I still remember when 180 Xurros opened in Portland, it was a dream come true for me and my churro-obsessed kids!

And when I had the opportunity to cover the opening of Pixar Pier at Disneyland, I knew I HAD to try the iconic Cinnamon Sugar Galaxy Churro from Señor Buzz Churro!

So, when my children beg me to make them at home, the answer is always an enthusiastic “YES!” No hesitation, dropping everything, eyes wide with excitement – that’s the kind of “yes” it is!

What Exactly Are Churros? A Delicious Deep Dive

If you’re not already acquainted with the magic of churros, I have absolutely no doubt you’ll fall in love the moment you try one. These delightful treats are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Churros originated in Spain and Portugal and are essentially fried dough pastries generously coated in cinnamon sugar. These irresistible sugary delights are often served with a piece of parchment paper wrapped around one end, ensuring your hands remain delightfully clean while you indulge.

Today, churros have conquered menus far and wide across America, gracing everything from food trucks to upscale restaurants and, of course, the one and only “Happiest Place on Earth!” You’ll find churros everywhere these days.

Recreating the Disneyland Magic: Homemade Churros

Recently, Disney generously shared their official churro recipe, allowing all of us to recreate the theme park magic right in our own kitchens. And I am here to show you how to do it!

I’ve used their recipe as my foundation, tweaking it slightly to create something I know you are going to love.

Unlocking the Secret: Churro Ingredients

The beauty of churros lies in their simplicity; the ingredients are incredibly straightforward. In fact, you likely already have most, if not all, of what you need sitting in your pantry right now!

To whip up these irresistible churro bites, you’ll need:

• Cinnamon
• Sugar
• Butter
• Water
• Salt
• Flour
• Vegetable Oil
• Eggs

Step-by-Step Guide: From Scratch Churros

The first step in your churro-making adventure is creating that irresistible cinnamon sugar coating. Simply combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Seasoned bakers might even have a pre-mixed mason jar of cinnamon sugar, knowing how frequently this magical combination comes in handy!

Place the cinnamon sugar in a shallow bowl and set aside for later.

Now, let’s get started on the dough. Melt the butter, water, salt, and a touch of cinnamon together in a saucepan.

Once that mixture has fully melted, gradually add the flour, stirring gently until it forms a cohesive dough ball.

Allow the dough to rest for a few minutes before adding the eggs, one at a time, and stirring until everything is thoroughly combined.

Transfer the dough into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. A star tip is essential to give the churros their distinctive ridges.

Heat the vegetable oil in a deep skillet. Then, gently pipe the dough into the hot oil, forming churro bites that are about 2 inches long. Use a butter knife to carefully cut each piece of dough and gently drop it into the oil. Be careful of splattering oil!

Fry the churros until they achieve a beautiful golden-brown color, turning them over occasionally to ensure even cooking on all sides. Use a spider or slotted spoon to carefully remove the cooked churros from the oil. Place the warm churros directly into the bowl of cinnamon sugar, coating them thoroughly on all sides. Allow them to rest on a plate while you repeat the process until all the churro bites have been cooked and coated.

Exact measurements of ingredients and detailed instructions can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. But before you jump there, here are some helpful tips to guide you through the process.

Essential Tips for Homemade Churro Success

• Avoid overfilling the pastry bag. This can lead to a messy situation where dough spills out of the top, giving you less control over the churro shapes you’re trying to create.
• Ensure you push the dough as far down as possible in the pastry bag before twisting the top. This allows you to maintain consistent pressure and achieve a smooth piping action.
• When frying the churro bites, avoid overcrowding the pan. I recommend leaving a couple of inches between each churro to allow for even cooking. Overcrowding can cause them to cook unevenly and potentially stick together.
• Pay close attention to the first batch and observe how quickly the batter cooks. Adjust the heat accordingly to ensure each batch cooks evenly and to perfection.

Serving Suggestions: Elevating Your Churro Experience

Personally, my favorite way to enjoy homemade churros is by dipping them in melted chocolate. The combination of warm, cinnamon-sugar-coated churros with rich, decadent chocolate is simply divine!

However, the dipping possibilities are endless! You could also try:

• Salted caramel
• Dulce de leche sauce
• A fresh berry sauce

Of course, churros are equally delicious all on their own, without any dips or sauces. Sometimes, the simple pleasures are the best!

Storage Guide: Keeping Your Churros Fresh

If your family is anything like mine, there won’t be any churro leftovers. Ever. They will be gone in a flash.

But, if you’re making a batch for yourself or a small gathering, you might end up with some extras. In that case, place any leftover churros in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh for up to two days.

It’s important to note that churros start to lose their crispiness shortly after they cool down. That’s why they are best enjoyed on the same day they are made, ideally within an hour or two of cooking.

More Irresistible Dessert Recipes

• Butterscotch Cookies
• Apple Pie Bars
• Giant Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies
• Chewy Chocolate Fudge Cookies
• Soft Lemon Sugar Cookies with Orange and Lime

Disneyland Churros Recipe

Rate this recipe
5 from 9 votes

By Marlynn Schotland

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Servings: 24 mini churros

Save
Pin
Print

This easy churros recipe brings a bit of Disney at home! Easy to make and fun to eat, these churros are sweet, sugary snacks the whole family will love.

Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients

Cinnamon Sugar

• ▢ 1/2 cup sugar
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Churros

• ▢ 1 cup water
• ▢ 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 3 eggs, at room temperature
• ▢ 1-1/2 cups vegetable oil or canola oil

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon until well mixed. Set aside.
2. Add water, butter, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir to combine while the water comes to a boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce heat to low.
3. Add flour and work quickly to stir flour into the mixture until it forms a ball. Remove from heat and let rest for 5-7 minutes.
4. Then add the eggs one at a time and stir until combined. Set aside.
5. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, or until temperature reaches 350°F.
6. While the oil is heating up, spoon dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Once the oil has heated up, carefully pipe 1-inch to 2-inch strips of dough over the saucepan and cut with a knife, letting the dough gently drop into the hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill the saucepan without overlapping.
7. Fry churros until golden brown, turning over once to brown all sides. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon and place onto a bowl covered with paper towells to drain.
8. While the churros are still warm, gently toss them into the bowl of cinnamon sugar mix until all sides are coated. Place onto a serving plate and serve with chocolate dipping sauce.

Notes

This recipe makes between 40-45 churro bites, depending on the size you cut the churro dough.
If you have any leftover, you can store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

Nutrition

Calories: 102kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 33mg, Potassium: 10mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 147IU, Vitamin C: 0.003mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe adapted from Disney

Pin This Recipe!