Churros

Churros or the Spanish doughnut is a deep fried dough pastry served with hot chocolate or café con leche. A popular snack or breakfast item in Spain, France, Portugal, United States, Philippines and Latin America, it is usually sold by street vendors (churrerías) where it is sold freshly made and hot but due to its popularity it is now widely available in cafes and specialty shops.

History of this dish is somehow divided and there are two claims on how it started, some said it was brought over by the Portuguese from the culinary techniques learned from Southern China where they tried to modify a dough for You tiao by introducing a star design and instead of “pulling” the dough it is extruded out through a star-shaped die. Another story says that it was made by Spanish shepherds as a way to substitute for fresh bakery goods as the method of preparing churros is easy and can be easily cooked in an open fire in the mountains where shepherds spend most of their time.

A really good snack or breakfast item and if you find that this is as easy as a pancake I bet you would change your morning menus.

Ingredients (Churros)

2 cups water
5 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp butter
2 cups flour
cinnamon powder
confectioners’ sugar
oil for deep frying

Ingredients (Chocolate Syrup)

150 g dark chocolate
150 ml cream
1 tsp butter, softened
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method (Churros)

1. In a small saucepan in medium heat mix together water, sugar, salt and 2 tbsp canola oil. Bring it to a boil then remove from heat.
2. Add the flour in and mix until it forms a ball.
3. Heat oil in a deep fryer.
4. Place dough in piping bag with wide star head pattern then pipe strips of dough (6 inch long strips) into the hot oil and fry until golden brown.
5. Once cooked drain on a plate line with paper towels.
6. Sprinkle cinnamon powder, drizzle with chocolate syrup and finally drizzle confectioners’ sugar on top. Serve hot.

Ingredients (Chocolate Sauce)

1. Pour cream into a small saucepan then add the cinnamon stick, sugar, butter and vanilla extract then simmer in low heat for 3 minutes.
2. Add the chopped chocolate then mix well then continue to simmer for 2 minutes. Pour in a cup then serve with churros.