Churro Waffles
All you need is a waffle maker to whip up this dreamy churro recipe.
Serves4
Prep5 minutes
Cook35 minutes
When the summer heat and humidity eases up in Latin America and Spain, it’s time for churros and hot chocolate. But if you live in an area where these cinnamon-sugar dusted batons aren’t fried up and served on every other street corner, there are other options. Yes, I am about to suggest you make them yourself, but hear me out.
You don’t need to heat up a vat of oil and pipe perfectly straight rows of dough — as long as you have a waffle maker. This trusty appliance will get you the crispy edges and chewy centers you know and love about churros, without the fuss of frying.
Regular Waffle Batter Versus Churro Waffles
This churro waffle batter is essentially churro dough, which closely resembles pâte à choux, a simple pastry dough that acts as the base for many European desserts, such as cream puffs, eclairs, and crullers. It’s cooked briefly on the stove before being baked or fried (or, in this case, waffled). Unlike waffle batter, churro dough doesn’t have a leavening agent, such as yeast or baking powder. Instead, the high moisture content in the dough steams and gives the dough its airy lift. It’s also much thicker and stickier than waffle batter — that’s what gives churro waffles that unmistakable crispy-yet-chewy texture.
How to Make Churro Waffles
To make churro waffles, you’ll need to boil milk, water, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a pot and then stir in flour. This brief moment on the stovetop is the key to the light and airy texture. Once it cools down a little, the eggs go in one at a time (a too-hot dough can end up scrambling the eggs). The waffles are then cooked per usual in a standard waffle maker.
What to Serve with Churro Waffles
Churro waffles absolutely must be coated in cinnamon sugar. All other toppings and sides are optional.
- Chocolate sauce
- Dulce de leche
- Ice cream
- Nutella
- Whipped cream
- Fresh fruit
Churro Waffles Recipe
All you need is a waffle maker to whip up this dreamy churro recipe.
Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 35 minutes
Serves 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the waffles:
- 1/2 cup
whole milk
- 6 tablespoons
unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon
granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract
- 1 cup
all-purpose flour
- 3
large eggs
For the topping:
- 2 tablespoons
unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup
granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon
ground cinnamon
For the chocolate sauce:
- 1/2 cup
heavy cream
- 3/4 cup
semisweet chocolate chips (4 1/2 ounces)
- 1/2 teaspoon
ancho chile powder
- 1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon
ground cinnamon
Instructions
Place 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup milk, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add 1 cup all-purpose flour and vigorously mix with a wooden spoon until a dough forms, about 30 seconds. The dough will be thick and light golden.
Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions to medium heat and prepare the cinnamon-sugar topping and chocolate sauce.
Microwave 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl until melted, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Place 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a small bowl and stir to combine.
Microwave 1/2 cup heavy cream in a small microwave-safe bowl until just beginning to bubble, 1 to 2 minutes. Place 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, 1/2 teaspoon ancho chile powder, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a medium bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let stand for 1 minute. Whisk until smooth.
To the slightly cooled dough, stir in 3 large eggs one at a time, stirring and making sure each egg is incorporated before adding the next. The dough will look broken up initially but will come back together — that’s when you add the next egg. Stir until the batter is smooth, thick, and sticky.
Spoon the recommended amount of batter from the waffle iron manufacturer's instructions onto the waffle iron and spread the dough slightly. Cook until golden-brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet to cool slightly. Repeat cooking the remaining batter.
Brush both sides of each waffle with the melted butter and let excess butter drip back into the butter bowl. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon-sugar to coat each waffle all over.
To serve, either drizzle waffles with the chocolate sauce or cut waffles into 1-inch strips and serve with the chocolate sauce on the side for dipping.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Though they are best served fresh and warm, churro waffles can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Crisp up waffles in a 300º F oven for 4 to 6 minutes.