I fell in love with these sweet air fryer churro bites because they deliver all the carnival-style flavor I crave—crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, and coated in warm cinnamon sugar—all without the mess of deep frying. They’re ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for a cozy snack or dessert.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I adore this recipe because it's fast, simple, and much lighter than traditional churros. There’s no need to heat up a pot of oil—and yet, the air fryer still gives me that irresistible golden crispiness. It’s fun to make, even more fun to eat, and perfect for satisfying those spontaneous sweet cravings.

ingredients

(Here's a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

1 cup plain flour
1 cup water
⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup granulated sugar (for coating)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

directions

I combine water, butter, salt, and sugar in a saucepan and bring it to a rolling boil.
I add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously until the mixture pulls away from the pan and forms a smooth dough.
I remove the dough and let it cool for 4–5 minutes.
Once cooled, I transfer it to a bowl and beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the dough is creamy and pipeable.
I preheat my air fryer to 375 °F (190 °C) and lightly spray the basket with oil.
I pipe or spoon 1–2 inch dough bites into the basket, leaving space between each for even cooking.
I brush them lightly with melted butter (optional) and air fry for 10–12 minutes, or until golden and crisp.
Immediately after cooking, I toss the bites in a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon until fully coated.
I serve them warm—sometimes with a side of chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, or Nutella.

Servings and timing

Makes: about 20–30 churro bites
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10–12 minutes per batch
Total time: 20–25 minutes

Variations

I often fill some dough balls with Nutella or dulce de leche before air frying for a gooey center.
I like to add a pinch of nutmeg to the dough or swap in almond extract for a flavor twist.
For a festive touch, I dip cooled bites in melted chocolate and sprinkle crushed nuts or colorful sprinkles.

storage/reheating

These are best eaten fresh and warm.
I store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
To reheat, I pop them back into the air fryer at 350 °F for 2–3 minutes to regain crispiness—microwaves make them too soft.
You can prep the dough and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before air frying; I let them come to room temperature before cooking.

FAQs

¿Can I make these ahead?

I often mix and shape the dough ahead of time, refrigerate the bites, then air fry them just before serving. They need to come to room temp before cooking.

¿Do I have to use oil in the air fryer?

I lightly spray or brush the bites with oil or butter—it helps them crisp and brown better, but you use much less than for frying.

¿Can I use store-bought dough instead?

Yes—I’ve used biscuit or crescent roll dough for convenience. I just cut them into small pieces and follow the same air-fry process.

¿How do I keep them crispy?

Serving right after coating helps. If I need to keep them, I place them in a 200 °F warm oven. Also, reheating in the air fryer revives that crispness.

¿Can I freeze them?

Absolutely! I freeze the shaped dough balls on a tray, then store them in a bag. When ready, I air fry directly from frozen—adding 2–3 extra minutes of cook time.

Conclusion

Sweet air fryer churro bites are my go‑to snack when I want crunchy, cinnamon-sugar goodness without the oil and fuss of deep frying. They’re quick, satisfying, and crowd-pleasing—whether plain, dipped, or filled. Once I tried them, I never looked back!