Spanish Churros with Caramel Sauce
Crispy fried Spanish churros with a homemade caramel sauce. Butter and flour dough is piped into hot oil until golden, then paired with a rich sauce made from melted sugar, butter, and heavy cream with optional sea salt for a salted caramel finish.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat
- 2
Add water and sugar, bring to a boil
- 3
Remove from heat and add flour all at once
- 4
Mix continuously with a wooden spoon until sticky dough forms and separates from pot sides
- 5
Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to rest and cool
- 6
Transfer cooled dough to a piping bag fitted with a star tip
- 7
Heat vegetable oil to 350°F
- 8
Pipe dough directly into hot oil in 4" lengths using kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to cut
- 9
Cook for around 3 minutes per side until golden brown, frying 2 or 3 at a time
- 10
Remove churros and drain on paper towels
- 11
For caramel sauce: heat sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until melted and golden, swirling pan without stirring to prevent crystallization
- 12
Add butter and whisk strongly until melted and fully combined
- 13
Remove from heat and add heavy cream, whisking until combined
- 14
Add sea salt if using
- 15
Let caramel cool slightly
- 16
Serve churros with caramel sauce in a small bowl
Tips
Do not stir the caramel sugar; only swirl the pan to prevent crystallization
Fry only 2 or 3 churros at a time to avoid overcrowding and uneven cooking
Be cautious when adding cream to hot caramel as it will bubble and release steam
Good to Know
Caramel sauce keeps in a heat-proof container at room temperature for several days
Dough can be made and refrigerated up to 1 day ahead. Caramel sauce can be made several hours in advance and reheated gently
Serve churros warm with caramel sauce in a small bowl for dipping
Common Mistakes
Do not stir caramel while sugar melts to avoid crystallization
Do not add cream too quickly to hot caramel to avoid burns and excessive splattering
Do not fry too many churros at once to avoid oil temperature drop and soggy results