Pumpkin Churros Recipe

Spiced Pumpkin Churros Recipe: A Crispy Fall Treat

Crafting delightful pumpkin churros brings a whimsical twist to classic street treats.

Sweet aromas will dance through your kitchen as cinnamon and nutmeg blend seamlessly.

Mexican-inspired pastries promise an autumn celebration of flavor and texture.

Crispy exterior and soft interior create a magical contrast that delights the senses.

Homemade churros offer a nostalgic comfort perfect for cozy afternoons.

Warm spices and golden-brown edges beckon you to savor every delectable bite.

Roll up your sleeves and let the culinary adventure begin!

Why Pumpkin Churros Are A Crispy Fall Favorite

  • Boost Fall Flavor: Elevate traditional churros with a delightful pumpkin twist that brings seasonal warmth and spice to every bite.
  • Master Simple Technique: Learn an approachable cooking method that transforms basic ingredients into a restaurant-quality dessert with minimal kitchen skills required.
  • Create Crowd-Pleasing Treat: Surprise family and friends with a unique dessert that combines the beloved churro texture with comforting pumpkin spice notes, perfect for gatherings and celebrations.
  • Quick Dessert Solution: Prepare a showstopping sweet treat in under an hour, delivering maximum flavor with minimal preparation time and straightforward cooking steps.

What You’ll Need For Pumpkin Churros

Base Ingredients:
  • Water: Essential liquid for creating the churros dough base.
  • Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps bind the dough together.
  • Pumpkin Puree: Adds moisture and distinctive seasonal pumpkin flavor to the churros.
  • Flour: The primary structural ingredient that gives churros their classic texture.
Binding Ingredients:
  • Eggs: Help bind the dough and create a smooth, cohesive texture.
  • Baking Powder: Provides lift and helps create a light, airy churro.
Seasoning and Coating Ingredients:
  • Salt, Ground Cinnamon: Enhance the overall flavor profile of the churros.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the churro dough.
  • Vegetable Oil: Used for deep-frying the churros to achieve a crispy exterior.
Finishing Ingredients:
  • Granulated Sugar, Additional Ground Cinnamon: Create a sweet and spicy coating for the warm churros.

How To Fry Up Pumpkin Churros At Home

Step 1: Prepare Flavor Base

Combine water, butter, salt, and ground cinnamon in a medium saucepan. Heat the mixture until butter melts completely and starts to simmer, creating a fragrant foundation for your churros.

Step 2: Create Smooth Liquid Mixture

Remove the pan from heat and whisk in pumpkin puree and vanilla extract. Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and fully integrated, developing a rich, autumn-inspired flavor profile.

Step 3: Build the Dough Foundation

Gradually fold in flour and baking powder, stirring carefully to form a cohesive dough. Ensure no dry patches remain, creating a consistent texture that will guarantee perfect churros.

Step 4: Develop Dough Consistency

Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. This process creates a uniform, slightly sticky dough that will provide the ideal churro texture and structure.

Step 5: Prepare Piping Equipment

Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped tip. Carefully eliminate any air bubbles to ensure smooth piping and beautiful churro shapes.

Step 6: Heat Cooking Oil

Warm vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven, bringing the temperature to 375°F. Maintain a consistent heat to achieve perfectly crispy churros.

Step 7: Pipe and Fry Churros

Carefully pipe 4-inch churro strips directly into the hot oil. Use scissors to cut the dough from the piping tip, creating individual churro segments.

Step 8: Achieve Golden Perfection

Fry churros for 2-3 minutes per side, rotating to ensure even golden-brown coloration. Look for a crispy exterior that promises delightful crunch.

Step 9: Drain Excess Oil

Remove churros with a slotted spoon, placing them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil and maintain their crispy texture.

Step 10: Create Cinnamon Sugar Coating

Mix granulated sugar and additional ground cinnamon in a shallow dish, preparing the final flavor-packed coating.

Step 11: Add Final Touch

While churros are still warm, roll each piece thoroughly in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Ensure complete and even coating for maximum flavor.

Step 12: Serve and Enjoy

Serve immediately to preserve optimal crispness and warmth. Delight in this pumpkin-spiced twist on the classic churro, celebrating autumn’s most beloved flavors.

Tips To Make Perfect Pumpkin Churros

  • Control Oil Temperature: Use a reliable thermometer to maintain consistent 375°F for perfect golden-brown churros without burning.
  • Prevent Dough Sticking: Lightly oil piping bag and star tip to help dough slide smoothly and create clean churro shapes.
  • Master Dough Consistency: Stir flour mixture gently to avoid overmixing, which can make churros dense and tough instead of light and crispy.
  • Drain Excess Oil: Let churros rest on paper towels at a slight angle to help excess oil drip away, ensuring a crunchier texture.
  • Store Smart: If not serving immediately, keep churros warm in a low-temperature oven (200°F) for up to 30 minutes without losing crispness.

Flavor Combos For Pumpkin Churros

  • Chocolate-Pumpkin Churros: Add cocoa powder to the dough and drizzle melted dark chocolate over churros after coating with cinnamon-sugar.
  • Maple-Pecan Churros: Replace sugar coating with maple sugar and sprinkle chopped pecans on top for a nutty autumn flavor.
  • Cream Cheese Stuffed Churros: Create a pumpkin cream cheese filling and pipe inside the churros before frying for an extra creamy center.
  • Salted Caramel Pumpkin Churros: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce over churros and sprinkle with sea salt flakes for a rich, decadent version.

What To Serve With Pumpkin Churros

  • Pair Warm Mexican Hot Chocolate: Rich, spicy cocoa perfectly complements the pumpkin churros' warm cinnamon notes, creating a harmonious flavor explosion that elevates the dessert experience.
  • Drizzle Caramel Sauce: Smooth, buttery caramel adds luxurious depth to the crispy churros, enhancing the pumpkin's natural sweetness and providing a decadent finishing touch.
  • Serve Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Creamy, cold vanilla ice cream creates a delightful temperature contrast with the warm, crispy churros, balancing the spicy-sweet profile and adding a refreshing element.
  • Sprinkle Toasted Pecans: Crunchy, nutty pecans bring a subtle earthy undertone that beautifully complements the pumpkin's warmth and adds an unexpected textural dimension to the dessert.

How To Keep Pumpkin Churros Crisp

  • Store cooled churros in an airtight container lined with paper towels to absorb moisture, keeping them fresh for up to 2 days at room temperature.
  • Wrap individual churros tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe ziplock bags, preserving quality for 2-3 weeks in the freezer.
  • Revive refrigerated or frozen churros by placing them in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, restoring their crispy texture and warm interior.
  • Place a small piece of paper towel in the storage container to absorb excess moisture, maintaining the churros' signature crunch.

Pumpkin Churros Questions, Answered

  • Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the churros dough up to 24 hours in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before piping and frying.

  • What if my dough is too runny or too thick?

If the dough seems too thin, add a bit more flour. If it’s too thick, mix in a small amount of water until you reach a pipeable consistency that holds its shape.

  • Do I need a special piping tip for churros?

A large star-shaped tip is ideal for creating the traditional ridged churro texture, but you can use a large round tip if that’s what you have available.

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Pumpkin Churros Recipe

Pumpkin Churros Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 19 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Spanish churros meet autumn’s warmth in this delightful Pumpkin Churros recipe, blending cinnamon-spiced dough with crispy edges and a tender core. Rich seasonal flavors and golden-brown perfection invite you to savor a sweet moment of culinary joy.


Ingredients

Scale

Churros

  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter

Dry Ingredients

  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Coating and Frying

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Combine water, butter, salt, and ground cinnamon in a medium saucepan, heating until butter melts completely and mixture begins to simmer.
  2. Remove from heat and immediately whisk in pumpkin puree and vanilla extract until smooth and fully integrated.
  3. Gradually fold in flour and baking powder, stirring until a cohesive dough forms without any dry patches.
  4. Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to create a uniform, slightly sticky dough.
  5. Transfer dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star-shaped tip, ensuring no air bubbles remain.
  6. Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 375°F, maintaining a consistent temperature.
  7. Carefully pipe 4-inch churro strips directly into hot oil, using scissors to cut dough from the piping tip.
  8. Fry churros for 2-3 minutes per side, rotating to ensure even golden-brown coloration and crispy exterior.
  9. Remove churros with a slotted spoon, allowing excess oil to drain on paper towel-lined plate.
  10. Mix granulated sugar and additional ground cinnamon in a shallow dish.
  11. While churros are still warm, roll each piece thoroughly in cinnamon-sugar mixture, coating completely.
  12. Serve immediately for optimal crispness and warmth, enjoying the pumpkin-spiced twist on classic churros.

Notes

  • Check oil temperature precisely with a thermometer to ensure perfect crispiness and prevent soggy or burned churros.
  • Refrigerate dough for 15-20 minutes before piping to help maintain defined star-shaped ridges during frying.
  • Use gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly version without compromising texture or flavor.
  • Pat churros gently with paper towels to remove excess oil, creating lighter, less greasy final product.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 30 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 20 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 60 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg
Truc Tran (Kris)

Truc Tran (Kris)

Senior Food Editor

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Baking and Pastry, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Vietnamese Food Evaluation Expert

Education

  • Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) at TasTAFE
  • Culinary Arts at Kendall College (Australia Branch in Sydney)
  • Vietnamese Cuisine Head Chef at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

Truc Tran (Kris), an experienced food writer and editor, is great at exploring and describing global cuisines, from simple street food to fancy dining. In her writing, she skillfully mixes different flavors, cooking methods, and culinary traditions, showing the unique character of various cultures through their food and drinks. On azcuisines.com, Kris highlights her knowledge, especially in Asian cuisine and worldwide traditional dishes.

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