CHURROS
Makes about 12
These fluted, fried pastries should be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, much like a cream puff. Many recipes called for piping the dough directly into a vat of hot oil, but this process to be not only hectic but also maybe dangerous—splashing oil made a mess of the stovetop and threatened to burn your hands and forearms). Instead, pipe dough logs onto a rimmed baking sheet and slip them into the frying oil in batches to minimize the splashing. Piping while the dough is still warm helps get the stiff dough through the small opening in a piping bag without a fight. Adapted from Cooks Country.
Dough
2 cups water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups (10 ounces) all purpose flour
2 large eggs
2 quarts vegetable oil
Chocolate sauce
3/4 cup heavy cream
4 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips
Pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coating
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Use a closed star #8 pastry tip, 5/8 inch in diameter, to create deeply grooved ridges in the churros. However, you can use any large, closed star tip of similar diameter, though your yield may vary slightly. It’s important to mix the dough for 1 minute in step 2 before adding the eggs to keep them from scrambling.
FOR THE DOUGH:
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with vegetable oil spray. Combine water, butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt in large saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; add flour all at once and stir with rubber spatula until well combined, with no streaks of flour remaining.
Transfer dough to bowl of stand mixer. Fit mixer with paddle and mix on low speed until cooled slightly, about 1 minute. Add eggs, increase speed to medium, and beat until fully incorporated, about 1 minute.
Transfer warm dough to piping bag fitted with 5/8-inch closed star pastry tip. Pipe 18 (6-inch) lengths of dough onto prepared sheet, using scissors to snip dough at tip. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour.
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Set wire rack in second rimmed baking sheet and place in oven. Line large plate with triple layer of paper towels. Add oil to Dutch oven until it measures about 1 1/2 inches deep and heat over medium-high heat to 375 degrees.
Gently drop 6 churros into hot oil and fry until dark golden brown on all sides, about 6 minutes, turning frequently for even cooking. Adjust burner, if necessary, to maintain oil temperature between 350 and 375 degrees. Transfer churros to paper towel–lined plate for 30 seconds to drain off excess oil, then transfer to wire rack in oven. Return oil to 375 degrees and repeat with remaining dough in 2 more batches.
FOR THE CHOCOLATE SAUCE: Microwave cream, chocolate chips, and salt in bowl at 50 percent power, stirring occasionally, until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla until smooth.
FOR THE COATING: Combine sugar and cinnamon in shallow dish. Roll churros in cinnamon sugar, tapping gently to remove excess. Transfer churros to platter and serve warm with chocolate sauce.