Churros with Chocolate Ganache

Yields: 4 servings

Time: 20 minutes prep, 20 minutes cooking, 40 minutes total

INGREDIENTS:

For the churros

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, straight from the fridge
• Canola or other neutral oil for frying

For the chocolate dipping sauce

• 3/4 cup chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For coating

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start the churro dough—Add water, milk, butter, sugar, and salt to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture boils. Remove from heat.

2. Add the flour—Immediately add flour (all at once) and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until all the flour is throughly mixed in. Return to medium heat and continue stirring until dough comes together in a ball leaving a thin film on the bottom of pan. This should take about 2 minutes.

3. Finish the dough—Transfer to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until mixture cools slightly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating until each one incorporates before adding the next. Continue beating until dough becomes smooth.

4. Prepare to fry—Add vegetable oil to a large pot until it’s about 2 inches deep. Place over medium heat until it reaches 375° F. In a shallow bowl or baking dish, mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon for rolling.

5. Fry the churros—Transfer dough to a pastry bag fitted with a large open star tip. Hold bag a few inches above the oil and carefully pipe 4- to 6-inch long ropes of dough, cutting with scissors. Work in batches, about 4-5 churros at a time. Fry until golden on the underside, about 1 1/2 minutes. Flip and continue frying for another minute or so. Remove churros with tongs or a slotted spoon, roll in cinnamon sugar mixture, and transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough, making sure that oil temperature returns to 375°F after each batch.

6. Meanwhile, make the sauce—Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour hot cream over chocolate and let sit till chocolate melts, about 2 minutes. Add cinnamon and salt and whisk till everything’s combined. Transfer to serving bowl.

7. Serve and enjoy—Transfer warm churros to a bowl or plate, add a side of chocolate dipping sauce and dig in!

TIPS:

Piping Tip—Don’t keep pastry bags on hand? Just snip one corner off a large plastic zip-top bag, fill with dough, and pipe away. Churros won’t look as fancy, but they’ll still taste spectacular.

Sticky Situation—Transfer churros to a paper towel-lined plate and dab excess oil, if you must, but then roll them in the cinnamon sugar ASAP or it won’t stick. Nothing sadder than a naked churro.