Home → Recipes → Dessert → Pastry → Air Fryer Crescent Churros

Air Fryer Crescent Churros

Author: Laurie Fleming
Published: August 12, 2020

Jump to recipe

Air Fryer Crescent Churros are amazing! If you are looking for the perfect sweet treat made in the air fryer, this one is so easy and so good!

I love a great batch of Air Fryer Crescent Churros. They are light, tender, and perfectly flavored with a simple churro mix.

If you love a great batch of something unique, you will love this foolproof recipe for homemade churros! It is so much easier and faster than making dough for traditional churros.

If you are looking for some other easy Air Fryer Dessert Recipes, some of my favorites are AIR FRYER CINNAMON STICKY BUNS, AIR FRYER POWDERED SUGAR DONUTS, AIR FRYER CINNAMON CHURRO BITES, and AIR FRYER BANANA DONUTS.

What Are Crescent Churros

Crescent Churros are a simple, inventive twist on traditional churros, using crescent roll dough as the base for ease and convenience.

This clever hack transforms store-bought crescent roll dough into a delightful treat that mimics the crispy exterior and soft interior of classic churros but without the need for piping the dough or deep frying.

Why You Will Love Air Fryer Crescent Churros

Making crescent churros in an air fryer not only simplifies the cooking process but also adds a range of benefits that make this method highly appealing. Here’s why you will love air fryer crescent churros:

Healthier Option: Air frying requires significantly less oil than traditional frying methods, making these churros healthier than their deep-fried counterparts. You enjoy the delightful crunch and texture without all the extra grease.
Quick and Easy: The air fryer heats up and cooks the churros quickly, making this a perfect last-minute treat. Plus, using crescent roll dough cuts down on preparation time, instantly satisfying those sweet cravings.
Crispy Texture: Air fryers are excellent for achieving a beautifully crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft and tender. This means your crescent churros will have that perfect churro texture—crispy and delightfully soft.
Less Mess: Avoid the splatter and cleanup associated with deep frying. Air frying crescent churros means you won’t have to deal with a pot full of used oil or a greasy kitchen.
Versatility: While the basic recipe is simple, you can easily customize your churros. Experiment with different coatings, such as sugar mixed with cinnamon, cocoa powder, or powdered sugar. You can also try dipping sauces like chocolate, caramel, or fruit preserves.
Perfect for Sharing: These churros are a hit at gatherings and can be made in batches to share with friends and family. They’re also a fun and easy treat with kids, teaching them basic cooking skills safely and enjoyably.
Energy Efficient: Using an air fryer can be more energy-efficient than heating up an oven or using a deep fryer, especially for small batches. This makes air fryer crescent churros an eco-friendly choice for your sweet tooth.
Year-Round Comfort: Whether it’s a cozy winter evening or a breezy summer night, these churros provide a comforting treat that fits any season. Pair with a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk for the ultimate indulgence.

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Crescent Churros

Crafting delicious Air Fryer Crescent Churros requires just a handful of simple ingredients, transforming the humble crescent roll dough into a delightful treat that echoes the classic churro’s sweet crunch and cinnamon allure. Each ingredient plays a vital role in creating the perfect balance of texture and flavor, ensuring these treats become a fast favorite for any occasion.

Remember the step-by-step directions and detailed ingredient list are below, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, as well as the nutritional information.

Crescent Roll Dough: The base of our churros, this pre-made dough offers convenience and ensures a light, fluffy texture that mimics traditional churros, making the process accessible and quick.
Butter: Melted and brushed on the cooked churros, butter not only adds richness and flavor but also acts as the “glue” for the cinnamon sugar to adhere to, creating that signature churro coating.
Sugar: Provides the sweet crust quintessential to any churro, caramelizing slightly when the churros are air-fried, giving them a delightful crunch.
Cinnamon: Mixed with sugar, cinnamon adds a warm, spicy flavor that complements the sweetness, bringing the classic churro taste profile to these crescent roll versions.
Chocolate Sauce (optional): Serving as a dipping sauce, chocolate adds a luxurious depth and contrast to the sweet and spicy churros, elevating them to a decadent dessert option.

Each ingredient in this recipe is chosen for its ability to replicate the beloved flavors and textures of traditional churros while also offering a quick and easy method that can be enjoyed anytime.

How To Make Air Fryer Crescent Churros

Making Air Fryer Crescent Churros is a delightful and easy way to enjoy a twist on the traditional churro without the need for deep frying. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating these tasty treats in your air fryer:

Preparation: Start by preheating your air fryer to 350 degrees F (175°C). This ensures a quick and even cooking process for your churros. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon until well combined. This mixture will be used to coat the churros and give them their signature sweet and spicy flavor.

Prepare the Dough: Open the can of crescent roll dough and unroll it onto a clean work surface. If the dough is perforated to make crescent rolls, press the perforations together to seal them and form one large sheet of dough. With a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut the dough into strips about 1/2 inch wide. You can make them as long or as short as you like, depending on your preference.

Shape the Churros: Take each strip of dough and twist it a few times to create the churro shape. The twisting action is not only for aesthetics but also helps create more texture and surface area for the cinnamon sugar to adhere to.

Cooking: Place the twisted dough strips in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching to allow for proper air circulation. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Air fry the churros for about 6-8 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through. The exact time may vary depending on your air fryer model, so it’s a good idea to start checking them around the 6-minute mark.

Coating: Once the churros are cooked, brush them with the melted butter while they’re still warm. Then, immediately toss them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until they are well coated. The warmth of the churros will help the sugar mixture stick, creating a deliciously sweet crust.

Serving: Serve the air fryer crescent churros warm, with chocolate sauce on the side for dipping if desired. They are best enjoyed fresh but can also be stored in an airtight container for a day or two, though they may lose some of their crispiness.

Recipe Variations

Air Fryer Crescent Churros offers a fantastic canvas for creativity, allowing you to experiment with various flavors and toppings. Here are some delicious recipe variations to inspire your next batch:

Chocolate Cinnamon Churros: After brushing the cooked churros with melted butter and coating them in cinnamon sugar, drizzle them with melted chocolate or dip the ends into chocolate sauce. The combination of chocolate and cinnamon adds a rich depth to the classic churro flavor.
Spiced Sugar Churros: Mix your cinnamon sugar with a pinch of nutmeg and allspice for a spiced sugar version. This variation adds a warm, aromatic flavor that’s perfect for the fall season or holiday gatherings.
Caramel Apple Churros: Add finely chopped dried apples to the dough strips before air frying. After air frying and coating with cinnamon sugar, drizzle caramel sauce over the churros for a sweet and fruity treat that echoes the flavors of caramel apples.
Lemon Sugar Churros: Replace the cinnamon in your sugar coating with finely grated lemon zest. Brush the warm churros with melted butter, then roll them in the lemon sugar for a citrusy twist that’s refreshingly different.
Pumpkin Spice Churros: Incorporate a teaspoon of pumpkin spice mix into your cinnamon sugar coating for a fall-inspired treat. You can add a dollop of pumpkin puree to the crescent dough, mixing gently before shaping and air frying for an extra punch of pumpkin flavor.
Espresso Churros: Mix a tablespoon of instant espresso powder into your cinnamon sugar. The coffee flavor pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the churros, making them a perfect companion to your morning latte or afternoon espresso.
Cheesecake Stuffed Churros: Before air frying, place a small strip of cream cheese or a dollop of cheesecake filling at the center of each dough strip, then fold and seal the dough around the filling. Once cooked and coated in sugar, you’ll have a creamy, cheesecake-filled churro that’s decadent.
Maple Pecan Churros: Swap out the cinnamon sugar for a maple sugar blend, and after air frying, sprinkle finely chopped pecans over the butter-brushed churros for a nutty crunch. Drizzle with real maple syrup for extra flavor; perfect for breakfast or brunch.
S’mores Churros: After air frying, immediately press crushed graham crackers into the butter-coated churros, then drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with mini marshmallows. A quick blast in the air fryer for an additional minute melts the marshmallows slightly, bringing that beloved s’mores experience to your churros.
Savory Churros: For a savory take, omit the sugar and cinnamon. Instead, sprinkle the buttered churros with grated parmesan, garlic powder, and herbs. Serve with a marinara dipping sauce for a savory, snackable twist that’s unexpectedly delightful.

Experimenting with these variations can turn your air fryer crescent churros into a versatile treat.

Pro Tips

Creating the perfect Air Fryer Churros with crescent rolls can be simple and fun, but a few pro tips can elevate your treats to the next level. Here are some expert suggestions for achieving the best results:

Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Place the churros in a single layer with space between each piece. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and soggy churros, as the air won’t circulate properly.
Brush, Don’t Dip: Brush the churros with melted butter instead of dipping them. Brushing allows for a more even coating, ensuring every nook and cranny is covered in butter and then in the cinnamon-sugar mix.
Shake Off Excess Sugar: After coating the churros in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, gently shake off any excess. This prevents the sugar from burning and ensures a perfectly sweetened treat.
Use a Cooling Rack: Letting the churros cool for a minute or two on a cooling rack after air frying prevents them from becoming soggy. The cooling rack allows air to circulate the churros, keeping them crispy.
Customize Your Coating: Experiment with different sugar coatings. Beyond cinnamon sugar, add cocoa powder, pumpkin spice, or chili powder for a unique twist.
Check for Doneness Early: Check your churros for doneness a minute or two before the recommended cooking time ends. All air fryers are different; you want to ensure they are golden brown but not overcooked.
Serve Immediately: Churros are best enjoyed warm, straight from the air fryer. If they cool down too much, they can lose their crispiness, so time your cooking to coincide with serving.
Experiment with Dips: Offer a variety of dipping sauces to accompany your churros, such as chocolate sauce, caramel, or fruit jams. Dips can enhance the flavor and make your churros a customizable treat.
Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t be discouraged if your first batch isn’t perfect. Adjusting the cooking time or temperature based on your air fryer’s specific model can make a huge difference in achieving the desired texture and color.

By following these pro tips, you’ll be well on your way to making delicious, crispy, and fluffy Air Fryer Churros with crescent rolls that everyone will love. Enjoy the process and the delicious outcomes!

Faq’s

Can I make these churros without an air fryer? Yes, you can bake them in a conventional oven if you don’t have an air fryer. Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended on the crescent roll package, usually around 375°F (190°C), and bake until they’re golden brown. The texture might be slightly different, but they’ll still be delicious.

How do I prevent the churros from sticking to the air fryer basket? To prevent sticking, lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray or use parchment paper designed for air fryers with holes to allow air circulation. After preheating, place the dough on the parchment to avoid the paper flying up into the heating element.

Can I use homemade dough instead of crescent roll dough? Absolutely! If you prefer to make your dough from scratch, you can still follow the air frying instructions for cooking. Homemade dough might require a bit of trial and error to get the cooking time just right, as it can vary from store-bought crescent roll dough.

How long do air fryer crescent churros last? While these churros are best enjoyed fresh, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes to help bring back some of the crispiness.

Can I freeze air fryer crescent churros? Yes, you can freeze the churros after cooking. Let them cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer to re-crisp them.

Why did my churros come out soggy? Sogginess can result from overcrowding the air fryer basket, which prevents air from circulating freely around each churro. Also, if the churros are not eaten relatively quickly after cooking, they can lose their crispness due to moisture in the air.

Can I make these churros vegan? To make vegan crescent churros, use a crescent roll dough (several brands offer this) and brush the churros with a plant-based butter alternative before rolling in sugar.

Can I add fillings to these churros? While traditional churros are often enjoyed without fillings, you can experiment by adding small fillings like chocolate chips, Nutella, or fruit preserves before rolling your crescent dough. Just be careful not to overfill to prevent leaking during cooking.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Don’t Forget To Pin!