There’s something truly magical about biting into crispy, golden churros dusted in cinnamon sugar and dunking them into a luscious, velvety chocolate sauce. This Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe brings that street fair magic right into your kitchen, and trust me, it’s worth every delicious minute.

A white oval plate holds about 18 golden brown churros covered with a light layer of cinnamon sugar. The churros are thick and slightly curved, placed piled up mostly on the right side and spreading towards the center. On the top left side of the plate, a small white bowl filled with smooth, rich, dark chocolate sauce sits. The plate is on a white marbled surface with a few pieces of dark chocolate and some cinnamon sticks scattered around. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made churros a handful of times, and this recipe always feels like a little celebration in the kitchen. It’s easy enough for a weeknight treat but special enough to wow guests — plus, that homemade chocolate sauce really seals the deal. I love sharing this one with friends because everyone ends up licking their fingers and asking for more.

Authentic Flavor: The dough and cinnamon sugar coating create that classic churro taste you crave.
Rich Chocolate Sauce: Made from real cream and dark chocolate, it perfectly complements those crunchy churros.
Simple Ingredients: Pantry staples come together to make something that feels fancy without fuss.
Customizable: You can play with flavors in the dough or sauce, making it your own little twist on a beloved treat.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe plays a key role—from creating that perfect dough texture to giving the chocolate sauce its silky smoothness. Here’s why I lean on these particular ingredients and a few tips on picking the best:

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of water, a small white ceramic bowl with granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with salt, a small white ceramic bowl holding unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of all-purpose flour, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl with ground cinnamon, a small white ceramic bowl with a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon, a small white ceramic bowl of heavy cream, a small white ceramic bowl of chopped dark chocolate, a small white ceramic bowl with vanilla extract, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Water: Helps create a light dough when combined with butter and flour, crucial for that airy inside.
Granulated Sugar: Used both in the dough and for coating the churros, providing sweetness and caramelization.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
Unsalted Butter: Gives the dough richness without adding extra salt — important for control.
All-Purpose Flour: The structure-builder—creates the dough’s body and crispness.
Large Eggs: Add moisture and help bind the dough while making it tender inside.
Vegetable Oil: Neutral-flavored and great for frying because it withstands high heat.
Ground Cinnamon: Mixes with sugar to give that warm, classic churro kick.
Heavy Cream: The base of the chocolate sauce, adding smoothness and richness.
Dark Chocolate: Go for good quality with at least 60-70% cocoa for deep flavor and glossy finish.
Vanilla Extract: Elevates the chocolate sauce with a subtle aromatic note.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about this Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe is how flexible it is. I often tweak the cinnamon sugar ratio or swap dark chocolate for milk chocolate in the sauce to suit the mood — and you should feel free to do the same.

Variation: Once, I added a pinch of cayenne to the chocolate sauce for a spicy kick — it was a total game-changer for guests who love heat.
Dietary tweaks: You can use a dairy-free chocolate and coconut cream instead of heavy cream to make this vegan-friendly.
Seasonal inspiration: Stir a little orange zest into the dough for festive vibes around the holidays.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe

The image shows a dark round plate with many golden-brown churros covered in sugar and cinnamon. One churro is dipped halfway into a small white bowl filled with smooth, dark brown chocolate sauce. The churros are thick and have a slightly rough texture with sugar crystals visible. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, and a green and white checkered cloth is blurred in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Create the Perfect Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Start by heating heavy cream in a small saucepan until it just begins to simmer—no boiling necessary here! Removing it before boiling keeps the cream silky. Pour it over your chopped dark chocolate, let it sit for a minute to melt, then stir until you have a glossy, smooth sauce. Stir in the vanilla extract last for depth. This sauce is rich but not overpowering — perfect partner for churros.

Step 2: Whip Up the Dough

In a medium saucepan, combine water, sugar, salt, and butter, then bring to a boil. This step melts the butter and dissolves the sugar, setting up the base for your dough. Once boiling, reduce the heat and rapidly stir in the flour until it forms a cohesive ball — it’ll look a bit sticky and thick. Let it cool slightly before adding eggs, one at a time. It might look weird or separated at first, but keep mixing and it’ll come together beautifully.

Step 3: Fry Those Golden Churros

Heat your oil to 375°F (use a thermometer if you have one — trust me, it makes all the difference). Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip with your dough, then pipe 3-4 inch strips directly into the hot oil. Snip the ends with scissors to release the dough. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side until nicely golden and crispy. Don’t crowd the pan; frying in small batches helps keep them crisp instead of soggy.

Step 4: Coat and Serve

As soon as you take the churros out, toss them gently in a cinnamon sugar mix while still warm so the coating sticks perfectly. Serve immediately with your homemade chocolate dipping sauce on the side. The combination of hot, crunchy churro and smooth, decadent sauce is pure bliss.

Top Tip

After making this recipe several times, I’ve learned some little tricks that really bump up your success rate and flavor — here’s what I keep in mind:

Maintain Oil Temperature: Keep the oil steady at around 375°F so churros cook evenly without absorbing too much oil and becoming greasy.
Piping Bag Technique: Use a large star tip for that signature ridged texture, plus it helps the dough cook all the way through without dense spots.
Don’t Skip Resting the Dough: Let the dough cool a few minutes before adding eggs to avoid scrambling them — patience pays off!
Fry in Small Batches: Overcrowding lowers the oil temperature and leads to soggy churros, so give them space to puff and crisp.

How to Serve Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe

Garnishes

I love sprinkling a little extra cinnamon sugar on top just before serving for that fresh crunch. Sometimes I dust with powdered sugar or press some finely chopped toasted nuts around the rim of the dipping bowls to add texture and flair.

Side Dishes

Churros are often dessert all by themselves, but I sometimes serve them with fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side — especially if it’s a warm evening. This contrast of hot churros and cold ice cream is pretty unbeatable.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I like arranging churros upright in tall glasses with the chocolate sauce in individual dipping cups beside each glass. It looks playful and makes it super easy for everyone to grab their own. You can also dust the chocolate sauce lightly with chili flakes for a fun twist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers (which might be rare!), store churros in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a day. They’re best re-crisped in the oven to regain that fresh-fried crunch.

Freezing

I often pipe the raw churro dough onto baking sheets and freeze them individually before transferring to a bag. When the churro craving hits, you can fry them straight from frozen — no need to thaw! This method keeps that perfect texture intact, even after freezing.

Reheating

To reheat churros, pop them in a preheated oven at 375°F for 5-7 minutes or until crisp again. Avoid microwaving—though fast, it tends to make churros soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the churro dough ahead of time?

You can prepare the dough up to the step before adding eggs and refrigerate it for a few hours. Before frying, bring it back to room temperature and add the eggs as directed. This can save some prep time on busy days.

What’s the best oil to use for frying churros?

Vegetable, canola, or peanut oil are ideal because they have high smoke points and neutral flavors. Olive oil isn’t recommended as it has a lower smoke point and distinctive taste that can overpower the churros.

Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate for the dipping sauce?

Absolutely! Milk chocolate will make the sauce sweeter and creamier. Just be aware it’ll be less intense in chocolate flavor. Adjust the sugar in the cinnamon sugar coating if you want to balance the overall sweetness.

How should I store leftover chocolate sauce?

Store leftover chocolate dipping sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat gently by warming it in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of cream to loosen it up before serving again.

Final Thoughts

This Homemade Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce Recipe is one of those feel-good treats that never fails to bring smiles. I hope you’ll enjoy the process as much as the result—there’s something so satisfying about making these from scratch and sharing the joy with the people around you. Give it a try, and soon you might find churro nights becoming your new favorite tradition!