Test Kitchens Favorite Churros Food

TEST KITCHEN'S FAVORITE CHURROS

Steps:

• Combine butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in flour. Return to medium-high heat and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture pulls away from sides and a film forms on bottom of pan, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on low speed until slightly cooled, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, beating until a soft peak forms when you touch batter and pull your finger away. (If a peak does not form, lightly beat remaining egg, and mix into batter, a little at a time, until it does.) Transfer mixture to a piping bag fitted with a closed star tip (such as Ateco #9824).
• Heat cream in a small pot over medium-high heat until bubbling around edges, about 2 minutes. Pour over chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Let stand 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Whisk vanilla and 1 teaspoon cinnamon into sauce.
• Pour oil into a large, deep, heavy pot, such as a Dutch oven, until it reaches 2 inches up side, leaving about 2 1/2 inches headroom. Clip a deep-fry thermometer to pot and heat oil over medium to 350 degrees to 360 degrees. Cut 20 four-inch squares of parchment. Spray two baking sheets with oil. Arrange parchment pieces in a single layer on them; spray parchment.
• Pipe 2 1/2-inch ribbon-shaped loops onto parchment squares. Working in batches of 3 so as not to crowd pot, carefully drop parchment with dough into hot oil, removing parchment immediately with tongs as each is added, and cook, flipping a few times, until puffed and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes total, maintaining oil temperature between 350 degrees and 360 degrees at all times. Transfer to wire racks; let cool 10 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together remaining 1 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. While still slightly warm, toss churros in cinnamon sugar and serve immediately, with chocolate sauce alongside.

HOMEMADE CHURROS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water, milk, oil and salt to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Transfer to a large bowl; let stand for 5 minutes. , Beat on medium-high speed for 1 minute or until the dough softens. Add egg and lemon zest; beat for 1-2 minutes. Set aside to cool. , In a deep cast-iron or heavy skillet, heat 1 in. oil to 375°. Insert a large star tip in a pastry bag; fill with dough. On a baking sheet, pipe dough into 4-in. strips. , Transfer strips to skillet and fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Combine the sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over churros. Serve warm.

CHURROS

Steps:

• To make the churro dough: Combine 1 cup of water with the butter or margarine and the salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir in flour. Reduce the heat to low and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute. Remove the dough from the heat and, while stirring constantly, gradually beat the eggs into the dough.
• To make the chocolate for dunking: In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in 1 cup of milk and reserve. Combine the chocolate with the remaining cup of milk in a saucepan. Stirring constantly, melt the chocolate over medium-low heat. Whisk the sugar and the dissolved cornstarch into the melted chocolate mixture. Reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking constantly, until the chocolate is thickened, about 5 minutes. (Add extra cornstarch if it doesn't start to thicken after 5 minutes.) Remove the pan from the heat and whisk until smooth then reserve in a warm place.
• Heat about 2 inches of oil in a heavy, high-sided pot over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 360 degrees F. Mix the sugar with the cinnamon on a plate and reserve.
• Meanwhile, spoon the churro dough into a pastry bag fitted with a large tip. Squeeze a 4- inch strip of dough into the hot oil. Repeat, frying 3 or 4 strips at a time. Fry the churros, turning them once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked churros to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
• When the churros are just cool enough to handle, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar (in Spain churros are simply rolled in sugar.)
• Pour the chocolate into individual bowls or cups. Serve the warm churros with the chocolate dip.