Orange Churros is a variation of the traditional Spanish dessert, churros. Churros are a fried dough pastry often served with a hot cup of coffee or chocolate for dipping. Adding orange flavor to the dough gives these churros a unique and delicious taste. They are typically made by mixing orange zest into the churro dough and then shaping it into long, thin ropes before frying them until golden brown.
Some variations may include orange juice or orange blossom water in the dough. Overall, orange churros are a sweet and flavorful twist on a classic dessert that will surely be a hit with anyone who loves churros and citrus flavors.
How to Make Orange Churros
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
Mix ½ cup sugar with cinnamon on a small plate, and set aside. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or a baking mat and, in a shallow dish, add the granulated sugar and Set aside.
Combine water, milk, unsalted butter, sugar, and salt in a medium nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Stir in the flour, mix vigorously with a wooden spoon until it forms a smooth dough, and pull away from the pan for 2 to 5 minutes.
Next, stir in the orange zest and pure vanilla extract; continue mixing until no flour bits are left, and all the ingredients are well incorporated.
Spoon mixture into a churro maker or a large pastry bag fitted with a large star tip or a similar device for preparing orange churros.*(You must work fast and don’t let the dough get cool).
Pipe the batter into 5-6 inches lengths about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets (the warmer the dough, the easier it is to manipulate when squeezing/pipping it). When the oil reaches 350° F, gently drop a few orange churros in the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crisp.
Once cooked, remove them from the oil and immediately place them in the sugar mixture bowl; roll each fried pastry dough to coat with the sugar mixture fully. Repeat frying 3 to 4 strips of dough at a time. (about 4 to 5 minutes) * Make sure you keep turning the orange churros so they can cook evenly.
How to Make Spiced Hot Chocolate
In a medium saucepan, heat 1¼ liter of the milk. Add the clove. Add the remaining ¼ liter of milk, cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar in a medium bowl, and whisk well until completely combined.
Then pour the cocoa mixture into the saucepan and whisk until well incorporated; increase the heat to medium-low. Keep heating until the mixture reaches a light simmer, but don't bring it to a full-on boil. (Boiling milk changes its protein structure and gives it a different flavor).
Once everything is creamy and smooth, add the chopped chocolate and pure vanilla extract, stir to combine, and take the cocoa off the heat. Remove the clove and divide among mugs; top with marshmallows or a dollop of whipped cream. Serve hot alongside the hot spiced chocolate milk. Enjoy!
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📖 Recipe
Easy Orange Churros with Spiced Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
For the Orange Churros:
- 250 g water
- 250 g whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅛ tsp. Kosher Salt
- 350 g all-purpose flour , sifted
- Zest from 1 orange
- 15 ml 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- Canola Oil or any neutral oil , to fry
For the Coating:
- ½ cup plain white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Hot Chocolate:
- 1½ liter whole milk
- 100 g sugar , to taste
- 50 g 100% pure Cocoa
- 100 g bittersweet chocolate , chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 whole clove
- 15 ml 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Orange Churros:
- On a small plate, mix ½ cup sugar with cinnamon, and set aside. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or a baking mat and, in a shallow dish, add the granulated sugar and Set aside.
- In a medium nonstick saucepan over medium heat, combine water, milk, unsalted butter, sugar, and salt. Cover and bring to a boil.
- Stir in the flour, mix vigorously with a wooden spoon until it forms a smooth dough, and pull away from the pan for about 2 to 5 minutes. Next, stir in the orange zest and pure vanilla extract; continue mixing until there are no flour bits left and all the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Spoon mixture to a churro maker or a large pastry bag fitted with a large star tip or a similar device for preparing orange churros.*(You must work fast and don’t let the dough get cool).
- Pipe the batter into 5-6 inches lengths about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets (the warmer the dough, the easier it to manipulate when squeezing/pipping the dough).
- When the oil reaches 350° F, gently drop a few orange churros in the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crisp. Once cooked, remove them from the oil and immediately place them in the sugar mixture bowl; roll each fried pastry dough to coat with the sugar mixture fully.
- Repeat frying 3 to 4 strips of dough at a time. (about 4 to 5 minutes) * Make sure you keep turning the orange churros so they can cook evenly.
How to Make Spiced Hot Chocolate
- In a medium saucepan, heat 1¼ liter of the milk. Add the clove. In a medium bowl, add the remaining ¼ liter of milk, cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar, and whisk well until completely combined.
- Then pour the cocoa mixture into the saucepan and whisk until well incorporated; increase the heat to medium-low.
- Keep heating until the mixture reaches a light simmer, but don't bring it to a full-on boil. (Boiling milk changes its protein structure and gives it a different flavor).
- Once everything is creamy and smooth, add the chopped chocolate and pure vanilla extract, stir to combine, and take the cocoa off the heat. Remove the clove and divide among mugs, top with marshmallows or a dollop of whipped cream. Serve hot alongside the hot spiced chocolate milk. Enjoy!
Notes
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
