I whipped up Fluffy Air Fryer Churro Bites with just a few pantry staples and quick prep that slot right into Snack Ideas For Movie Night.

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I first made these Crispy Air Fryer Churro Bites on a whim, the kind of snack that sneaks up on you. I use refrigerated biscuit dough and a generous dusting of ground cinnamon so each bite is fluffy inside and crackly outside.

They vanish every time, which is why I keep making them when friends come over. I love that they slot perfectly into Snack Ideas For Movie Night and they double as Quick Food For A Crowd when plans go sideways.

Try them with something sweet to dunk, you may be surprised at how addictive they are.

Ingredients

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Refrigerated biscuit dough: Soft, pillowy dough that’s mostly carbs and a little protein, very indulgent.
Unsalted butter: Adds rich fat and crisp edges, makes bites more decadent and slightly salty.
Granulated sugar: Pure sweetener, fuels caramelization and crunch, zero fiber or protein.
Ground cinnamon: Warm spice, tiny antioxidants, gives signature churro flavor and sweet spice.
Nonstick cooking spray or oil: Prevents sticking, uses minimal oil, no real nutrition benefit though.
Optional dips like chocolate or dulce de leche: Add fat and sugar, perfect for dipping.

Ingredient Quantities

1 can (8-count) refrigerated biscuit dough, about 7.5 to 8 oz (like Pillsbury Grands)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Nonstick cooking spray or a little vegetable oil for the air fryer basket

Optional: chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, or powdered sugar for dipping

How to Make this

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1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for about 3 minutes so it’s hot and ready.

2. In a small bowl mix the 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; set that cinnamon sugar aside. Melt the 1/4 cup unsalted butter in another bowl.

3. Open the can of refrigerated biscuit dough and tear each biscuit into quarters (you can do halves if you like bigger bites), toss the pieces in the melted butter so they’re lightly coated.

4. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or rub a little vegetable oil on it, then place the buttered biscuit pieces in a single layer, not touching. Do this in batches if needed, overcrowding makes them soggy.

5. Air fry at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket or flipping the pieces halfway through around the 3 or 4 minute mark, until they’re puffed up and golden brown. Every air fryer is different so watch them the first time.

6. While the bites are still hot, brush or toss them again in the remaining melted butter, then immediately toss in the cinnamon sugar so it sticks. Tip: put the sugar mix in a paper bag or bowl, add the hot bites and shake to coat evenly.

7. Serve right away for best crispness. Offer chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, or a dusting of powdered sugar for dipping if you want extra indulgence.

8. Leftovers lose crispness quickly, but you can reheat them in the air fryer 2 to 3 minutes at 320°F to revive some crunch.

Equipment Needed

1. Air fryer with basket (big enough to lay pieces in a single layer)
2. 2 small mixing bowls (one for cinnamon sugar, one for melted butter)
3. Measuring cups and spoons (1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 tbsp)
4. Microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan to melt butter
5. Pastry brush or tongs for brushing/tossing the hot bites
6. Paper bag or large bowl for shaking the cinnamon sugar onto the bites
7. Nonstick cooking spray or a little vegetable oil for the basket
8. Oven mitts or a kitchen towel and a timer for safe handling and timing

FAQ

Q: Can I use a different dough or make these from scratch? A: Yes, you can use other canned biscuit brands or crescent roll dough, but size and cook time will change. Homemade choux or pastry works too but thats more work, and youll need to test cook time until theyre golden.

Q: What temp and time for the air fryer? A: Preheat to 350°F. Cook the bite-sized pieces for about 8 to 10 minutes, shaking or flipping once halfway so they brown evenly. If theyre not crisp enough give them 1 to 2 more minutes but watch closely.

Q: How do I keep them crispy instead of soggy? A: Don’t overcrowd the basket, spray it lightly with oil, and shake halfway. Coat the bites in melted butter then in sugar while theyre hot so the coating sets. Serve right away or re-crisp in the air fryer before serving.

Q: Any tricks to get the cinnamon sugar to stick better? A: Coat while the bites are hot straight from the fryer. Roll them in melted butter first then toss in the sugar mixture, press gently so it sticks. If you wait too long the sugar wont adhere.

Q: How do I store and reheat leftovers? A: Store cooled bites in an airtight container at room temp up to 24 hours, they lose crispness after that. Reheat in the air fryer at 325 to 350°F for 2 to 4 minutes to bring back the crunch.

Q: Can I freeze them or make ahead? A: Yes, you can freeze cooked, cooled bites in a single layer then bag them for up to a month. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 350°F for 4 to 6 minutes. You can also form raw pieces and freeze on a tray, then air fry a couple extra minutes when cooking from frozen.

Crispy Air Fryer Churro Bites Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Biscuit dough: swap with 1 tube crescent roll dough for similar bite size, or use thawed puff pastry if you want flakier, lighter churro bites, or make a quick drop-biscuit dough from flour, baking powder and milk if you prefer scratch.
Unsalted butter, melted: use salted butter (just skip extra salt elsewhere), coconut oil for a touch of sweetness, or neutral veg oil like canola if you need a dairy-free option.
Granulated sugar: substitute light brown sugar for a deeper, molasses-y coating, coconut sugar for a lower-glycemic option, or caster (superfine) sugar so the coating sticks and melts faster.
Ground cinnamon: swap with pumpkin-pie or apple-pie spice for a warmer blend, or add a pinch of ground cardamom to the cinnamon for a slightly exotic twist.

Pro Tips

Pro tips:

1) Let the biscuits sit out just a few minutes so they lose the fridge chill, they puff up nicer that way, but dont leave them so long they go sticky. Watch the first batch closely so you learn how your air fryer runs.

2) Do small batches, single layer only, leave room between pieces for air to move or theyll steam and get soggy. If you must line the basket use perforated parchment paper so airflow isnt blocked.

3) Swap regular melted butter for clarified butter or a light brush of neutral oil if you want extra crisp and less soggy spots, especially on the bottom. Also tossing them in the sugar while theyre very hot helps the coating stick better.

4) Mix up the finish: a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt cuts the sweetness great, or drop in a warm chocolate piece right after frying so it melts inside. Reheat leftovers 2 to 3 minutes at a slightly lower temp to bring back crunch without burning.

Crispy Air Fryer Churro Bites Recipe

Recipe by Sammy Hunter

0.0 from 0 votes

I whipped up Fluffy Air Fryer Churro Bites with just a few pantry staples and quick prep that slot right into Snack Ideas For Movie Night.

Servings

servings

Calories

202

kcal

Equipment: 1. Air fryer with basket (big enough to lay pieces in a single layer)
2. 2 small mixing bowls (one for cinnamon sugar, one for melted butter)
3. Measuring cups and spoons (1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 tbsp)
4. Microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan to melt butter
5. Pastry brush or tongs for brushing/tossing the hot bites
6. Paper bag or large bowl for shaking the cinnamon sugar onto the bites
7. Nonstick cooking spray or a little vegetable oil for the basket
8. Oven mitts or a kitchen towel and a timer for safe handling and timing

Ingredients

1 can (8-count) refrigerated biscuit dough, about 7.5 to 8 oz (like Pillsbury Grands)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Nonstick cooking spray or a little vegetable oil for the air fryer basket
Optional: chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, or powdered sugar for dipping

Directions

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for about 3 minutes so it's hot and ready.
In a small bowl mix the 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; set that cinnamon sugar aside. Melt the 1/4 cup unsalted butter in another bowl.
Open the can of refrigerated biscuit dough and tear each biscuit into quarters (you can do halves if you like bigger bites), toss the pieces in the melted butter so they're lightly coated.
Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or rub a little vegetable oil on it, then place the buttered biscuit pieces in a single layer, not touching. Do this in batches if needed, overcrowding makes them soggy.
Air fry at 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket or flipping the pieces halfway through around the 3 or 4 minute mark, until they're puffed up and golden brown. Every air fryer is different so watch them the first time.
While the bites are still hot, brush or toss them again in the remaining melted butter, then immediately toss in the cinnamon sugar so it sticks. Tip: put the sugar mix in a paper bag or bowl, add the hot bites and shake to coat evenly.
Serve right away for best crispness. Offer chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, or a dusting of powdered sugar for dipping if you want extra indulgence.
Leftovers lose crispness quickly, but you can reheat them in the air fryer 2 to 3 minutes at 320°F to revive some crunch.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.