Pumpkin Churros

If fall could be wrapped up in a dessert, it would definitely be these pumpkin-shaped churros. They’re crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and dusted in a cinnamon sugar mix with a hint of pumpkin spice to really drive home that cozy fall vibe. Whether you’re serving these at a gathering or just enjoying them with a hot cup of coffee, these churros are going to be a hit.

Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

Before you start making the churro dough and frying, you’ll want to make your cinnamon sugar mixture. It’s a simple blend of sugar, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. This mix is going to give the churros that sweet, spiced coating reminiscent of pumpkin pie. Make sure to set it aside so it’s ready for when your churros come out of the fryer. You can adjust the level of spice depending on how strong you want that pumpkin flavor to be—go lighter for a more subtle touch, or add an extra dash if you want it to really pop!

Churro Batter

The churro batter comes together on the stovetop and is surprisingly easy. Start by heating water, sugar, vanilla, pumpkin puree, butter, and a pinch of salt until it all comes together in a smooth mixture. Once it’s boiling, you’ll stir in the flour, making sure it’s fully combined. A rubber spatula works best here—you want a smooth, lump-free dough. After cooking the dough for a couple of minutes to dry it out slightly, let it cool for a few minutes. This step is important because adding eggs to a hot dough will scramble them, and we don’t want that!

Once the dough has cooled a bit, you’ll mix in the eggs one at a time. The dough should transform into something soft, elastic, and just a bit sticky. If it feels too wet, you can let it sit for a few minutes to firm up. A stand mixer makes this process quicker, but you can definitely do it by hand with a rubber spatula if you’re up for it!

TIP: For even more flavor, brown the butter first and then add the water, sugar, vanilla, pumpkin puree, and a pinch of salt. This adds a delicious nutty flavor!

Piping the Pumpkins

Now for the fun part—shaping the churros! You’ll need a piping bag fitted with a star tip to create that iconic churro texture. Pipe out your pumpkins onto small squares of parchment paper. Make sure the dough is thick enough to hold its shape but not too thick to pipe smoothly. If the “stems” don’t look quite right, you can snip them off with scissors before frying. It’s helpful to have all your churros piped out before you start frying to keep things moving quickly.

You can find the piping tip at a store like Michaels or purchase it online from Amazon here. Also, if piping the pumpkin shape turns out too difficult you can just pipe it into a typical churro shape right into the hot oil!

Frying Tips

Getting the oil temperature right is crucial for perfect churros. You want it hot enough to give the churros that golden brown crunch, but not too hot! If the oil is too hot, the churros will brown quickly on the outside but stay raw on the inside. Aim for an even temperature and fry them in small batches—this helps ensure each churro cooks through evenly. Be sure to flip them halfway through so they get golden brown on both sides. Once they’re fried to perfection, transfer the churros to a paper towel to drain excess oil. You’ll want to fry them for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side to ensure they’re fully cooked.

PRO TIP: Keep an eye on your oil temperature between batches. If it cools down too much, the churros will absorb more oil, and no one wants greasy churros!

Coating & Serving

While the churros are still warm, toss them in your prepared cinnamon sugar mixture. The sugar will stick better when they’re fresh out of the fryer. You can even add extra pumpkin pie spice at this stage if you want to amp up the flavor. Serve them as-is or with a variety of dipping sauces—caramel, chocolate, or sweetened condensed milk are all delicious options.

These churros are best enjoyed fresh, while they’re still crispy and warm. If you somehow end up with leftovers, you can reheat them in the oven or an air fryer to bring back that crunch. Pair them with a cozy beverage, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate fall indulgence!

Craving More Pumpkin? Try These Recipes Out!

• Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Frosting
• Pumpkin Pasta
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
• Pumpkin Pie Hawaiian French Toast
• Pumpkin Pancakes
• Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

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