homemade churros

Did anyone else wait in absurd lines at Disneyland to get a hold of one of those giant churros? Those were pretty good.

You know what's even better? Freshly fried churros with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

You know what's the best? When someone awesome makes them for you as a surprise on Valentine's Day.

So you can totally make fresh churros for any dinner party. Prep the churro batter a few hours before the guests arrive and store in a ziploc bag in the fridge. Mix the cinnamon and sugar on a plate and set off to the side. Make the chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, and whipped cream and store in the fridge.

After dinner, bring a pot of oil up to the right temperature. Pop the chocolate and dulce de leche sauces into the microwave for about 30 minute seconds, or until warm, and get going on those churros. Your guests will love you.

Churros
adapted from All Recipes
(makes about 20)

2 quarts vegetable oil for frying
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a deep pot, heat oil to 360 degrees F. Oil should be about 1 1/2 inches deep.

In a medium saucepan, heat water and butter to a rolling boil. Combine the flour and salt. Stir into the boiling mixture. Reduce heat to low and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and beat in the eggs one at a time. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. (You can also use a ziploc bag and simply cut the corner off to pipe out of.)

Carefully squeeze out 4 inch long strips of dough directly into the hot oil until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. You can fry 3-4 strips at once. Remove from hot oil to drain on paper towels. Stir together the sugar and cinnamon and roll churros in the mixture while still hot.

Dip in a little bit of each sauce and some whipped cream. And enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!