Mexican Churros: A Sweet Tradition You Need to Try

Table of contents:

• History of churros 📖
• Importance of churros in Mexico 😋
• What is a churreria? ☕
• How to prepare churros? 🍴
• Where to try the best Mexican churros?  🗺️
• Informative video 🎥

History of churros

When asked to mention a Mexican dessert, the first thing that comes to mind is churros. Right? You’re not wrong, but it’s not completely accurate that churros are 100% Mexican, either. Let’s take a time machine back to another era. Here is another post I wrote some time ago about food in Mexico. There, I gave a brief explanation of where churros really come from; let me show you the text:

“This delicious, sweet, and worldwide dessert has antecedents from China. The Portuguese were great navigators, and in their passage through China, they saw Chinese people eating a strip of dough at breakfast called “Youtiao.” This food symbolized the union of Qin Hui (an important Chinese politician) and his wife.

Over time, the Spanish conquistadors brought this delicious gem with the touch of sugar that characterized it. For sure, this was an important dessert in Spanish cuisine. Nowadays, in Mexico, they can be enjoyed with delicious coffee or hot chocolate and can also be filled with cajeta (condensed milk candy), lechera (milkmaid), chocolate, or many other fillings of different flavors”.

As you may have noticed, the Spanish influence arrived in Mexico to mix in different aspects with the Mesoamerican inhabitants. One of the most important mixtures took place in the culinary field. This is why churros are not originally from Mexico, but this dish has become a sweet tradition for Mexican gastronomy by adding its famous Mexican touch. It doesn’t matter if you eat Spanish churros in Madrid or Mexican churros in a cafe in Coyoacan, Mexico City; with this article, you will be a foodie expert on the subject of tasty and fabulous churros!

🍡Try with us some Mexican churros in one of the best churrerias in Mexico here: A Delicious Trip in Condesa and Roma Neighborhoods (4h)

Importance of churros in Mexico

Churros in Mexico come in many styles. You can find them in fancy restaurants, fairs, or street events (patron saint festivals, fairs, holidays, etc).

These delicious desserts are part of a millenary tradition of how the Mexican ambiance is viewed at any time. They are a symbol of friendship, celebration, and love. It is very typical to invite the girl you like to go for a coffee or hot chocolate in Coyoacan and accompany the evening with some delicious churros. Something sweet for an equally sweet and lovely occasion.

You can find them on any corner in Mexico City and several other states. Some vendors have a cart where they prepare the churros. You can add the filling you want, and it tastes fantastic.

Finally, I remember when I traveled to Coatepec, Veracruz, at the kiosk, they sold mini churros covered with a huge and juicy amount of lechera, strawberry jam, and chocolate chips. There are different presentations for the churros; they can be round and with a touch of ice cream, small, very large, or even have their flavor in a delicious milkshake. Churros have been part of Mexican popular culture for a long time and have come to stay in our hearts and the sweetest part of our palate. Check out our Veracruz food article!

What is a churreria?

Here is a simple definition of a churreria by the Cambridge Dictionary:

• Shop where churros are made, sold, or consumed.
• Shop or stand selling churros.
• Stop by the churro shop to buy some churros, please.
• Buy some doughnuts from the churro shop.

How to prepare churros?

👨‍🍳Here’s how to prepare delicious Mexican Churros at home:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Cinnamon sugar (1/2 cup white sugar mixed with 1 tbsp ground cinnamon)

Instructions:

1. Combine water, sugar, salt, and 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Continue stirring until the mixture forms a smooth ball.
3. Transfer the dough to a bowl and let it cool slightly. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, until fully incorporated and the dough is smooth.
4. Heat 2-3 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C) in a large heavy-bottomed pan or deep fryer.
5. Transfer the churro dough to a piping bag with a large star tip. Pipe 4-5 inch strips of dough directly into the hot oil, severing them with a knife or kitchen scissors.
6. Fry the churros for 2-3 minutes per batch, turning occasionally, until golden brown.
7. Remove the cooked churros from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
8. While still warm, roll the churros in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
9. Serve the Mexican Churros warm, accompanied by a thick chocolate sauce or cajeta (dulce de leche) for dipping, if desired. Enjoy your Mexican churros!

Where to try the best Mexican churros?

🍽️Here are our top spots to drink some hot chocolate with Mexican churros; enjoy! (only mentioning Mexico City)

• El Moro: These are considered the most famous churros in Mexico City. There may be divided opinions about whether this place has the best churros. But everyone agrees that El Moro is one of the city’s most traditional places for churros.
• El Convento: A nice restaurant where you can have a delicious breakfast, dinner, and some delicious churros accompanied by a fantastic hot chocolate or coffee with milk.
• Churros Don Fede: This local stand sells delicious snacks. In the evenings, locals sometimes eat snacks such as barbeque wings, fried bananas, elotes, and churros. Here, the churros are the typical churros filled with candy, but the taste is fantastic and worthy of a very local Mexican experience.

• San Ginés: This churreria, brought directly from Spain, has become a classic for lovers of churros and chocolate. Here, you can find both European and Mexican traditional recipes, making your culinary experience unique with the best of both worlds.

• Churros ChuRous: This colorful place is perfect for a romantic date or a nice evening with friends or family. It offers delicious hot and cold drinks, churros in different presentations, and delicious food.
• Mucho Churro: This place offers snacks such as boneless wings and delicious milkshakes. The churros are dipped in chocolate, strawberry, and other ingredients, giving them a remarkable flavor that will make you want to return a thousand times more.
• Churreria del Carmen: Located in a beautiful, luxurious area in the south of Mexico City, this restaurant is full of flavor and tradition. It offers delicious food, delicious desserts, and great drinks in a beautiful and very cultural place.
• Churros Doniko: If you are looking for a delicious place to spend an afternoon drinking delicious coffee and churros, this place is perfect for you. The churros are tasty, the drinks are accessible to all budgets, and the place is very comfortable for spending a pleasant afternoon.

Informative video