Heart Churros with Homemade Chocolate Sauce
These Heart Churros With Homemade Chocolate Sauce are golden and crisp on the outside, tender in the middle, and coated in strawberry cinnamon sugar for a festive pink Valentine’s Day twist. Shaped into hearts and served warm with a rich homemade chocolate dipping sauce, these fun, romantic churros are the perfect sweet treat for celebrating love.
If you try out this recipe, I’d love to see it! Leave a comment with a star rating below and tag @wellmadebykiley on Instagram and hashtag it #wellmadebykiley
Ingredients You Need:
Full ingredients and recipe are in the recipe card below. Read through this section for all the ingredients substitution and baking tips!
Water: Forms the base of the choux-style dough and creates steam for light, airy churros.
Salted Butter: Adds rich flavor and helps create a tender interior with crisp edges when fried.
Granulated Sugar: Lightly sweetens the dough and creates the cinnamon sugar coating.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: Adds warm, bakery-style vanilla flavor to the churro dough.
Salt: Enhances sweetness and balances the flavors in both the churros and chocolate sauce.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure for the churro dough while keeping the centers tender.
Eggs: Create structure and richness, giving churros their classic crisp exterior and soft interior.
Avocado Oil: A neutral, high-heat oil ideal for frying churros to golden, crispy perfection.
Cinnamon: Adds cozy, warm spice to the sugar coating for classic churro flavor.
Freeze-Dried Strawberries (Optional): Crushed into powder to naturally color and flavor the pink strawberry cinnamon sugar coating.
Milk Chocolate: Adds smooth, creamy sweetness to the homemade chocolate dipping sauce.
Dark Chocolate: Provides deep chocolate flavor and richness in the dipping sauce.
Heavy Cream: Creates a silky, rich texture in the homemade chocolate sauce.
Milk: Thins the chocolate sauce to a smooth, dippable consistency.
Why You’ll Love Heart Churros with Homemade Chocolate Sauce:
Fun Heart Shape: Cute heart-shaped churros that are perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Crisp Outside, Tender Inside: Golden, crunchy exteriors with soft, fluffy centers.
Strawberry Cinnamon Sugar Coating: Festive pink coating adds a sweet, fruity twist.
Perfect Served Warm: Best enjoyed fresh and warm for the ultimate churro texture.
Rich Chocolate Dipping Sauce: Homemade chocolate sauce makes each bite extra indulgent.
Romantic Dessert Idea: A fun, shareable treat for date night or Valentine’s celebrations.
Crowd-Pleasing Treat: A playful dessert that’s sure to impress kids and adults alike.
Tips for Making Heart Churros with Homemade Chocolate Sauce:
Bring The Dough To A Boil First: Make sure the water, butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt reach a small rolling boil so the flour cooks properly.
Stir The Flour In Immediately: Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously to form a smooth dough and prevent lumps.
Look For The Film On The Pan: A light film on the bottom of the pan means the dough is cooked enough and ready to remove from heat.
Cool The Dough Before Adding Eggs: Let the dough cool for 10–15 minutes so the eggs don’t scramble when mixed in.
Beat Until Smooth And Glossy: The dough should become smooth, shiny, and sticky after the eggs are fully incorporated.
Use A Star Tip For Texture: A large star tip creates classic ridges that fry up extra crisp.
Maintain Proper Oil Temperature: Keep the oil between 360–375°F for golden, crispy churros without greasy centers.
Use Parchment For Easy Transfer: Piping churros onto parchment makes it easier to transfer shaped churros into hot oil without losing their shape.
Fry In Small Batches: Frying only a few churros at a time keeps the oil temperature steady and ensures even browning.
Coat While Warm: Toss churros in the strawberry cinnamon sugar while they’re still warm so the coating sticks evenly.
Stir Chocolate Sauce Gently: Heat the chocolate sauce over medium heat and stir constantly for a smooth, glossy finish.
Serve Immediately: Churros are best enjoyed hot and crisp with warm chocolate sauce for dipping.
How to Store Heart Churros with Homemade Chocolate Sauce:
Best Fresh: Churros are best enjoyed immediately while hot and crisp.
Room Temperature: Store leftover churros in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.
Refrigerator: Store churros in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat before serving for best texture.
Freezer: Freeze plain, uncoated churros in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw and reheat before coating.
Chocolate Sauce: Store homemade chocolate sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
To Reheat: Reheat churros in a 350°F oven for 5–7 minutes or in an air fryer until warmed and crisp again.
FAQs:
Q: Can I make the churro dough ahead of time?
A: It’s best to fry churros soon after making the dough for the crispiest texture, but the dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before frying.
Q: Can I bake or air-fry these instead of deep frying?
A: Traditional churros are deep-fried for their signature crisp exterior. Baking or air-frying will produce a different texture and less crisp result, so I wouldn’t recommend it.
Q: How do I know when the oil is hot enough?
A: The oil should be between 360–375°F. If the oil is too cool, the churros will absorb oil; if too hot, they’ll brown too quickly.
Q: Why did my churros lose their shape in the oil?
A: This can happen if the oil isn’t hot enough or if the dough is too warm. Using parchment paper to transfer the shapes helps maintain their form.
Q: Can I skip the strawberry sugar coating?
A: Yes. You can roll the churros in classic cinnamon sugar if you prefer a traditional flavor.
Q: What’s the best way to reheat churros?
A: Reheat in a 350°F oven or air fryer until warm and crisp again.
Q: Can I make the chocolate sauce ahead of time?
A: Yes. The chocolate sauce can be made in advance and reheated gently before serving.
Love these? Check out my other recipes that are perfect for Valentine’s Day:
Make sure to tag me @wellmadebykiley on Instagram and leave a review or comment if you make these heart churros with homemade chocolate sauce. Happy baking!
