Churros with Spanish Hot Chocolate Recipe

CHURROS AND SPANISH HOT CHOCOLATE
This recipe is part of “A Tapas Experience.”

My Love for Churros and Spanish Hot Chocolate

My love for churros and Spanish hot chocolate began during a stay in Madrid, Spain, in the fall of 2015. One early morning, I sat down at Chocolatería San Ginés without realizing how memorable that simple breakfast would become. The famous café had been serving churros with rich hot chocolate since 1894, and one taste was enough to make me understand why people return again and again. Crisp, golden churros dipped into thick, dark Spanish hot chocolate became one of the most unforgettable food experiences of my trip.

Love of Travel

Before arriving in Madrid, a friend and I had spent six weeks exploring the northern countryside of Spain. My husband then met me in the city for a long-awaited reunion. He was excited to experience Spain, and although I should have been ready to return home to the States, I was not quite there yet. Travel has always had a strong pull on me. If it were not for my family, my dogs, and the practical need for a rather large travel budget, I could easily imagine being on the road all year long.

Madrid – A City That Rarely Sleeps

Madrid immediately felt alive. It is a city filled with energy, movement, conversation, music, and spontaneous entertainment. I had booked an Airbnb apartment for us in the heart of the city, and as soon as we walked in, we noticed two pairs of earplugs placed neatly on the bed beside freshly fluffed pillows. That small detail turned out to be a clear hint of what the next five days would bring.

Spaniards Love to Party

There is something wonderfully bold about Spanish nightlife. At two o’clock in the morning, we woke to the sound of drums, singing, and celebration just below our third-story window. We opened the wooden shutters to see what was happening and found what looked like a parade moving down the street. We returned to bed assuming it would end soon, but the music continued through three o’clock, four o’clock, and beyond. Night after night, the streets carried the sound of celebration. We kept asking ourselves, “When do these people sleep?” Perhaps that is where the beauty of the Spanish siesta comes in.

Fried, Doughy Pastries Plunged into Chocolate Pudding-like Sauce

After one of those lively Madrid nights, we woke up craving something sweet and comforting. The city was already bustling with locals and tourists looking for breakfast, and we made our way to Chocolatería San Ginés, only a few streets from our apartment. The place was full of people from around the world, all gathered for the same reason: fresh churros and Spanish hot chocolate. The churros were crisp on the outside, tender inside, and perfect for dipping into a thick chocolate sauce with a pudding-like texture. It was a beautiful way to wake up the senses and begin the day.

Churros and Spanish Hot Chocolate – A Beginner Cook Can Easily Make Them

After tasting authentic churros and Spanish hot chocolate in Madrid, I knew I wanted to learn how to make them at home. They may never taste exactly the same as they did in Spain, but this homemade version is still delicious and surprisingly approachable. The churro dough is simple, made with basic ingredients: flour, water, salt, and a little olive oil. With the right technique and attention to the oil temperature, even a beginner cook can make light, crispy churros in the home kitchen.

Churro Maker or Pastry Bag

Shaping churros takes a little effort. You will need either a churrera, which is a traditional churro maker, or a pastry bag fitted with a large open-star tip. If you use a pastry bag, be prepared to use some strength because the dough is firm and stiff. The frying oil should be very hot, but it should not be smoking when the dough is piped in. Churros can be formed into coils or long, fluted strips. Either shape will work as long as the dough cooks evenly and turns crisp and golden. It is helpful to fry one test churro first. If it browns too quickly but remains doughy inside, lower the heat slightly and try again until the texture is right.

A Perfect Blend of Sweet and Salty

The magic of churros and Spanish hot chocolate is the contrast between salty fried dough and deep, semi-sweet chocolate. The churros are crisp, warm, and lightly sprinkled with sugar, while the chocolate is smooth, rich, and intense. Whatever you do, do not skip the chocolate sauce. In Spanish, it is known as chocolate caliente español, and it is made for dipping.

Smooth Creaminess of Spanish Hot Chocolate

Spanish hot chocolate is very different from the hot chocolate many of us know in the States. It is not a thin, sweet drink topped with marshmallows. Instead, it is dark, thick, creamy, and almost spoonable. The texture is closer to warm chocolate pudding than a beverage, and that is exactly what makes it so special. It coats the churros beautifully and adds a luxurious finish to every bite.

Take Time to Relax

Whether you are sitting in a Madrid café enjoying churros and Spanish hot chocolate or serving them at a tapas party at home, this recipe is meant to be enjoyed slowly. Make a pot of thick chocolate, fry the churros until golden, and share them while they are still warm. Take time to relax, talk, laugh, and let the taste of chocolate linger. Food has a way of turning ordinary moments into memories, and this classic Spanish treat is a perfect example.

Both recipes, churros and Spanish hot chocolate, were inspired by a cookbook I ordered after returning home from Spain: The Cuisines of Spain by Teresa Barrenechea. It is filled with Spanish cooking ideas and remains a helpful resource for exploring traditional flavors.

View the full “Tapas Experience” for more inspiration.

TABLE TALK:

Chocolate and Churros

Chocolate has a long and fascinating history, and it continues to be one of the most loved ingredients around the world. In this recipe, it becomes the heart of a classic Spanish breakfast or dessert. The thick chocolate sauce is not merely a drink; it is a rich dipping chocolate designed to cling to each crisp churro.

Churros

The origin of churros is often debated. Some accounts connect them to Portuguese explorers who returned from Asia with techniques for fried dough, while others describe churros as a practical Spanish creation made by shepherds using simple ingredients such as flour, water, salt, and sugar. Because the dough could be fried without an oven, it was easy to prepare while traveling. Another theory links the name to the Navajo churro sheep, whose curved, grooved horns resemble the ridged shape of the pastry.