Yes, after a few weeks break Iโm back on the choux pastry obsession… ย ๐ And as promised since I made churro donut holes, hereโs my proper churro donut rings version at last! ๐
Theyโre a bit more time consuming to prepare because the dough has to be piped into ring shape and frozen before frying (otherwise itโs too soft and impossible to handle – trust me, I tried and it was a complete mess! lol), but my god are they worth the extra hassle! If you miss โproperโ fried donuts that melt in your mouth, then this is it guys!
For years I’ve tried following โnormalโ gluten free donut recipes and they never turn out quite right… But the churro version is sensational and as close as it gets in my opinion!
(UPDATE: I now have a gluten free KRISPY KREME COPYCAT doughnut recipe -> HERE <- for those interested! But these churro doughnuts are still one of my favourites for sure.)
And it’s easy, really. Churros are choux pastry based and in case you didn’t know already, it’s incredibly simple to make and takes no more than 5-10 minutes. As long as you have the patience to let your churro donut rings freeze for a few hours or overnight. And if not, then you can always make churro donut holes instead {recipe here} which is just as tasty, quicker!
I made these into birthday doughnuts for my boyfriend instead of cake – topped with hazelnut flavoured whipped cream, Waitrose fruity confetti sprinkles and fresh raspberryย – and it was a complete success. ๐ They were so soft, light and airy and the toppings were a perfectย combination.
Gluten Free Churro Donut Rings Recipe:
- 85g gluten free all purpose self-raising flour (I used Doves Farm) (Note: add 1 + ⅕ tsp baking powder if using a plain flour blend)
- ½ tsp xanthan gum
- ½ tsp sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 50g unsalted butter
- 150ml whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- Cooking oil of your choice
- Caster sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- 200ml double cream or whipping cream
- 2 Tbsp icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (or any flavouring)
COOKING TIME: 7 to 8 minutes per batch
Directions
Prepare the choux pastry:
- Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Add the milk and butter into a saucepan and melt slowly on low/medium heat, stirring constantly. Then once you reach a very light boil, turn the heat off.
- Immediately pour the dry ingredients into the sauce pan and stir until the dough comes together. Then transfer it back into the mixing bowl and leave it to cool down for a few minutes.
- Once the dough has cooled down (it should be lukewarm), add the eggs and mix with an electric hand mixer (with mixing paddle attachments; not whisks) on low speed. You can also use a spatula, it’ll just take a bit longer. Af first it will look curdled/lumpy, but keep on mixing until smooth. Note: donโt skip over the cooling part; you don’t want the heat to start cooking the eggs.
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Prepare the churro donut rings:
- Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Transfer the dough into a piping bag with a large nozzle and pipe it into rings on the baking tray (see pictures further below).
- Wet your hands (shake off any excess) and shape the doughnut rings with your fingers, making sure to close them off properly and smooth any cracks.
- Cover with cling film and place in the freezer for a few hours or overnight, until frozen solid.
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Cook the churro donut rings:
- Heat the oil to 180C (355F). If you’re using a pan instead of a deep fryer, pour in about 2 inches of oil and try to get the temperature to stabilise somewhere around 175C to 190C (345F to 375F) using a cooking thermometer (you’ll have to play around with the temperature to keep adjusting it throughout the cooking process).
- Once you reach the correct temperature, gently lower the frozen churro donut rings into the hot oil and fry for 7 to 8 minutes, turning them over from time to time, until they turn a dark golden brown. Note: only cook two or three at a time to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Roll the freshly cooked churro donut holes in a mixture of sugar and ground cinnamon.
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Decorate the churro donut rings
- Add the whipped cream ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer on low speed until it forms soft peaks. Then transfer the whipped cream into a piping bag and pipe neatly over the donuts. Or you can spoon it on the donuts to save time, of course.
- Add any sprinkles or toppings of your choice.
- Or add any icing of your choice.
Hope you enjoy them! ๐
Kimi x
