The Best Homemade Disney Churros Recipe

Do you want to know how to make Disneyland Churros? You're in the right place! This recipe is the perfect blend of soft and crunchy fried dough with a hint of vanilla and are dusted with cinnamon and sugar. These churros are sure to make you feel like you are at the Happiest Place on Earth! Plus, learn how to make your own Star Wars-themed Lightsaber Churros!

This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on these links, I get a small percentage back at no cost to you! For more information see my disclosure policy.

Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card or tap "Jump to Recipe" at the top of the page.

Why Disneyland Churros are the Best Churros

I am self-admitted Disney addict. I'm obsessed. I am always planning our next trip and researching new and exciting things that are going on in the Disney Parks. Anyone who has visited Disneyland or Walt Disney World can tell you that you MUST eat a Disney Churro.

There's no way around it. There is no churro that comes close. They have the best texture and flavor of any churro I've ever had and Disneyland is great at featuring specialty churros with different toppings all throughout the year! Check out this recipe for Disneyland's Christmas Churros!

What Are Lightsaber Churros?

A few years ago, Disney began selling Lightsaber Churros. Delicious, sweet, fried dough, sprinkled with red or blue sugar, depending on whether or not you choose the dark side.

Pictures of these awesome churros were posted all over Facebook and Instagram. When I started seeing them EVERYWHERE, I knew that I needed to make a homemade version for my family.

After much trial and error, I finally have achieved, what I think, is the BEST homemade Disney Churros recipe.

Ingredients for Disneyland Churros

*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Water: Water is what gives the churros their moisture.
• Butter: I used salted butter, but unsalted butter works as well.
• Sugar: You only need a little bit of sugar to sweeten the dough. Sugar will also be used in the churro coating.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract adds more flavor to the churros.
• All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour is used to make the dough for the churros.
• Salt: Salt helps to balance out the sweetness and enhance other flavors.
• Eggs: The eggs help bind everything together and give the churros some added structure.
• Oil: Any neutral flavored oil can be used for frying the churros. Canola oil or vegetable oil work well.
• Sugar and Cinnamon: This is what makes traditional churros so delicious! The mixture of sugar and cinnamon is mixed together and rolled onto the fried dough to give it a crunchy, sweet coating.
• Food Coloring: This is optional and only used if you want to make Lightsaber Churros. I recommend using gel food coloring for the best results.

Step by Step Instructions

[Step 1] Heat the water, sugar, salt, and butter on the stove in a quart saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Remove it from the heat and stir in the flour and vanilla until the dough is smooth. It only takes about 30 seconds. The dough should be thick, almost like biscuit dough. Let the dough cool a little, about 10 minutes.

[Step 2] Use a hand mixer to beat in the eggs, then set aside. 

[Step 3] While the dough is cooling, pour the oil into a large soup pot, deep skillet, or deep fryer and heat it over medium-high heat to 350-360 degrees. If you using a soup pot, make sure you use a candy thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. It needs to stay in this temperature range in order for the churros to cook correctly.

[Step 4] While the oil is heating up, prepare the cinnamon/sugar mixtures. Classic Disney Churros: Mix ½ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and place in a large dish.

Lightsaber Churros: Mix ⅓ cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon together in a small bowl. Add 6-8 drops of red food coloring and mix with a spoon until the mixture is completely red. Repeat this step for the blue cinnamon sugar mixture.

[Step 5] Spoon dough in a ziplock bag or piping bag. I like to use disposable piping bags because they are sturdier than ziplock bags and require no clean up!

[Step 6] To give the churros their unique shape, use a large star tip. Helpful tip: place the piping bag in a large cup and fold the ends over the top of the cup to hold the bag in place while filling.

[Step 7] Once the oil is about 360 degrees, slowly pipe a 6-inch line of churro dough into the hot oil. You may need to use a knife to cut off the end of the dough.

[Step 8] Wait about 30 seconds and pipe another 6-inch line of dough into the oil. Work in small batches of 3 or 4 churros at a time.

[Step 9] Cook for about 3 or 4 minutes and flip it over with heat-resistant silicone tongs. Let them fry on the other side for 3 or 4 minutes until it is golden brown.

[Step 10] Remove the churros immediately and place them on a paper-towel lined plate.

[Step 11] After removing the churros, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat. Don't wait too long, or the mixture won't stick. (To keep them warm, place them on a baking sheet topped with parchment paper in an oven set at 200 degrees.

[Step 12] Serve the churros warm with chocolate ganache, dulce de leche, or your favorite dipping sauce. Yum!

Helpful Kitchen Tools

•  Mixing Bowl
• Large Soup Pot or Deep Fryer
• Candy/Deep Fryer Thermometer
• Disposable Pastry Bag
• Large Star Tip
• Silicone Tongs or Slotted Spoon
• Paper Towels

How to Store Leftover Disneyland Churros

Leftover churros can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the oven or microwave before serving. You can also freeze the churros for up to 1 month and reheat them before serving.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy this delicious Disneyland Churro recipe! They are sure to make you feel like you are at the Happiest Place on Earth. And don't forget to try your hand at making Lightsaber Churros for a fun and unique twist. Happy frying!

More Copycat Disney Recipes:

• Short-Cut Mickey Beignets
• Disney Parks Churro Bites
• Toy Story Land Grilled Cheese
• Easy Mickey Beignets
• Disneyland's Raspberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Disney Park Snacks Recipes
• Mickey-Shaped Treats
• Homemade Dole Whip

How to Get Discount Disneyland Tickets

If you would like to save money on your next trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World theme parks, my friends at Get Away Today will be able to help you plan an awesome vacation! 

My family has been booking our Disney vacations with them since I was in junior high.

Their customer service is amazing and ticket prices are usually a few dollars cheaper than Disney gate prices. 

Get Away Today is almost always running some kind of special on Disneyland tickets and hotel rooms.

And you can book without worry when you use their Peace of Mind Plan and Layaway Plan!

If you book a 2-night or longer Southern California vacation package including hotel and tickets, you can use the promo code Clubhouse10 at checkout to save an extra $10 in addition to sales and discounts.

Check out my reviews of 8 Hotels Within Walking Distance of Disneyland and my other Disneyland Area Hotel reviews here!