There is something about grabbing a warm churro after walking through Costco that makes the food court stop almost as important as the shopping trip.
These Costco Churros Copycat Recipe churros recreate that familiar long, twisted-style treat at home with a crisp golden outside, soft center, and plenty of cinnamon sugar.
The timing for this recipe couldn’t be better either. Costco has just announced that its Twisted Churro is returning to U.S. food courts for a limited time, priced at $1.49, after disappearing from the regular menu.
You don’t need any unusual ingredients to make this homemade version. A simple cooked dough is piped into long strips, fried until golden, and tossed in cinnamon sugar while still warm.
Why You’ll Love This Costco Churros Recipe
Here’s something interesting about the Costco churro story: the churro people remember hasn’t actually stayed the same over the years.
The earlier Costco food-court churros were supplied by Tio Pepe’s, a J&J Snack Foods brand. Those churros used a distinctive dual-flavor twist, combining a traditional churro with a chocolate-flavored strand.
Costco later moved to a larger twisted churro, and the item eventually disappeared from U.S. food courts again. Now, in September 2026, Costco has confirmed another limited-time return.
That’s one reason a homemade version is useful: you don’t have to wait for Costco’s food-court menu to change again.
You’ll also love this recipe because the churros are:
- Crispy outside and fluffy inside
- Covered generously in cinnamon sugar
- Made from inexpensive pantry ingredients
- Long and twisted for that Costco-inspired appearance
- Best served freshly fried and warm
- Easy to pair with chocolate, caramel or vanilla ice cream
Ingredients You’ll Need
The dough itself is surprisingly simple.
Water – provides the moisture needed for the cooked dough.
Unsalted butter – adds richness and helps produce a tender center.
Granulated sugar – a small amount goes into the dough, with more used for coating.
Salt – balances the sweetness.
All-purpose flour – forms the structure of the churros.
Eggs – make the inside softer and lighter.
Vanilla extract – adds a little extra warmth to the homemade version.
Ground cinnamon – combined with sugar for the classic coating.
Vegetable oil – use a neutral oil suitable for frying.
How to Make Costco Churros at Home
1. Make the cinnamon sugar
Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish. Set it aside so it’s ready as soon as the churros come out of the oil.
2. Prepare the churro dough
Add water, butter, sugar and salt to a saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and add the flour all at once.
Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together into a smooth ball and begins pulling away from the sides of the pan.
Continue cooking for about a minute.
3. Add the eggs
Remove the pan from the heat and allow the dough to cool for about 5 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla.
At first the dough may look as though it is separating. Keep mixing and it should come back together into a thick, smooth dough.
4. Pipe the churros
Transfer the dough into a sturdy piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
For the Costco-inspired appearance, pipe two thin ropes beside each other and gently twist them together.
You can also simply pipe one thick ridged churro if you want an easier method.
5. Fry until golden
Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
Carefully lower the churros into the oil without overcrowding the pan.
Fry for approximately 3–5 minutes, turning occasionally, until deep golden brown and crisp.
Transfer them to a paper-towel-lined plate for about 30 seconds.
6. Coat with cinnamon sugar
While they’re still warm, roll each churro generously in the prepared cinnamon sugar.
This is best done immediately because the warm surface helps the coating stick.
Getting That Costco-Style Twist
You don’t need to make the twist for the recipe to taste good, but it’s a fun detail if we’re calling these Costco copycat churros.
Pipe two thinner strips of dough onto a piece of parchment paper. Pinch the ends together and carefully twist the strands around each other.
Chill them for around 10–15 minutes if they’re too soft to handle.
Then carefully transfer the twisted churros into the hot oil.
Don’t make them quite as enormous as a food-court churro unless you have a very large fryer or pot. Shorter twists are much easier and safer to fry at home.
Tips for the Best Homemade Churros
Watch the oil temperature. If the oil is too cool, the churros absorb excess oil. If it’s too hot, they’ll brown before the center cooks.
Use a large star piping tip. The ridges aren’t only decorative. They increase the surface area and give churros more of those crisp edges.
Don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry just two or three at a time.
Coat them while warm. Cinnamon sugar sticks much better immediately after frying.
Eat them fresh. Churros are at their best when the outside is still hot and crisp.
What to Serve With Costco Churros
They’re delicious straight from the cinnamon sugar, but you can turn them into a proper dessert with:
- Warm chocolate sauce
- Dulce de leche
- Caramel sauce
- Vanilla ice cream
- Chocolate ice cream
- Fresh strawberries
For a Costco-inspired dessert, I’d keep things simple. A warm cinnamon-sugar churro with vanilla ice cream is difficult to beat.
FAQs
Are Costco churros back?
Yes. Costco announced in September 2026 that its Twisted Churro is returning to U.S. food courts for a limited time. The rollout is happening across warehouses over several weeks, so availability can vary by location.
Why did Costco discontinue its churros?
The churro has come and gone from Costco’s U.S. food-court lineup. It was previously removed and replaced by a large chocolate-chip cookie, although menu offerings have continued to change.
Can I make these without twisting them?
Absolutely. Pipe the dough directly through a large star tip into straight churros. The cinnamon-sugar flavor and texture will be essentially the same.
Can Costco copycat churros be made in an air fryer?
You can air-fry churro dough, although the texture won’t be exactly like the deep-fried food-court version. For this particular copycat recipe, frying gives the closest crisp exterior.
Why are my churros raw inside?
They’re probably too thick or the oil is too hot. Aim for approximately 350°F/175°C and avoid piping extremely thick churros.
Can I make churros ahead of time?
They’re best freshly cooked. You can prepare the dough shortly beforehand, but I recommend frying and coating the churros close to serving time.
Costco Churros Copycat Recipe
These Costco Churros Copycat Recipe churros are crispy and golden outside, soft inside, and generously coated with cinnamon sugar. Make the famous twisted-style food court treat right at home with simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
For the churros
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the cinnamon sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and cinnamon for the coating in a shallow dish and set aside.
- Add water, butter, 1 tablespoon sugar and salt to a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce the heat and add the flour all at once. Stir vigorously until a smooth dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
- Continue cooking for about 1 minute, then remove from the heat.
- Allow the dough to cool for approximately 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Mix in the vanilla until the dough is thick and smooth.
- Transfer the dough to a sturdy piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
- For twisted churros, pipe two thin strips alongside each other onto parchment paper and gently twist them together. Alternatively, pipe regular straight churros.
- Heat approximately 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy pot to 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully add 2–3 churros at a time and fry for 3–5 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer to paper towels and allow excess oil to drain for about 30 seconds.
- While still warm, roll the churros generously in cinnamon sugar.
- Serve immediately, plain or with chocolate or caramel dipping sauce.
Notes
For the best texture, keep the frying oil close to 350°F (175°C) throughout cooking.
If you're making the twisted version, slightly shorter churros are easier to handle than Costco's extra-long food-court size.
The dough may look separated when you first add an egg. Continue mixing until smooth before adding the next egg.
Coat the churros with cinnamon sugar while they're still warm so the coating sticks well.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 churroAmount Per Serving: Calories: 220 kcalTotal Fat: 11 ggSaturated Fat: 5 ggTrans Fat: 0 ggUnsaturated Fat: 5 ggCholesterol: 75 mgmgSodium: 85 mgmgCarbohydrates: 28 ggNet Carbohydrates: 27 ggFiber: 1 ggSugar: 16 ggProtein: 3 gg
