Dole Whip Aloha Isle And More Locations
Dole Whip is one of those classic treats thats just synonymous with Disney World, so thank goodness its gluten-free! You can find this delicious citrusy treat at locations like Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom, Pineapple Lanai at Disneys Polynesian Resort, and Tamu Tamu Refreshments at Animal Kingdom!
We love the traditional Dole pineapple flavor, but there are several other options available at any given time, including raspberry, strawberry, lime, and coconut.
We hope these gluten-free options satisfy your cravings for stellar Park snacks to fuel all the fun youre going to have on your Walt Disney World vacation.
Simple Gluten Free & Dairy Free Churros
Freshly fried Churros have a magic all their own! 2 weeks ago, we were at the Allergy & Free From Show in Birmingham and spent two days frying these non-stop! Half way through the first day, we had been classed as a “Health and Safety Risk” as the queues to our stall stretched nearly the length of the whole hall in 3 directions and we had our very own security guard patrolling the queue to try and keep it under control. By the end of the first day, our stall was split into two and we were given a second stall to try and manage the queues. The churros had their very own stall and even with us frying as fast as we physically could, our wonderful customers were still patient enough to stand in a queue for over an hour to get a taste of these lovely little things. So we decided that our next Baking Secrets video simply had to show you how to make them at home!
People tend to be very nervous about deep frying but as long as you’re careful, it’s actually really safe! So I’ve popped my top tips for deep frying below:
How To Make The Best Churros Gluten Free Edition:
Read Also: Breadcrumb Substitute Gluten Free
The Origin Of Churros
First off, let me start by saying that these churros are NOTHING like the ones in Spain, at least according to my mom and dad. We used to live there when I was a very young kid and they said Spanish churros arent sweet at all.
What makes them sweet in Spain is the chocolate dipping sauce. Churros and chocolate are a famous pair. I even remember my high school Spanish textbook being named Churros y Chocolaté.
Cinnamon and sugar are also nowhere in the Spanish version of these fried little gems. Somewhere along the line they were added to the American version and they stuck, literally and figuratively. Haha! Im not sure if this is a Mexican version, Mexican-American version, or just an American thing. Regardless, theyre delicious!!
Read Also: Food For Life Gluten Free English Muffins
How To Make Gluten
Begin by taking a large pot and adding about an inch deep of cooking oil to it. Set the heat to medium. The oil needs to heat up to between 350 and 375 F .
In a medium pot, combine the water, butter, and salt. Set the burner temp to medium and heat the mixture until the butter melts and the mixture starts to boil. If using salted butter, reduce the amount of salt added by half.
Next, pour in all of the gluten-free 1 to 1 four mix at once and stir. Stir really quickly, eventually, a dough will form. Keep stirring and pushing down on the dough, for about a minute which will help cook down some of the flour. Now remove it from the heat.
Now add the hot gluten-free churro dough to a bowl. Stir the dough until it cools down and is just barely warm but not hot anymore. It will take 5 to 10 minutes.
NOTE:If the dough is too hot it will cook the egg once we add the egg and you dont want that to happen.
Once the dough has cooled, add the egg and start stirring again. At first, it will seem like the egg doesnt want to mix in with the gluten-free churros dough, but eventually, it will.
You may use a stand mixer with a dough hook too if you like, this part is a bit of an arm workout. Make sure to use a sturdy spoon if you use a spoon because the dough is firm and may break the spoon if it isnt a wooden spoon or something sturdy like that.
Once the egg has been incorporated, the gluten-free churro dough is ready to go. Only 5 ingredients, pretty easy right?
Read Also: Are There Gluten Free Crescent Rolls
Step 1 Make The Choux Pastry
In a large mixing bowl mix gluten free flour with baking powder, salt, cinnamon and. sugar.
In a large saucepan, heat water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low.
Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl with flour. Stir until combined, either with a wooden spoon or using an electric mixer.
Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then add the egg and the vanilla, mix until incorporated. The dough should be thick and sticky with air pockets but not so thick that it cannot be piped through the bag. If it is too thick, add more water, 2 tablespoons at a time. And if its too thin, whisk in more Gluten-Free Flour, 2 tablespoons at a time.
If the batter is more like pancake batter and very thin it will still come out delicious but wont hold its shape from being piped through the star-shaped tip. You can fry the batter immediately or cover it and let it rest in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
What Do Churros Taste Like
Made popular in both Spain and Mexico, churros are made by frying a dough, similar to a choux pastry, then rolling it in cinnamon and sugar. The result is a fried pastry that tastes almost like a cross between a cream puff and a fried donut. The outside is super crisp while the inside is soft, tender, and chewy.
At my friend’s request, I served these fritters con chocolate, much like you’d find in Spain, but you could also serve them up with dulce de leche or without any dip at all. Honestly, I prefer them plain.
In Mexico, you’ll find churros that are much longer. These at-home churros are made shorter for no other reason than to easily fit in your pot.
Recommended Reading: Is Michelob Ultra Gluten Free
Everything On The Menu Erin Mckennas Bakery Nyc
Erin McKennas Bakery NYC in Disney Springs is like allergy-friendly heaven! Everything on the bakerys menu is gluten-free AND vegan, so this is a great spot for everyone! Not only is the food accessible, but its also satisfying.
From cupcakes to cookies, Erin McKennas has everything! You truly cant go wrong here.
What Is A Churro
For those who arent familiar with churros, they are snacks made of fried dough, covered in cinnamon and sugar. While they have similarities to donuts, the texture is crispier on the outside, and not as doughy on the inside. They are most often served with a chocolate dipping sauce.
Churros have a sweet and light cinnamon flavor, without being overpowering. Originally of Spanish origin, they are now a popular dessert in many western countries!
You May Like: Gluten Free Alternative To Couscous
Tips For Shaping Churros
- A pastry bag with a metal tip will give you that classic outer texture, but a plastic bag with the edge cut off works as well.
- You want at least a 1 inch tip or hole, but any size will work as long as you remember you will get less or more depending on the size.
- Use a knife to cut off the batter in between pieces.
- I made my churros about 3 inches long, you can make them longer if you want.
- Chill the dough, this will help them to stay round.
- Baking the churros can result in one flat side, to try to avoid this you can flip them while baking.
- The shape is simply aesthetic, theyll taste great no matter what! But, if you really want that perfect round shape, frying them is your best option.
You May Like: Gluten Free Pizza Crust Publix
Tools For Making Gluten
To make gluten-free churros easily at home, you need just a few kitchen tools:
- A ½-inch closed star piping tip. I prefer Ateco 846 or 847 .
- A piping bag or a plastic bag with the tip cut off for the piping tip.
- A large wide pot for frying. I like using a stockpot or large saucepan because the high sides keep the oil from splattering.
- A candy/deep-fry thermometer. Frying perfectly golden brown and crispy churros with a soft slightly chewy center that isn’t undercooked requires having your oil at the right temperature between 360°-365°F.
Recommended Reading: Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Publix
What Flour To Use To Make Them
I like to use my universal homemade gluten-free flour blend. Which is a mix of the following flours :
5. Xanthan Gum
If you cant make that one, you can try with any gluten-free flour mix . The final result using different flour mix might vary slightly, depending on what flours your mix contains.
To find the recipe for my gluten-free flour mix click, HERE.
Can I Bake These Churros
As these churros are made without eggs or milk, they can be quite chewy and dry when baked. I wasnt a huge fan of the texture and the cinnamon and sugar mixture did not stick on very well.
If youd like to bake them, I recommend you keep a firm eye on them and spray the churros with cooking spray, before covering with the cinnamon/sugar mix.
Don’t Miss: Panko Breadcrumbs Walmart Aisle
Disneys Churro Bites Recipe
Fast forward 7 years after I developed and shared my recipe, and Walt Disney World has released their recipe to the public!
The Disney Churro Bites recipe makes 1-inch long Churros, not the long sticks sold at the stands in the parks.
I was thrilled to see it and see my recipe is almost identical to their original recipe!
So whether you are gluten-free or a gluten-diner missing Disney, my recipe will bring you that familiar flavor and some joy!
Where I Started In Making Gluten Free Churros
When researching how to make churros, I already knew that regular Americanized churros start with a choux paste. A choux paste, or pate a choux, is a dough or paste that is the basis for many French pastries, most famously cream puffs and eclairs.
And since I had just developed a gluten free cream puff, I decided to give the gluten free churro a go. With a few adjustments in the method, these wonderful gluten free churros are super easy to make and even easier to eat!!
I went a step further by making the sauces that go with those churros from Nomads Lounge. One is a creme anglaise, which is like a thinned-out pastry cream. And the other is a chili strawberry sauce, which is like a spicy strawberry jam. Now I see why they chose them because they are absolutely delicious with the churros!!
You May Like: Are Klondike Bars Gluten Free
The Ultimate Sweet Spanish Street Snack Food Just Got Better With This Easy Make
Can anyone resist a freshly made churro? Test your guests with this gluten free churro recipe. It makes melt-in-your-mouth bites of piped goodness: crisp and crunchy on the outside, tender and fluffy on the inside, generously covered in cinnamon sugar and dipped in warm chocolate sauce for good measure. Serve them as sweet finger food at parties and special occasions. But make sure you make enough these doughy treats will be snaffled up fast.
Mickey Ice Cream Bars All Parks
Just like the popcorn, Mickey Ice Cream Bars are another classic Disney that just so happens to be gluten-free. You can find these sweet treats just about anywhere in Disney World, making them the perfect way to cool down on a hot Florida day!
Much like the popcorn, these ice cream bars can be handy in a pinch since you can find them everywhere! If youre in need of an ice cream fix thats gluten-free and easy to eat on the go, this is the one for you!
Recommended Reading: Best Gluten Free Pizza Crust Brand
Where Can I Buy Churros Recipes
| 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying |
| 1 cup water |
Steps:
- In a heavy deep skillet or deep-fryer, heat oil to 360 degrees F . Oil should be about 1 1/2 inches deep.
- In a medium saucepan, heat water and margarine to a rolling boil. Combine the flour and salt stir into the boiling mixture. Reduce heat to low and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and beat in the eggs one at a time. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
- Carefully squeeze out 4 inch long strips of dough directly into the hot oil. Fry 3 or 4 strips at once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from hot oil to drain on paper towels. Stir together the sugar and cinnamon roll churros in the mixture while still hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 134.2 calories, Carbohydrate 6.2 g, Cholesterol 23.3 mg, Fat 11.7 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 1.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 77.2 mg, Sugar 2.2 g