Churros (Cinnamon Sugar Fried Doughnut Sticks)

Gather the ingredients.

In a pot, combine the water, buttermilk, butter, salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil.

Stir in the flour all at once using a heat-proof spatula. Continue to stir until the mixture clumps together to form a ball. Continue to cook for a minute or two more, turning the dough over in the pot with the spatula. Remove from heat.

Add the vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. The mixture should begin to look shiny, but should not slide off the spatula easily and be slightly stiffer than cream puff dough. If the mixture seems too thick and lacks shine, add an extra egg.

Place dough in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip that has an opening at least 1/2-inch wide. You can also use a round tip.

Place a sheet of waxed paper on a cookie sheet. Pipe lengths of dough about 4 to 6 inches long onto the cookie sheet and place in the freezer while you heat up the oil.

Heat 1 to 2 inches of oil to 375 F. When the churros feel firm, carefully pick them up off the cookie sheet with a spatula and drop them into the oil.

Working in batches, fry the churros for about 2 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown. Cool and drain them on a plate lined with paper towels.

Mix 1/2 cup sugar and the cinnamon together, and place the mixture on a plate or in a pan. Roll the churros in the cinnamon sugar while they are still warm.

To fill the churros, fit a pastry bag with a round (#4) metal icing tip. The tip should be small enough to poke into the end of the doughnut. Fill the pastry bag with your filling of choice.

Poke a skewer through the doughnut lengthwise and pipe the filling into the hole.

Serve warm and enjoy!