Start the Dough: In a medium saucepan, combine the water, cubed butter, 1 tbsp of caster sugar, and salt. Place over a medium heat and bring to a rolling boil, ensuring the butter has completely melted.

Cook the Flour: Immediately remove the pan from the heat and tip in all the plain flour at once. Using a wooden spoon, beat the mixture vigorously until it comes together and forms a smooth ball of dough that pulls away from the sides of the pan. This should take about a minute.

Cool and Add the Egg: Set the pan aside and let the dough cool for 5-10 minutes. This is a crucial step to prevent the egg from scrambling. Once cooled slightly, gradually add the beaten egg and vanilla extract, beating hard after each addition until the dough is smooth, thick, and glossy. It will look split at first, but keep beating and it will come together.

Prepare for Piping: Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle (I use a Wilton 1M). This nozzle gives the churro bites their classic ridges, which help them get extra crispy.

Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 190°C (170°C fan) for 3-5 minutes. Line the basket with a reusable silicone liner or a piece of baking parchment.

Pipe the Churro Bites: Lightly spray the liner or parchment with oil. Carefully pipe 2-3 cm long pieces of dough directly into the air fryer basket, using scissors to snip them off. Leave a little space between each one as they will puff up. I find that working in two or three batches is best to avoid overcrowding.

Air Fry to Perfection: Spray the tops of the churro bites with a little more oil. Air fry for 6-8 minutes, or until they are a deep golden brown and feel crisp to the touch.

Coat in Cinnamon Sugar: While the bites are cooking, mix the 100g of caster sugar and the ground cinnamon in a shallow bowl. As soon as a batch is cooked, transfer the hot churro bites directly into the cinnamon sugar and toss gently to coat them completely.

Make the Chocolate Sauce: If you're making the sauce, gently heat the double cream and sugar in a small pan until it's just about to simmer. Remove from the heat, add the chopped dark chocolate, and let it sit for two minutes before stirring until smooth and glossy.

Serve Immediately: Serve your crispy churro bites warm, with the rich chocolate sauce for dipping.