Who said chips can't be dessert? Choccy Churro Fries give McCain Crispy French Fries a sweet festive makeover, with cinnamon-spiced fries arranged into a Chipmas wreath around a warm chocolate orange dipping sauce, finished with crunchy crushed pretzels.
Sweet, salty, chocolatey and made for sharing, they're a fun Chipmas dessert for Christmas parties, festive movie nights or whenever you fancy something a little different.
Spread the McCain Crispy French Fries in a single layer across one or two baking trays. Using two trays if needed gives the fries plenty of room to crisp up.
Place them in the oven and cook according to the pack instructions, turning every now and again.
Add the cinnamon
Around 5–6 minutes before the end of the cooking time, carefully remove the fries from the oven and sprinkle evenly with the ground cinnamon.
Gently toss the fries to distribute the cinnamon, then return them to the oven until they're lovely, crisp and light golden.
Make the chocolate orange dipping sauce
While the fries finish cooking, place the Chocolate Orange pieces and double cream into a microwave-safe bowl.
Heat gently in short bursts, stirring between each one, until the chocolate has completely melted and you're left with a smooth, glossy dipping sauce.
Alternatively, place the chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water and stir regularly until melted and combined.
For an even quicker version, simply warm 200ml of ready-made chocolate sauce.
Build your Choccy Churro Fries wreath
Place the bowl of warm chocolate orange sauce in the centre of a large round sharing board or platter.
Arrange the hot cinnamon-spiced fries around the bowl in a festive Chipmas wreath, then scatter over the crushed pretzels for extra crunch. Finish with a drizzle of warm salted caramel sauce, if you're using it.
Bring your Choccy Churro Fries wreath straight to the table and let everyone grab, dip and share.
Recipe tips
Don't overcrowd the fries. If you're cooking the full 900g, use two trays if necessary so the fries have enough room to crisp up.
Add the cinnamon towards the end. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the fries around 5–6 minutes before they finish cooking so they take on the flavour without the spice catching in the oven.
Warm the chocolate sauce gently. Whether you're making the chocolate orange sauce or using a ready-made alternative, heat it slowly and stir regularly until smooth.
Keep the sauces separate until serving. Serve the chocolate orange and salted caramel sauces as dips or drizzle them over at the last minute so the fries stay as crisp as possible.
Assemble just before serving. Have your sauce and toppings ready before arranging the fries into the Chipmas wreath, then add the crushed pretzels and serve straight away.
Variations
Make It Vegan
The original Choccy Churro Fries are a great option for vegetarians, but they're easy to turn into a vegan Chipmas treat too.
Instead of the Chocolate Orange and double cream, make your dipping sauce with dairy-free dark or orange chocolate and a plant-based cream. Alternatively, keep things simple with a warm vegan chocolate or salted caramel dipping sauce.
You can have a bit more fun with the toppings too. Try crushed salted pretzels, toasted hazelnuts, crushed ginger biscuits or a scattering of dairy-free chocolate pieces over the cinnamon-spiced fries.
For an extra festive twist, add a little orange zest to the chocolate dipping sauce. It'll give you that chocolate-orange flavour without relying on a particular chocolate product.
Just check the labels of your chocolate, pretzels, biscuits and sauces to make sure they're suitable for vegans.
Make Your Choccy Churro Fries Your Own
You can easily switch up the sauces and toppings depending on what you have in the cupboard.
Not a chocolate orange fan? Use your favourite warm chocolate dipping sauce instead. Love salted caramel? Skip the chocolate altogether and serve the fries with a generous caramel drizzle and extra crushed pretzels.
Or go all in and serve both chocolate orange and salted caramel dipping sauces on the platter so everyone can choose their favourite.
Perfect for a Chipmas Party
These Choccy Churro Fries are designed for sharing. Bring the whole platter to the table after your festive feast and let everyone grab a crispy cinnamon fry and get dipping.
They're also a fun alternative to a traditional Christmas dessert for a Christmas party, festive get-together or Christmas movie night, particularly when you want something quick that doesn't involve baking an entire pudding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Choccy Churro Fries?
A:
Choccy Churro Chips are crispy McCain French Fries coated with cinnamon and served as a sweet sharing dish with warm chocolate orange dipping sauce, crushed pretzels and optional salted caramel.
Can you have fries for dessert?
A:
Absolutely. The slight saltiness and crispy texture of fries work particularly well with sweet flavours such as cinnamon, chocolate and caramel, creating a sweet-and-salty dessert.
Can I use ready-made chocolate sauce?
A:
Yes. For a quicker version, simply warm around 200ml of ready-made chocolate sauce and serve it alongside the cinnamon-spiced fries.
What other sauces can I serve cinnamon fries?
A:
Salted caramel is a great alternative to chocolate. You could also serve both chocolate and caramel dipping sauces so everyone can choose their favourite.
How do I keep the Choccy Churro Fries crispy?
A:
Spread the fries in a single layer and avoid overcrowding the baking tray. If you're cooking the full 900g, using two trays will give them more space to crisp up. Add the sauces only when serving rather than pouring everything over the fries too early.
Are Choccy Churro Fries vegetarian?
A:
Yes. The original recipe uses ingredients suitable for vegetarians, including Terry’s Chocolate Orange, which is labelled vegetarian. Always check individual product labels, particularly if you're using alternative ready-made sauces.
Can I make Choccy Churro Fries vegan?
A:
Yes. McCain Crispy French Fries are suitable for vegans. To make the whole recipe vegan, use vegan chocolate orange, swap the double cream for a plant-based alternative and choose vegan-friendly pretzels and salted caramel sauce.
Can I make Choccy Churro Fries for a Christmas party?
A:
Yes. They're designed as a festive sharing dessert and can be served on one large platter with dipping sauces in the centre. If you're serving a bigger crowd, cook the fries across multiple trays and assemble the wreath platter just before serving.
