Mini Churros and Hot Chocolate with Dulce de Leche

Ingredients:

Churros

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp. confectionery fat
• 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 0.5 tsp coarse salt
• 1 cup cake flour (not self-raising)
• Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
• 1 tbsp light brown sugar
• 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon

Hot chocolate

• 2.5 cups of milk
• 60 g semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup dulce de leche + extra for serving
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
• Whipped cream for decoration

Preparation:

1. Churros:
   
   Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and insert a 1/2-inch star tip into a pastry bag; set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water, butter, shortening, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, and salt and bring to a boil. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon, then reduce the heat to low and whisk vigorously until the dough comes together, about 1 minute. Let cool slightly, then transfer the dough to a pastry bag. Pipe 1-inch strips of churros onto the prepared baking sheet, trimming each piece with kitchen scissors (you should have 26-28 churros). Let rest at room temperature, about 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the hot chocolate.:
   
   In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk to a simmer. Add the chocolate, dulce de leche, and cinnamon stick. Cook, stirring, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Cover and simmer to keep the chocolate warm.
3. Fry some churros:
   
   In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat about 2 inches (5 cm) of vegetable oil to 350°F (180°C) on a deep-fry thermometer. In a large bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Fry the churros, a few at a time (divide into three batches), until golden brown and crisp, 4-5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then roll in the cinnamon sugar to coat completely.
4. Remove the cinnamon stick from the hot chocolate and pour it into mugs. Garnish with whipped cream and a drizzle of dulce de leche. Serve the hot chocolate with churros.