Churros vs Porras: Spanish Doughnut Taste Test in Madrid, Spain

Earlier this year while visiting Lima, Peru we did a Churros taste test in a famous local cafe nearby Kennedy Park. Now that we've found ourselves in Madrid, Spain it was time to sample Churros done the Spanish way. Unlike in Latin America, where stuffed or filled Churros are quite common, the Churros here in Spain are often plain but dunked in hot chocolate. This kind of hot chocolate is unlike any you've likely ever had before. Thick, more like a sludge than anything else, is the best way I can describe it. I have a feeling extra condensed milk is used to make it this way. Anyhow, Churros here in Madrid are eaten typically for breakfast. Although they're not what you'd call a complete or healthy way to start the day they're certainly delicious. Moreover, they're usually the cheapest option at local cafes and since arriving here we've been sampling them in earnest.

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Churros vs Porras: Spanish Doughnut Taste Test in Madrid, Spain Travel Video Transcript:

So it is breakfast time here in Madrid. We've just rolled out of bed at 10 am. Which is a bit unusual. But we're here at a local cafe and we're going to have a traditional Spanish breakfast. So we have ordered a hot chocolate with Churros and Porras. So we're going to show you what those are like in just a few minutes.

So this is something that is completely new for me. This is called Porras. And it is basically like a giant sized Churro. Like I've never seen anything like this before. I know, look at that, it's like. It's wider than your shoulders. Hahaha!

Alright, so we're going to dip it in the hot chocolate because that is how things are done here.

Oh ho ho baby.

Mmmmm.

That is delicious.

It is nice and greasy. And sweet. It is probably not the healthiest way to start the day but 'hey' when in Spain. Hey we're doing it the Spanish way.

That is delicious.

I'm loving it.

What are you having? I'm actually having the proper Churros. This is a deep-fried dough. And what I've found interesting is that when I've had this in Canada it is more of a dessert but over here in Spain it is a breakfast. And it is very popular breakfast item. So let's dip that right in the chocolate. Show us how it is done.

Break off a piece here.

And that hot chocolate is as thick as it gets. It must have some kind of special ingredients that make it especially thick and rich. It's like mud. It's like chocolate sludge.

Wow! Let me just say I could get very used to having this as my normal breakfast. It's that good.

So what I find unique about the Spanish Churros is the shape. When we had these in South America they were usually like long little strips. And also there is no filing in these. I still haven't come across any Spanish Churros that have fillings. Whereas in South America they were stuffed with chocolate, vanilla pudding, dulce de leche. So that is another difference.

Now let's dip this. Oh la la.

This is so good.

Mmmm.

It is like a wishbone.

Hahahaha.

So show us what you do with the leftover hot chocolate. You know what. This is a breakfast that is like a gift that keeps on giving. What is left over is a hot chocolate and it is amazing. It is so thick. Like we were talking earlier. It is almost like a sludge but it is really rich and creamy. I think there is extra condensed milk or something.

Wonderful.

So this is a super affordable breakfast. I've got the menu right next to me. And basically it is two Euros and fifty cents and you get your peach juice, your hot chocolate and either three Churros or three Porras. And yeah, I'm stuffed after all that food. Surprisingly.

This is part of our Travel in Spain series. We're making a series of videos showcasing Spanish culture, Spanish arts, Spanish foods, Spanish religion, Spanish cuisine and Spanish people.

All photos and video taken by Samuel Jeffery (Nomadic Samuel) and Audrey Bergner (That Backpacker).

Music in this video courtesy of Audio Network

[alphabet]

Always a pleasure to see you both enjoying something new to eat!

[julia]

The hot chocolate is thickened with masa that is ground kind of thin. Basically it has corn flour in it. I've had a similar drink called champurado which is also very good.

[ChristiaanWelzel]

Greetings from Calgary! Your videos are always "delicious" :) We've started to vlog as well and we're re-watching some of your travels to get inspiration. Keep it up!

[jaejang]

I think Spanish Churros are made without the filling because the Hot Cocoa serves as a dipping sauce. It would be a bit too much if it had a filling then you dip it in the cocoa. I also think that the filled ones were made for people who preferred different flavors and to be able to eat on-the-go without having to dip it in a dipping sauce. :)

Watching you guys made me crave Churros. >< hahahaha.

[bryanjensen]

Hope you found the filled churros while there in Spain. (I got them in and outside of Madrid.) They have them (though not for breakfast) and delicious (of course!). The kind I liked were a postre called churros bonbon— which were chocolate choux dough, filled with thickened sweetened condensed milk (not as carmel-ly as dulce de leche) and then outside dipped in chocolate—served cool like chocolate palmeras.

[minxbt]

Hi guys! r u still in Madrid? i know of a really old (one of teh first) churro place in Madrid....i'd love u to go...as it's amazing. Here we have filled churros (with chocolate or a type of cold custurd) but only in fairs of special ocasions...

[ocavicabavi]

Porras are better. I'm from Spain and in ny opinion: Porras>>>>Churros>>buñuelos

[molekulaTV]

Good idea to take small parts out (from your big adventures) for vids like this.

[Lillipod]

Is the only difference the shape? That looks more like chocolate custard than hot chocolate.

[georgezee]

Maybe it's a thing in Madrid, but where I'm from (South East Spain) porras almost have no wrinkles. Apart from its size, that one looks too "churroish" to me xD

[Queenlayla]

Are you supposed to put sugar on those not hot chocolate?😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤

[disneyme]

My mom's side of the family is from Andalucia and they emigrated to Argentina at the beginning of the 1900s and that's the only thing I don't really like from Spain, the hot chocolate. It looks like mud and then you get that skin on top if it cools, I cannot handle that 😝 LOL. You must try rabbit, it is delicious, my grandma used to go to this neighbor's house down the street and he would raise rabbits and kill them right there in front of you, I would always cry. Then she would make an arroz con conejo that was out of this world 😋😚

[sufrihadi]

3:13 how can you drink thick hot chocolate without getting your lips covered with it