This week is all about Harry Potter with the announcement that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will open on April 7, 2016! We are so excited to have it open on the West Coast and we've been celebrating with Harry Potter themed treats, vacation gift giving ideas, and  If there's one taste that I associate with Harry Potter year-round, it's pumpkin! It seems like Harry and his crew were always gulping pumpkin juice, celebrating with pumpkin fizz, enjoying pumpkin tarts, or treating themselves to pumpkin pasties. It only seems fitting that we should celebrate the new area of the theme park with a pumpkin treat. This fall I whipped up some of my favorite treats, pumpkin churros, and they were incredible. So incredible that they tasted almost magical.... Plus, they kind of look like magic wands. The most delicious magic wands!
 

Harry Potter Inspired Pumpkin Churros

Add a little wizard flare to your dessert spread with these delicious Harry Potter inspired pumpkin churros and accompanying whipped dip. I'm certain they'd be a favorite if they were served at the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Here's what you need:

Harry Potter Inspired Pumpkin Churros Recipe

• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• Dash of ginger, nutmeg and cloves
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 6 T. butter
• 2 T. brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 eggs
• Canola oil for frying
• Pastry bag with star tip
• Handheld mixer

Sugar/spice mix for pumpkin churros

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 T cinnamon
• Dash of ginger, nutmeg and cloves

Whipped dip for pumpkin churros

• 4 oz. soft cream cheese
• 1/2 pint whipped cream
• 2 T sugar
• 1 T vanilla

You'll start by making your whipped dip. Place the cream cheese, whipping cream, sugar and vanilla into a bowl, and whip the ingredients together with a handheld mixer. You can add extra sugar and/or vanilla to taste.
 

Next, you'll make your churro coating. Mix your sugar and spices for the coating together and set them aside.

Harry Potter Pumpkin Churros

Finally, it's time to start making your churros. Combine your flour and spices in a mixing bowl and mix them well. Then, combine your remaining ingredients EXCEPT for the eggs, in a small saucepan, melt them together over medium heat and bring them to a boil.

Once the mixture begins boiling, you'll want to immediately remove it from the heat and add your flour and spice mixture. Stir all of the ingredients together until it forms a stiff ball.

Heat about two inches of canola oil in a frying pan over medium heat. While you're waiting for your oil to heat up, you'll want to finish making your dough.

Add your eggs to the mixture one at a time and stir the egg completely into the batter before adding the next one. It will look like this once all of your eggs are completely mixed in.
 

Scoop your dough into a pastry bag with a large star tip, and once your oil is around 375 degrees, you're ready so start frying. Squeeze your dough directly into the oil in long strips. Let them cook for about 2 minutes on each side until they are a nice golden brown. You'll only let them turn once during cooking.
 

Roll your churros in your sugar and spice mixture immediately after removing them from the oil, then set them aside to cool a little.
 

These pumpkin churros are the most delicious when served warm, so gather your little witches and wizards around to enjoy!
 

If you want to really step into the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, book your vacation to Universal Studios Hollywood! You can hold your vacation for just $175 down using our flexible, interest-free Layaway Plan, and final payment isn't due until seven days before you travel. That really is magical! Book your vacation online or call our vacation wizards at 855-GET-AWAY.