Name: Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists
Cook time: 15 s
Total time: 15 s
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Duros; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 tbsp cinnamon; Oil for deep frying

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Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists are a quick copycat recipe made with duros fried until light, crispy, and puffed, then tossed in a sweet cinnamon sugar coating. They puff up in seconds and have that crunchy texture and cinnamon flavor you expect from the Taco Bell favorite.

The first time you fry duros, watching those little twists puff up almost instantly is pretty fun. They may not look like much straight from the package, but once they hit the hot oil, they completely transform into the crispy cinnamon twists everyone recognizes.

Why I Love This Recipe

Only a few ingredients: Duros, cinnamon, sugar, and frying oil are all you need.
Ready in seconds: The duros puff up incredibly fast once they hit the hot oil.
Sweet and crispy: Each twist gets coated in cinnamon sugar while it’s still warm.
Taco Bell favorite at home: It’s an easy way to recreate the crunchy fast-food treat in your own kitchen.

Ingredient Notes

Duros: Also called wheat puffs or duros de harina, these are the key to getting that light, crispy Taco Bell-style twist. They look hard before cooking but puff up quickly when added to hot oil.
Granulated Sugar: Creates the sweet coating for the twists. Toss the duros with the cinnamon sugar while they’re still warm so it sticks.
Ground Cinnamon: Mixes with the sugar to give the twists their classic cinnamon flavor.
Oil for Frying: Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable or canola oil. Make sure the oil is properly heated before adding the duros so they puff quickly instead of absorbing excess oil.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

How to Make Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists

Heat oil in a cast-iron pan to 350°F.
Carefully add about 10 duros at once to the hot oil.
Stay attentive as they puff up quickly, usually within about 15 seconds.
Once puffed, remove them from the oil.
In a mixing bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar.
Toss the fried duros in the cinnamon sugar mixture until evenly coated.
Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips I Found Helpful

Heat the oil first: Make sure the oil is hot before adding the duros so they puff quickly and don’t become greasy.
Fry only a few at a time: Duros expand fast, so give them plenty of room in the pan.
Watch them closely: They puff in just seconds, so remove them as soon as they’re fully expanded.
Coat while warm: Toss the twists in the cinnamon sugar right after frying so the coating sticks well.

FAQs For Cinnamon Twists

hese homemade cinnamon twists are made with duros, also called wheat puffs or duros de harina. When fried in hot oil, they quickly puff into light, crispy twists that can be coated in cinnamon sugar.

Duros can often be found in the international or Mexican food aisle of grocery stores, as well as at Latin American markets. Duros are also available for purchase at Amazon.

No. Regular dried pasta will not puff like duros when fried. You need duros made specifically to expand when cooked.

Let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Keep them away from moisture to help them stay crispy.

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