Copycat Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists Recipe - The Spruce Eats

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Copycat Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists By Kristina Vanni Kristina Vanni An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host. Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process Updated on 12/2/25 (14) Save Write a Review Print Close

Prep: 10 mins Cook: 5 mins Total: 15 mins Servings: 8 servings Yield: 8 cups cinnamon twists 14 ratings Write a Review Add a comment SaveRecipe

• You can make Taco Bell-style cinnamon twists at home in just 15 minutes.
• The twists puff up quickly and need only 30 seconds to cook in hot oil.
• Each batch is coated in a cinnamon-sugar mixture for the signature sweet crunch.

If you have ever ordered the cinnamon twists at Taco Bell, you probably wondered how they make these light and airy treats. They look like large puffs of rotini pasta, but they are actually made with a special ingredient called duros. Also known as "duros de harina" or "pasta para duros," these are a popular Latin American snack food that are often flavored with chili and lemon or cinnamon and sugar.

To make your own homemade version of the Taco Bell cinnamon twists, you'll need to purchase a bag of dried duros from a Latin American grocery store or online. Although it looks similar when dried, this ingredient is different from typical rotini pasta. Duros are made with wheat flour as well as cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. This helps them become puffed and airy when they are deep-fried. Do not attempt to make these cinnamon twists from regular noodles since pasta will simply sink to the bottom of the oil and burn.

The end result is a light and magical treat. It's hard to believe that the tiny pasta-like spirals could so quickly transform into these large puffed treats. While the Taco Bell cinnamon twists use the spiral variety of duros, they are also sold in 1-inch-square pieces and round wagon wheel shapes. It is fun to experiment with different shapes and sizes when cooking your own homemade version of this Latin American street food snack.

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• Vegetable oil, or canola oil, or peanut oil, for frying

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

• 2 cups spiral-shaped dried duros

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. Using a deep, heavy-bottomed pan or electric skillet, add enough oil to reach about 2 inches up the side. Heat oil to 350 F.

3. While oil is heating, combine sugar and cinnamon in a brown paper bag. Set aside.

4. Working in small batches, place several duros in hot oil to cook. The duros will sink to the bottom of the pan and nothing will happen for the first few seconds. Watch carefully because suddenly they will begin to puff up. If necessary, gently turn duros so they are puffed and cooked on all sides. The whole process will take about 30 seconds.

5. Once duros have puffed up and cooked, remove from oil using a slotted spoon or a spider.

6. Transfer cooked duros to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess oil.

7. Once cool enough to handle, quickly transfer duros to paper bag filled with cinnamon and sugar mixture. Fold down top of bag and shake to coat.

8. Place coated duros on a plate to cool. Repeat frying and coating process in small batches with remaining duros.

Recipe Variations

• Use a cup-for-cup sugar substitute for a sugar-free version.
• Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little heat.

Churros (Cinnamon Sugar Fried Doughnut Sticks)

• Mexican Appetizers
• Appetizers & Snacks
• Latin American Food
• Mexican Food
• Snack Recipes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
370	Calories
19g	Fat
46g	Carbs
7g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label ×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	370
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g	25%
Saturated Fat 3g	15%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 46g	17%
Dietary Fiber 6g	23%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 22mg	2%
Iron 2mg	10%
Potassium 168mg	4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

• taco bell cinnamon twists
• snack
• mexican
• party

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