It’s 2 AM. That sweet tooth of yours is demanding attention. You stumbled into the kitchen and remembered a viral video you watched about Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists. What did it say it was made from? Pasta? Why, you’ve just stocked some in the pantry!
You grab some rotini pasta and a pot, giddy at the thought of sinking your teeth into your favorite sugary snack in just a few minutes. The pasta you’ve thrown in the pot of oil though, wasn’t so excited. In fact, it was not doing anything except getting crispier by the second, while you panicked and wondered what on earth you did wrong.
Where Was the Puffiness You Were Promised?
Don’t be too hard on yourself, because the pasta seen in the infamous viral TikTok video did resemble your everyday fusilli or rotini pasta. However, as many have discovered, they’re actually made of something else.
The closest thing resembling the pasta that turned into Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists is duros. Apparently, the cornmeal in duros is what gives them a signature puffy appearance. The Italian pasta will not puff up when fried. So, please don’t waste any more of your mom’s rotini pasta.
Nonetheless, we’re determined to help you along with your destiny of becoming a Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists chef extraordinaire with this simple recipe. You only need 3 ingredients!
Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists Recipe
| Difficulty: Easy | Yields: 10 | Total Time: About 1 minute |
Ingredients
| Duros |
| Vegetable Oil |
| Cinnamon Sugar |
If you don’t have pre-mixed cinnamon sugar, just follow these instructions to make your own.
Cinnamon Sugar Recipe
| 1/2 cup granulated sugar |
| 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon |
Step 1: Stir the two ingredients into a large bowl until thoroughly combined. That’s it!
Cinnamon sugar recipe inspired by The Spruce Eats
Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists Instructions
| Step 1: Heat the oil in a frying pan at medium temperature. The oil should be about ½ inch to 1 inch deep. You’ll know it’s hot enough when the oil bubbles steadily as you dip a wooden spoon or chopstick into the oil. |
| Step 2: Put the duros (10 at a time) into the pan. They’ll puff up after a few seconds. Let them cook for 5-10 seconds more after they’ve first puffed up. Don’t let them burn! Have a strainer ready to scoop them up after they’ve fully bloomed. |
| Step 3: Place the duros in a bowl lined with paper towels. Let the excess oil seep into the towels. |
| Step 4: Transfer your twists into a paper bag or re-sealable bag. Add cinnamon sugar generously. |
| Step 5: Shake and toss the bag around until your twists have been coated evenly with delicious, sugary cinnamon goodness. Enjoy! |
Recipe inspired by Stephanie Manley from CopyKat
Now, we see you healthy folks raising your hands.
Can You Make This in An Air Fryer Instead?
Do you want it to be exactly like Taco Bell’s cinnamon twists? If your answer is yes, then we’re afraid an air fryer will not produce the same results. However, if you’d still like to try, then go ahead and try frying them with an air fryer at 490 degrees for about 6 minutes. It may take longer, so keep an eye on it.
You’re likely to end up with a denser version that’s also crunchier rather than light and airy. On top of that, the air-fried twists may not have enough fat to allow for the cinnamon sugar to remain on the surfaces. But hey! You’ll definitely end up with a cleaner snack. And that’s good news for all you health junkies!
Whether you make it in an air fryer or you choose the conventional method, you’re still going to be psyched you made your very own Taco Bell’s Cinnamon Twists. It’s incredibly simple to make, yet produces a wildly addictive snack that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.
So, give it a try! But, before you do, make sure to check out our other tantalizing recipes and helpful guides here at LokaEats!
