✔ Updated · new copycat recipe with step photos
These copycat Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists puff up in hot oil in about 15 seconds, and then all that's left is a big toss in cinnamon sugar. The only tricky part is finding duros, so I've got you covered there too.
How Do You Make Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists? (Quick Answer)
Heat 2 inches of oil to 375°F. Fry dried wheat duros in small handfuls for 10 to 15 seconds, until puffed and pale gold, then lift them onto a rack. Toss them while still glistening in 1/2 cup sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Total time is about 20 minutes.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Toss the twists in the sugar within 30 seconds of leaving the oil. The thin film of hot oil is what makes the sugar stick, and once they cool it just falls off.
Why You'll Love These Twists
- Twenty minutes, total the fry itself takes seconds.
- Light as air they crackle, then melt away, just like the drive-thru treat.
- Three real ingredients plus the oil to fry them.
- A little kitchen magic watching tiny pellets explode into twists never gets old.
- Easy on the wallet a small bag of duros makes a big mountain.
What Are Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists?
Taco Bell keeps it simple and calls them a cinnamon sugar snack: light, puffy, crackly spirals that shatter and then dissolve. They're one of those treats I can't leave alone once the bag is open.
At home, the key ingredient is duros, a Mexican snack pasta made from wheat. They look like hard little pellets until they hit hot oil, then they puff up in seconds. Honestly, it's my favorite bit of kitchen theater.
Are they still on the menu? When I last checked, Taco Bell's site still listed Cinnamon Twists. Menus vary by location, so check the Taco Bell app near you. This is the make-it-at-home version.
Where to Buy Duros
Duros are the one ingredient you can't pick up just anywhere, so here's where I'd look.
- Mexican or Latin grocery stores: your best bet, usually near the snacks or dried pasta.
- The international aisle: some large supermarkets stock them, depending on the neighborhood.
- Online: search duros, duritos, pasta para duros or wheat pellets.
- Which shape: spirals or twists are closest. Wheels and squares taste the same, they just look less like the original.
Can't Find Duros? Use This Backup
Flour tortillas are my fallback. Cut 6-inch flour tortillas into 1/2-inch strips, give each strip a twist, and fry at 350°F for 30 to 60 seconds until golden. Toss in the same cinnamon sugar.
You'll get a crisp, crunchy twist rather than an airy puff, closer to a churro chip than the real thing. It's still good. For more of that cinnamon sugar crunch, try my easy Bisquick churros.
| Duros | Tortilla strips | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Airy and puffy | Crisp and crunchy |
| Oil | 375°F | 350°F |
| Fry time | 10 to 15 seconds | 30 to 60 seconds |
| Closest to the original? | Yes | Not quite, but tasty |
Ingredient Notes
Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Duros: dried wheat pellets that puff when fried. Spirals are ideal.
- Oil: canola, vegetable or peanut oil for a clean taste and high smoke point.
- Sugar: regular granulated gives that sandy sparkle. Superfine sticks a little better if you have it.
- Cinnamon: a fresh jar makes a difference. Give it a sniff first.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Hot oil is everything. Below about 350°F, duros stay hard in the middle. I clip a thermometer to the pot and wait for 375°F between batches.
- Small handfuls. Duros swell to several times their size, and they fry in seconds. A crowded pot means a cold pot.
- Have the sugar ready. There's no time to go looking for the cinnamon once the first batch comes out.
- Don't blot them. Paper towels soak up the oil film that holds the sugar. A rack works better here.
- Go easy on the cinnamon. The drive-thru version is sweet first and cinnamon second, so 2 teaspoons is plenty.
- Let Max shake. Once the twists are out of the oil, my son gets the fun part: a paper bag, a scoop of sugar and a very serious shake at the far end of the kitchen.
- Eat them the same day. Air is the enemy. They go soft overnight, so fry only what you'll eat.
Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists
6
servings5
minutes15
minutes150
kcal20
minutesA copycat version of Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists: dried wheat duros fried for seconds until they puff up light and crisp, then tossed while hot in cinnamon sugar. Makes about 6 servings in 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- For the Twists
4 ounces dried wheat duros (spiral or twist shape, sold as duros or pasta para duros)
4 cups neutral oil for frying (canola, vegetable or peanut)
- For the Cinnamon Sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 pinch fine salt
Directions
- Stir the sugar, cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl and set it right next to the stove.
- Pour 2 inches of oil into a heavy pot and heat to 375°F. Set a wire rack over a sheet pan beside it.
- Test one duro: it should rise and puff within a few seconds. Then drop in a small handful, about 2 tablespoons.
- Fry for 10 to 15 seconds, stirring with a spider, until the twists are fully puffed and pale gold.
- Lift them out with the spider, let the oil drip for 2 seconds, and set them on the rack.
- While they’re still glistening, within about 30 seconds, tip them into the cinnamon sugar and toss to coat.
- Repeat with the rest, keeping the oil at 375°F. Let the twists cool for 5 minutes and serve the same day.
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More Fast Food Dessert Copycats
Still in the mood for Taco Bell sweets? My copycat Taco Bell Caramel Apple Empanadas are crisp, gooey and worth the fry. For more ideas, browse my round-up of Mexican desserts and my full collection of copycat recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists made of at home?
My copycat uses dried wheat duros, sometimes sold as pasta para duros, fried until puffed and tossed in cinnamon sugar. That gives you the same airy crunch at home.
Where can I buy duros?
Check a Mexican or Latin grocery store first, usually near the snacks or the dried pasta. Look for the words duros, duritos or pasta para duros. Online sellers carry them too, so search those same terms.
What can I use instead of duros?
Flour tortilla strips are my backup. Cut 6-inch tortillas into 1/2-inch strips, twist each one, fry at 350°F for 30 to 60 seconds and toss in cinnamon sugar. They're crisp rather than puffy, but very snackable.
Can I use regular pasta?
Not for the puffy version. Dried Italian pasta doesn't puff the way duros do. It just gets hard and crunchy, so it won't give you that light, airy bite.
Can I air fry cinnamon twists?
I don't recommend it. Duros need hot oil all around them to puff evenly, and in an air fryer they stay hard and dense.
Are Cinnamon Twists still on the Taco Bell menu?
When I last checked, Taco Bell's site still listed Cinnamon Twists. Menus vary by location, so check the Taco Bell app near you.
How do I store homemade cinnamon twists?
They are best the day you fry them. Keep leftovers in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 1 day; humidity softens them quickly.
