Nigerian Chin Chin Recipe – This sweet and savory snack delivers a delightful West African treat that’s crispy and utterly addictive. These small, fried dough pieces have a unique crunch and a hint of nutmeg, making them perfect for any occasion.
Whether enjoyed as a snack on their own, served at parties, or shared with friends and family during celebrations, chin chin is a beloved treat that brings joy. If any of your friends are from West Africa, it’s sure to make them a little nostalgic.
With basic pantry staples like flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, this easy-to-make recipe allows you to create a batch of these delicious bites right in your own kitchen. Perfect for munching on movie nights or a fun addition to dessert platters, Nigerian chin chin is sure to become a favorite in your home!
Content…What Is It? |
What Is Chin Chin?
Throughout West Africa and Nigeria, chin chin (small, crispy pieces of fried dough typically sweetened and flavored with nutmeg) was prepared for special occasions. While I was growing up, it was customary in most homes in Cameroon to make this delicious snack during Christmas. Each home has its own chin chin recipe. Some are soft to the point of falling apart, while others are so hard you feel like your teeth are going to break.
Some people shape them like small balls; others knead and cut them into small squares. The overall experience of slowly feasting on chin-chin is indescribable. I never tire of trying all the different chin-chin variations.
Even at this ripe old age, I still love it. The only issue is, “Once I pop, I cannot stop.” On one occasion, I had to hide my chin chin in the trunk of my car. It may have been a little extreme, but I wasn’t prepared to share! 🙈
Recipe Ingredients
- Flour – Some all-purpose flour with a little added baking powder is the base ingredient for these fun treats.
- Flavor Enhancers – Sugar sweetens while salt enhances the overall flavor of these snacks.
- Butter – Butter adds richness and flavor to chin chin.
- Eggs – Eggs bind the batter together and contribute to the overall texture of chin chin.
- Milk – Milk gives the batter the right consistency and helps give these fried snacks a cake-like flavor.
- Flavorings – Grated nutmeg and lime zest add the classic flavor to these addictive snacks.
How to Make Chin Chin
- Dry – Using a mixer (or by hand), mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, nutmeg, and lime zest. (Photo 1)
- Butter – Mix the butter into the flour mixture until well incorporated. (Photo 2)
- Liquids – Add the milk and egg into the mixture. Keep mixing until you form a sticky dough ball. (Photo 3-4)
- Knead – Dump the dough ball onto a floured surface and knead, incorporating more flour into the dough as needed, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and even in color and no longer sticky. You can create many shapes and sizes for chin chin.
- Divide the dough in half. On a floured board, roll each half out until it’s about ⅙ inch thick, just like linguine or fettuccine. A pasta machine works great if you have one. Then, cut the dough into any shape you desire. (Photos 5-7)
- Fry – Heat a deep cast-iron skillet, saucepan, or (my all-time favorite) a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add around 3 inches of oil and heat it to 375℉ (190℃). Fry chin chin in the hot oil until golden. (Photo 8)
- Serve – Remove them from the oil, drain, and serve.
Recipe Variations
- Make it chocolatey. Add a spoonful of cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolate-flavored version. You can also dip the fried chin chin pieces in melted chocolate for an extra indulgent treat.
- A nutty version. Mix finely chopped nuts (like peanuts, almonds, or cashews) into the dough for a crunchy texture. You can also sprinkle nuts on top before frying.
- Get spicy. Add a pinch of cayenne or ground chili powder to the dough for a spicy kick. The savory element offers a delightful contrast to the sweetness. ❤️🔥
Tips and Tricks
- If you like your chin chin softer, add 1-2 extra tablespoons of butter. Just don’t go overboard with the extra butter, or your finished chin chin will crumble.
- A pasta machine helps roll out the dough for shaping. Check out how to use it in my Ghana chin chin recipe.
- Keep an eye on your oil temperature as you fry to make sure it doesn’t overheat. In addition, don’t overcrowd the frying pan, which could make the oil temperature drop quickly, resulting in greasy chin chin.
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
You can store chin chin in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month, so feel free to make them in advance.
What Goes With Nigerian Chin Chin
You can serve chin chin on its own or with dips (chocolate sauce and caramel sauce are particularly tasty). Or serve it with other savory snacks, like plantain chips.
You could also include Nigerian chin chin as part of a larger snack platter with other treats like puff-puff, meat pies, or sambusas for variety. Wash it all down with some sorrel drink. 🤤
More Celebration-Worthy African Foods to Try
Besides popular recipes we enjoy for celebrating Christmas, try out these recipes.
By Imma
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”leWUmIP9″ upload-date=”Mon Aug 06 2018 20:14:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Chin Chin” description=”Chin Chin – West African Fried pastry enjoyed throughout the region especially in Nigeria- Crispy Crunchy and Addictive.”]
This blog post was originally published in November 2012 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video
Nigerian Chin Chin
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Ingredients
- 3½ cups (420g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150g) sugar
- ½ teaspoon (2-3g) salt
- ¼ teaspoon (1-2g) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (2-3g) grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon (1-2g) lime zest, grated
- ¼ cup (4 tablespoons or 60g) butter (or margarine)
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup (175-180ml) milk
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Using a mixer (or by hand), mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, nutmeg, and lime zest.
- Mix the butter into the flour mixture until well incorporated.
- Add the milk and egg to the mixture. Keep mixing until you form a sticky dough ball.
- Dump the dough ball onto a floured surface and knead, incorporating more flour into the dough as needed, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and even in color and no longer sticky. You can create many shapes and sizes for chin chin.
- Divide the dough in half. On a floured board, roll each half out until it's about ⅙ inch thick, just like linguine or fettuccine. A pasta machine works great if you have one. Then, cut the dough into any shape you desire.
- Heat a deep cast-iron skillet, saucepan, or (my all-time favorite) a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add around 3 inches of oil and heat it to 375℉ (190℃). Fry chin chin in the hot oil until golden.
- Remove them from the oil, drain, and serve.
Tips & Notes:
- If you like your chin softer, add 1-2 tablespoons more butter. But please be careful not to use too much butter, or it will become too soft and crumble
- A pasta machine helps roll out and shape the dough
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe
Olivia says
Good evening dear. Pls why didn’t you add milk flavour and vanilla flavour?
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Olivia. I have never tried these before. But I am sure they would work well in chin chin. Do let me know how it turns out for you.
Abosede says
You have very good recipes well done Ma
ImmaculateBites says
Thank you 🙂 !
Jori says
I made this the other day, and it was amazing. I did not have the zest, but added different spices, and it came out delicious. 10/10 recommend for even the worst cooks (like myself hah).
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Jori! I love chin chin! I could snack on it all day 🙂 ! I am glad you loved it. Thanks for stopping by.
Flora passion says
Thanks imma been following your recieps. Good. But I have a bigger family and I wanted to make like 2kg flour please go many eggs and butter can I puteciz I feel multiplying would give me like 5 eggs isn’t too much. Please advise.
Imma Adamu says
To do twice the quantity, go ahead and double recipe ingredients, however, you can cut back on the eggs if you feel it is too much. Growing up I will tell you that i have seen some bakers use a dozen eggs in their chin chin, rich, very rich but very tasty too. Its a matter of preference. Hope this helps
Ola says
Thank you so much for this recipe. I tried it first with butter, and the second time with margarine. Both came out great, but I prefer the taste of the one with butter. Also, please how many batches of this recipe will make a foil pan? Thanks!!
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks Ola. It’s about 2- 3 batches .
Sedode says
Merci tata pour cette recette, j’ai essayé avec le lait peak et 500g de farine mais ce n’était pas croustillant pas du tout .
C’est à cause du lait ?
Quel ingrédient je dois diminuer pour que ce soit dur?
S’il vous plaît aidez-moi. J’ai essayé tellement de fois
Imma Adamu says
Je ne peux pas dire directement à partir de cette explication, mais cela pourrait être une combinaison de choses
a) Il se peut que vos mesures ne soient pas correctes car mes ingrédients sont fournis en onces. Notez que 2 oz est d’environ 57 grammes.
b) Il pourrait s’agir des paramètres de votre four.
c) Ce pourrait être la farine que vous avez utilisée. Vous avez besoin de farine de haute qualité pour obtenir ce goût croustillant.
Mais dans tout cela, essayez-le plusieurs fois et ajustez-le au fur et à mesure.
Errol Millwood says
Hi,
THANK YOU so-so much for all of your recipes, been one the main inspirations to my cooking and also inspired me to start my own lil cookery blogging!
Warmest regards,
Errol.
ImmaculateBites says
Hello Errol,
Wishing you all the best with cooking blog.
Victoria says
Hi imma, If i want to make a large batch of chinchin, can I still follow this recipe
ImmaculateBites says
Yes you can. However, you might have to add extra flour to it , if dough is too sticky.
Ifunanya says
Please, I’ve tried chin chin so many times but I’ve never achieved a crunchy outside, but soft inside chin chin. Please what am I not doing right. Please I need your response urgently.
Thank you so much.
Imma says
Hi, are you using the recipe from the blog? If you are, fry on low, decrease the heat. Don’t overcrowd the pan with the chin chin. Please let me ino0w if these tips help you!
Dorcas Adikeh says
please what’s the use of lemon. zest in this recipe? I have some measuring cups but not sure which one suits this measuring. scale here
ImmaculateBites says
Lemon Zest adds flavor to it to chin chin.
Moshood says
Great Job ma’am. I have a question bothering me ever since. After frying my chinchin it’s very light in weight. Please is there a way to increase the weight???
ImmaculateBites says
Are you using this recipe or another recipe ?
tdesm says
Hello
Greetings
I was searching for clue and came across your recipe, all great and exceptional, I’ll like to ask, what makes chin chin to be soft and crunchy? Is it more butter or less? Thank you very much
ImmaculateBites says
Hello,
What makes chin chin soft and crunchy is butter . You have to have the right balance of butter , in your chin mixture . If it’s too soft reduce the butter , too hard add a little more.
Damilola says
Good evening ma, am a new follower to your blog.please what preservation would I use to make the chinchin for at least a year?
imma africanbites says
Hi. I have only stored chin chin in an airtight container for up to a month.
Kari says
I use the freezer, but I don’t know for how long it is possible for the chin chin to be frozen. But atleast 6 months.
Elsie says
Hi Emma,
Thank you for this amazing recipe.
Can the dough be baked instead of trying?
Thanks.
ImmaculateBites says
HI Elsie,
For best results , this dough is best fried not baked.
Munerh says
Can we add baking powder
ImmaculateBites says
Yes you can. About 1/2 teaspoon.
stella okeke says
Pls fr a perfect soft crunchy chin chin of l paint n half paint of flour how many satchet of butter n cups of sugar will be perfect fr it or if l want to do fr 4cups of flour
Immaculate says
Hi name sake, I Luv this recipe. Although am not sweet toothed, I Luv chin chin. If I reduce d sugar quantity will it still come out beautiful? Also can one use whole wheat to make it?
ImmaculateBites says
Hello Name sake!!! Yes to both of your questions. However, Keep in mind that the taste might not be the same, because of the use of whole wheat flour.
Angie says
Hi…am one of your followers on IG..recently I started making chinchin for sell but some of my customers are complaining it’s not crunchy enough so I hope this recipe will work for mi..secondly my oil get foaming after one or two fries don’t wots the cause.thank you
ImmaculateBites says
Hello,
Your chin chin might be too rich. Start by cutting back on the butter, it’s usually the culprit.
Oluwaranti Adebisi says
Thanks for the receipe I really appreciate…. Am your fan on all your cooking skills and ll like to learn one ot two things from you….. Training
ImmaculateBites says
Thank you, Adebisi! I do not offer training for now, but I will be sure to let you know if that becomes available. 🙂