Best Nigerian Chin Chin Recipe

This sweet, crunchy snack is the Best Nigerian Chin Chin Recipe. It's delicious and easy to make! Make it with eight easy-to-find ingredients and serve it as a snack for kids and special occasions.

Chin chin is a popular West African fried snack that is similar to Scandinavian klenat. Think of chin chin as mini biscuits. It is bite-sized, golden brown in color, and sweet in flavor. You'll often find it served on plates as a snack/starter at African parties. Nigerian chin chin is also popular amongst kids too because of its size and sweetness.

Chin chin is usually served alongside Coconut Fried Rice with Shrimp, Puff puff with pepper and the best Nigerian Meat Pie at Nigerian parties. I was first introduced to this snack by my Mum, as she is a big fan. Whenever we go to Nigerian parties, she always prioritizes tasting the chin chin as they are not all created equal! Like most traditional recipes, the best chin chin can be found in Nigeria, but my Mum and I needed a solution to her craving, so we decided to create our special best Nigerian chin chin recipe!

There are lots of different chin chin recipes. Some are soft, while others are crunchy, and some are sweet, while others are spicy! You can also add cinnamon, nutmeg, and coconut. My favorite type of chin chin has a hint of coconut, which I'll share today.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

• If you have ever wondered how to make this snack, you will love this easy-to-follow best Nigerian chin chin recipe.
• It is a fun and delicious snack that feeds many.
• You can double or triple the recipe for parties and gatherings.
• You can make the best Nigerian chin chin into different shapes.

The Best Nigerian Chin Chin Recipe Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: Sieve all-purpose flour before mixing the dry ingredients to eliminate lumps and dirt.
• Sugar: Use granulated sugar for this chin chin recipe.
• Baking powder: Add ⅛ a teaspoon of baking powder if you want a crunchy chin chin recipe. If you prefer them soft, add ¼ teaspoon or more.
• Nutmeg: Nutmeg adds delicious warm, nutty notes to the chin chin. You can grate a whole nutmeg or use ground nutmeg.
• Coconut flakes (optional): I love coconut chin chin, so I added some desiccated coconut flakes to this chin chin recipe to give it a tropical twist.
• Egg: I added one egg to this chin chin recipe. However, do not add eggs if you like them hard and crunchy.
• Milk: I used coconut milk to get even more coconut flavor, but you can use any of your choice.
• Butter: For this chin chin recipe, use unsalted butter. Cut it into equal-sized cubes and make sure it is cold.
• Oil: You can fry with vegetable or sunflower oil. However, if you want a coconut-flavored chin chin, use coconut oil.

Tips and Substitutions

• Batch: It is easy to double or triple this chin chin recipe to feed a crowd!
• Texture: My Mum and I tried this recipe three times until it was perfect. The first time we made them, we added ¼ teaspoon of baking soda and they came out soft and cakey. This is fine if you like this kind of Nigerian chin chin, but if you want a biscuit-like texture, add less or none at all!
• Dough: The dough should be smooth, sticky, and firm but not too wet.
• Milk: To make the best Nigerian chin chin recipe, you can use full-fat, low-fat, or plant-based milk, depending on your preference. The type of milk you use will affect the taste.
• Sugar: Feel free to increase or decrease the amount of sugar you add to this recipe.
• Butter: To achieve the best dough, the butter must be cold and straight from the fridge.
• Oil: I used sunflower oil to cook. However, if you want a stronger coconut flavor, cook it in coconut oil. You can also use vegetable oil too.
• Plain: This recipe includes coconut flakes and coconut milk, as coconut chin chin is my favorite! However, you can use normal milk instead and skip the coconut flakes if you want the plain traditional chin chin recipe.
• Flavor variations: Chin chin is such a fun recipe because it offers many flavor variations. You can add ground pepper to spice things up or cinnamon, vanilla, or cocoa powder for chocolate chin chin!

Equipment

• Rolling pin: You will need a rolling pin to roll the dough flat. It should be about ⅕ inch thick as the chin chin puffs up when fried.
• Mixing bowl: Use a mixing bowl to mix the ingredients together.
• Pizza cutter: It is best to use a pizza cutter to cut the chin chin into your desired shape. I have used a knife before and it took a lot longer. However, you can use a knife if you don't have a pizza cutter.

How to Make the Best Nigerian Chin Chin Recipe

1. Grab a medium-sized bowl. Add all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and coconut flakes to the bowl and mix until well combined.
2. Then, grab cold butter straight from the fridge and make sure the butter is cut into equal-sized small cubes. Add the butter to the flour mix and rub the butter and flour together using your fingertips. The mixture should look like breadcrumbs. You can also use a food processor for this step.
3. Next, mix one egg and milk in a separate bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the butter and flour mixture and mix it with your hand or a knife until the mixture forms a dough.
4. Once the dough has formed, dust flour on a surface and knead the dough until smooth, sticky and well combined. Then, use a rolling pin to flatten the dough. It should be about ⅕ inch thick. Use a pizza cutter to cut the Nigerian chin chin into equal-sized cubes or any shape you desire (see photo below).
5. Heat oil in a saucepan or in a deep fryer and cook until golden brown. Be careful not to add too much chin chin to the oil as you do not want it to get stuck together.
6. Add cooked chin chin to a plate with paper towels to remove excess oil. Leave to cool completely. Serve the best Nigerian chin chin recipe as a delicious snack.

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