Best Nigerian Chin Chin

This sweet, crunchy snack is the Best Nigerian Chin Chin recipe. It's delicious and super easy to make with just eight simple ingredients. Perfect for serving as a snack on 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 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 in different shapes.

The Best Nigerian Chin Chin Ingredients

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

• 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. We added ¼ teaspoon of baking soda the first time we made them, and they turned 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 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 it. However, if you want a stronger coconut flavor, cook it in coconut oil. You can also use vegetable oil.
• Plain: This recipe includes coconut flakes and coconut milk, as coconut chin chin is my favorite! However, you can use regular milk instead and skip the coconut flakes if you want the plain traditional chin chin recipe.
• Flavor variations: Chin chin is 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!

How to Make the Best Nigerian Chin Chin

1. Combine all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and coconut flakes in a medium-sized bowl. Stir until well mixed.
2. Take cold butter from the fridge and cut it into small, equal-sized cubes. Add the butter to the flour mixture and rub it together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. You can also use a food processor for this step.
3. In a separate bowl, mix one egg and milk.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the butter and flour mixture. Mix with your hand or a knife until the dough forms.

5. Once the dough has formed, dust a surface with flour and knead it until smooth, sticky, and well combined. Then, use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to about ⅕ inch thick.
6. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into equal-sized cubes or any shape you prefer.
7. Heat oil in a saucepan or deep fryer. Cook the chin chin until golden brown. Be careful not to overcrowd the oil to prevent the pieces from sticking together.
8. Place the cooked chin chin on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Let them cool completely. Serve this delicious Nigerian chin chin as a tasty snack.

9. Serve this delicious Nigerian chinchin as a snack with Fried Yam with Pepper Sauce (Dundun) and Easy Vegetarian Scotch Eggs.

Recipe FAQs

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