Baked Churro Bites with Cinnamon Sugar Recipe

Introduction

Delicious Baked Churro Bites offer a lighter, oven-baked take on the classic fried treat. These bite-sized delights are coated in cinnamon sugar, making them perfect for sharing or a sweet snack any time of day.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups water
• 5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter
• 2 packed tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 1/4 cups plain flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted (for brushing before adding sugar)
• For the cinnamon sugar mixture:
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water, chilled butter, brown sugar, and salt. Bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the flour all at once and stir constantly until a soft, sticky dough ball forms and a starchy film appears on the pan bottom, about 5 minutes. Continue cooking and stirring for another minute, scraping up the film as you stir.
2. Step 2: Transfer the dough to a bowl and let it cool for about 10 minutes. Stir in the vanilla essence. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly with a spatula after each until the dough becomes smooth and sticky, even if it first seems separated.
3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a star tip (preferably #356) with the dough. Pipe 3 to 4-inch ropes onto the sheets, spacing each piece a few inches apart. Use the back of a knife to cut the dough at the end of each pipe.
4. Step 4: Lightly spray churro tops with vegetable oil and mist the entire pan with water. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until puffed and golden brown on the edges. Then, turn off the oven, open the door briefly, and close it leaving slightly ajar. Let churros rest inside for 10 minutes.
5. Step 5: Remove churros and brush lightly with melted butter in batches of six. Place them in a bag with the cinnamon sugar mixture and toss gently to coat evenly. Repeat until all churros are coated. Serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

• Use a star tip to create the classic churro ridges for a better cinnamon sugar grip and authentic texture.
• For extra flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg or a splash of orange zest to the cinnamon sugar blend.
• If you don’t have a pastry bag, use a zip-top bag and snip off a corner to pipe the dough.
• Try dipping baked churro bites in chocolate sauce or dulce de leche for a decadent twist.

Storage

Store leftover churro bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat them in a warm oven (about 350°F/175°C) for 5–7 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaving as it can make them soggy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these churro bites dairy-free?

Yes, substitute the butter with a dairy-free margarine or coconut oil and confirm your parchment paper and other ingredients are dairy-free.

Why do the churros need to rest in the oven after baking?

Resting them in the warm, slightly open oven helps dry out the churros further, ensuring a crisp exterior without burning, enhancing their texture and flavor.

Baked Churro Bites with Cinnamon Sugar Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 83 reviews

Delicious Baked Churro Bites are a healthier twist on the classic fried churros, featuring a soft, fluffy interior and a crispy golden exterior. These churro bites are baked instead of fried, then coated in a fragrant cinnamon sugar mixture, making them a perfect sweet treat for any occasion.

• Author: Caleb
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: About 24 churro bites 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Spanish

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough

• 1 1/4 cups water
• 5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter
• 2 packed tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 1/4 cups plain flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted (for brushing before adding sugar)

Cinnamon Sugar Mixture

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water, butter, brown sugar, and salt. Allow the mixture to come to a simmer. Once simmering, add the flour all at once. Cook while stirring constantly until a soft, sticky dough ball forms and a starchy film is visible on the bottom of the pan, about 5 minutes. Continue cooking for an additional minute, scraping up the film with the spoon as you stir. Although the pan bottom won’t come completely clean, the dough will absorb some of the film.
2. Cool and Incorporate Eggs: Transfer the dough to a bowl and let it cool for about 10 minutes. Once slightly cooled, add in the vanilla extract. Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly with a spatula after each addition. Be patient; the mixture will initially look separated but will eventually come together, forming a smooth, sticky dough.
3. Prepare for Piping and Baking: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) and line two baking sheets with silpat mats or parchment paper. Transfer the dough into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip (ideally number 356 tip). Pipe 3 to 4-inch ropes of dough onto the prepared sheets, leaving a few inches of space between each churro. Use the back of a knife to neatly cut the dough at the end of each pipe.
4. Bake the Churros: Lightly spray the tops of the piped churros with vegetable oil spray. Generously mist the entire pan with water. Bake in the preheated oven until the churros are puffed and the edges are golden brown, typically 20 to 25 minutes. Turn off the oven, open the door briefly to release some heat, then close it, leaving it slightly ajar (8 to 12 inches). Let the churros rest in the warm oven for 10 minutes.
5. Finish with Cinnamon Sugar: Remove the churros from the oven. Working with 6 churros at a time, brush each lightly with melted butter. Place them into a bag filled with cinnamon sugar and gently toss to coat evenly. Repeat this step until all churros are coated with the delightful cinnamon sugar mixture. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious homemade churros!

Notes

• Using chilled butter helps create a better dough texture.
• Ensure the dough is cooled before adding eggs to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely.
• Piping the dough with a star tip gives the churros their classic ridged shape and texture.
• Spraying water on the dough before baking helps create steam to puff the churros.
• Resting the churros in a warm oven after baking yields a better crisp exterior.
• Coat churros immediately after baking for best adherence of cinnamon sugar.

Keywords: baked churros, churro bites, cinnamon sugar churros, healthier churros, baked desserts, Spanish desserts