These Baked Churro Bites are the answer to your dessert cravings without the guilt of deep frying. Lightly crisp on the outside with a soft, airy center, each bite is rolled in a glorious cinnamon-sugar mixture that melts in your mouth. They’re everything you love about traditional churros, but baked for a healthier twist and way easier cleanup.
Perfect for holidays, birthdays, brunch spreads, or an afternoon sweet fix, these churro bites come together with simple pantry ingredients and deliver major flavor. The vanilla-kissed dough puffs beautifully in the oven and pairs delightfully with the warming spice of cinnamon. Add a dip of chocolate or caramel on the side for extra indulgence, or enjoy as-is with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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1/2 teaspoon baking powder
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1/2 cup unsalted butter
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1 cup water
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2 tablespoons sugar
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1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
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2 large eggs
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1/2 cup granulated sugar (for coating)
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1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
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Melted butter for brushing
Directions:
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Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a saucepan, bring butter, water, sugar, and salt to a boil.
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Once boiling, add flour and stir vigorously until a dough forms and pulls away from the sides.
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Let the dough cool slightly, then mix in the vanilla and eggs one at a time until smooth and glossy.
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Transfer dough to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe bite-sized pieces onto the baking sheet.
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Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden and puffed.
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While still warm, brush with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar until fully coated.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes
Kcal: 160 kcal | Servings: 20 bites
Baked Churro Bites are a game-changing dessert that brings the beloved flavors of traditional churros into a healthier, oven-baked format. Inspired by the iconic Spanish and Latin American street food, these little delights pack all the flavor of deep-fried churros—crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside—but are made using simple ingredients and no frying whatsoever. That means less mess, fewer calories, and all the cinnamon-sugar joy your taste buds can handle. Whether you’re craving a comforting sweet treat or need an easy party dessert, these bites check all the boxes.
The History Behind the Churro
Churros have long been celebrated as a popular dessert or snack, often enjoyed with hot chocolate in Spain or dulce de leche in Latin America. Their exact origin is debated, but most historians trace them back to Spain and Portugal, where shepherds are believed to have made them as a substitute for fresh bread. With their portable nature and irresistible taste, churros became a street food staple that spread across continents. While traditional churros are deep-fried, often in long ridged sticks, the baked version offers a more modern, health-conscious spin while keeping the essence intact.
Why This Baked Version is Better
One of the biggest advantages of these Baked Churro Bites is their simplicity. They use everyday pantry ingredients—flour, eggs, butter, and sugar—combined in a way that creates a choux-style dough, similar to what you’d use for cream puffs or éclairs. The dough puffs up beautifully in the oven, creating a golden, slightly crisp shell with a soft, airy interior. Brushed with melted butter and tossed in a classic cinnamon-sugar mixture, each bite bursts with comforting sweetness and warm spice.
Most importantly, baking instead of frying means you skip the oil splatters, greasy texture, and added calories that come with traditional churros. It’s a win-win for anyone trying to enjoy a treat without sacrificing their health goals.
Perfect for Any Occasion
These churro bites are incredibly versatile. They’re bite-sized, which makes them ideal for serving at parties, brunches, holiday gatherings, or just as an after-school snack for the kids. You can serve them as-is, or elevate them by offering dipping sauces like warm chocolate ganache, caramel, or vanilla glaze. For an extra gourmet touch, sprinkle in a little nutmeg or cardamom into the cinnamon-sugar mixture or drizzle with white chocolate after baking.
They also store well, making them great for make-ahead entertaining. Just reheat in the oven or air fryer for a few minutes to restore their warmth and slight crispness.
Benefits of Making Churros at Home
One of the joys of this recipe is the control it gives you. Store-bought or fried churros often include preservatives, excess oil, and artificial ingredients. With this homemade baked version, you know exactly what’s going into your dessert. That means you can use organic flour, free-range eggs, or swap out sugar for coconut sugar or a low-glycemic sweetener if desired.
Parents love this recipe because it’s safe and simple enough for kids to help with. Let them mix the dough, pipe out the bites, or coat the finished product in cinnamon-sugar. It becomes a fun family activity with a delicious reward at the end.
Tips for Success
To achieve the best texture, it’s important to let the dough cool slightly before adding the eggs, which helps create that glossy, pipeable consistency. Using a star piping tip gives the churros their traditional ridged edges, helping them crisp more in the oven and hold more of that buttery sugar coating.
Make sure the bites are evenly spaced on the baking sheet to allow proper airflow for even baking. And don’t skip brushing with melted butter—it’s the magic step that helps the cinnamon sugar stick and mimics that golden fried look.
Customizations and Variations
Want to make them even more indulgent? Try adding a cream filling inside the churro bites by using a pastry bag after baking. Craving chocolate? Mix cocoa powder into the dough or serve with a thick chocolate dip. If you’re hosting a holiday party, sprinkle colored sugar instead of cinnamon for a festive twist.
These churro bites are naturally nut-free, but you could add a crunchy topping like crushed pecans or slivered almonds before baking. For a dairy-free version, substitute the butter with plant-based margarine and use a dairy-free milk alternative in any dips you prepare.
Why These Baked Churro Bites Belong on Your Table
These bites are the perfect balance of nostalgic comfort and modern baking innovation. They offer all the warm, cozy flavors of a traditional churro, but in a lighter, oven-baked format that’s easier and healthier to make at home. Their bite-sized nature makes them ideal for sharing, and the recipe itself is straightforward enough for beginner bakers but satisfying enough for pros.
Best of all, they’re a reminder that you don’t have to compromise flavor to make a better-for-you dessert. With minimal ingredients and a short prep time, these baked churro bites are the ultimate sweet reward.
Conclusion
Baked Churro Bites are a delicious, no-fuss treat that combines the iconic cinnamon-sugar flavor of classic churros with the convenience and health benefits of oven baking. Their versatility, simplicity, and mouthwatering taste make them a go-to for nearly any occasion—from holiday parties to weekday snacks. Once you try this recipe, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. So skip the fryer, preheat the oven, and enjoy churros the new way: golden, fluffy, and absolutely irresistible.