Baked Churros

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!

We’ve already been celebrating this week with one of our favorite sweets – churros! It’s almost unbelievable that it’s taken me so long to blog about them, considering our dog is named Churro. It’s true, we love them that much!  And we love our little ridged-face Churro-the-Pug.

Check out those wrinkles!

 Churro love

These are no ordinary churros because they’re baked, and at first, I wasn’t sure such a thing could be done considering they are so wonderfully crisp when fried.  It took a few test-runs (and the endless brushing away of cinnamon-sugar from my shirt front) but now the recipe is ready to share!

Baked churros for everyone!

Party tip: furbabies make the best valentines. 

No valentine? You can find one here.

Biscuit love

These pastries bake until slightly puffed, then you toast them within an inch of their life under the broiler. They’re best fresh and served with a side of dulce de leche or chocolate sauce. They are so light and delectable straight from the oven, I couldn’t help but eat exactly three and a half immediately. Which ended up being my lunch.  Oops!

(I couldn’t feign regret if I wanted to. Best. Lunch. Ever.)

Sending you pugs and kisses!

xoxo

Baked Churros 

Yield: eight 10-inch churros, about 6 servings

Prep: 15 minutes; Total: 45-50 minutes

Source: Adapted from Latina.com

[click for printable version]

These are made as normal churros are – from choux paste. I’ve found that these bake best when piped in long thin sticks. I used earth balance margarine in the batch pictured, but I also made a batch with unsalted butter that was successful – they just puffed up slightly larger than the margarine version. Overall, the baked version is less crisp than the usual fried churros, so it’s important to toast them well under the broiler so they’re as crisp as possible. You can store leftovers (if there are any) in an air-tight container but they will become soft.  You can remedy this by placing them under the broiler for a few minutes (watch carefully) and they will regain their former crispiness.  Serve with prepared dulce de leche, chocolate sauce, marshmallow fluff – they’re good with everything!

2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed

1/2 teaspoon table salt

1/3 cup margarine or unsalted butter (I used tub-style Earth Balance Whipped Buttery Spread)

1 cup all-purpose flour (I used King Arthur unbleached)

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or to taste)

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.  Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In a medium saucepan, stir together 1 cup water, brown sugar and salt. Add butter and place over medium-high heat.  Heat until butter is melted and mixture starts to boil. Remove from heat and add flour, stirring with a wooden spoon. Mixture will clump and pull away from the sides of the pan.  Mix/mash with wooden spoon until no streaks of flour can be seen.

2. In a small bowl, combine eggs and vanilla. Scramble mixture with a fork and then add to the dough-ball in the saucepan.  Stir and mash, breaking up the dough until loosened. Stir well until eggs are incorporated and mixture has the appearance of mashed potatoes.

R: dough clumps when flour is stirred in; L: texture is like mashed potatoes when eggs have been fully incorporated

3. Transfer  dough to a piping bag fitted with Ateco decorator tip #867.  You could also pipe the dough in a zip-top bag with the corner snipped, but the churros will be ridge-less (delicious, nonetheless).

4. Pipe dough into long thin lengths on the parchment covered pans. Use a pair of kitchen scissors to cut the end of the dough from the piping tip. Leave about 2-inches of space between the churros.

Use scissors to cut the dough ends.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly puffed.  Turn oven to broiler setting and watch carefully as churros toast and turn deep golden brown.  Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer to a wire cooling rack. If you’re baking the churros one pan at a time, be sure to return the oven setting to 425°F before putting in the next pan.

6. Combine sugar and cinnamon and pour onto a long dish. Roll churros in mixture.  Serve.

Tips!

  • Piping tip 867 made by Ateco (also known as French Star size 7) is just about the most perfect tip for piping these churros. It has a 9/16 diameter opening. I experimented with a few and this made them just thick enough and produced the most prominent ridges.
  • Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Brings little heat and adds a faint smokiness.
  • I had no problems with the cinnamon-sugar sticking to the hot churros, but if you let them cool to room temp they might resist the sugar.  Brush churros with a tiny amount of olive oil using a pastry brush, then roll in the sugar mixture.
  • As I said in the description, these will become soft and rubbery if stored in an air-tight container.  Put them under the broiler (even if they’ve been rolled in cinnamon-sugar, this works!) they’ll come back to life and crisp up under a watchful eye. Re-roll in cinnamon sugar.
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Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Hi Heather,
quick questions, do you think these could be fried instead? We own a takeaway and I'd prefer to fry them than bake them.
Samantha x

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

These look so delicious! I must try to make them soon. I love churros. Thank you for another great recipe!

And, your pug is adorable. My best friend has a pug named Daisy! 🙂

xo

Maggie @ A Bitchin Kitchen
Maggie @ A Bitchin Kitchen
11 years ago

Love these pics! Pugs are my favorite kind of dog 🙂

I love these churros too! It's been years since I've had one. Way too long!

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
11 years ago

Lovely churros! I love this baked version.

Your pug is so huggable! 😉

Cheers,

Rosa

Brigette Olmos-Arreola
Brigette Olmos-Arreola
11 years ago

Heaven is a churro! I love the idea of baking them and can not wait to try them out! If you have a second swing by my blog on Valentine's I'm sharing raspberry pink champagne macarons that ya might like.

Angela @ the fairy bread chronicles
Angela @ the fairy bread chronicles
11 years ago

love the pug kissing booth! adorable 🙂 and churros win my heart any day!

Malwina Marchwicka
Malwina Marchwicka
11 years ago

mm jammie!
how cute the one in the heart schape!:)

Becs @ Lay the table
Becs @ Lay the table
11 years ago

Oh I have just got to make these!!

Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie
11 years ago

Furbabies are the best Valentines for sure! 🙂 These churros look amazing!

Sincerely Jill
Sincerely Jill
11 years ago

I can't wait to try this! I think I've only had churros once, and now that I'm gluten-free if I want it I'll have to make it myself. I'm up for the challenge!

Monica
Monica
11 years ago

This is like an answer to my dreams! : ) I've been thinking about churros a lot lately (for some bizaree reason). I think it has something to do with a Nigella Lawson show I watched where she fries up a batch of them. I've been wanting to make it but the frying part is a turn-off. I would love to try this. Thanks for the recipe and for all your hard work in getting it just right! : )

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

I just luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurve Biscuit!! 🙂 These churros are gorgeous my friend!

Cassie | Bake Your Day
Cassie | Bake Your Day
11 years ago

I love churros. These are so fun, Heather. I love puppy pics too!

Much Ado About Somethin
Much Ado About Somethin
11 years ago

Oh yummy! Your pup is super cute too. 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Oh goodness me! These look delectable! And little Churro is adorable! Pugs in general is adorable 🙂

Hasppy Valentine's Day! <3

Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
11 years ago

I love both the churros in this post!! 🙂

Wendy
Wendy
11 years ago

The churros look great! A baked cinnamon sugar holder :)And the furbaby is adorable 🙂

Mari @ Oh, Sweet & Savory
Mari @ Oh, Sweet & Savory
11 years ago

I'm almost embarassed to admit it, but I love deep-fried desserts. So I am really intrigued by these churros, as they're baked. I'm curious how the texture might differ from deep-fried ones. I guess there's only one way to find out!

Heather
Heather
11 years ago

What a great idea! I never thought to bake them! Gotta try it! Great photos of you and your fur-kids, too! Self-portraits or did someone snap these for ya? 🙂

Carolyn
Carolyn
11 years ago

My heart almost stopped when I saw this recipe. I don't make/eat deep fried things, so churrs have been something always off limits. Thank you for this recipe!

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
11 years ago

Thanks Heather! I can't take credit – they were snapped for me. 🙂

Happy Valentine's Day, friend!
xo

Debby@Just Breathe
Debby@Just Breathe
11 years ago

Yes please………

Lora
Lora
11 years ago

What a great idea to create a baked version of Churros. That pix of you and Churro is so precious. Happy Valentine's Day Heather!

Annie @ Annie's Noms
Annie @ Annie's Noms
11 years ago

Absolutely love that these are baked! Beautiful photos as always too! 😀

Joaquina
Joaquina
11 years ago

Churros al horno ???? me encanta la opción. Un detalle perfecto.. Bessoss,

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
11 years ago

Hi @Samantha Minny – These should do fine in the fryer!

xo
H

Sue
Sue
11 years ago

These look so fantastic, and I love the kissing booth:) Too cute! Beautiful photos!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

We missed out on a wonderful churro restaurant nearby tonight and ended up at a diner, so I was so happy when I saw your post! I can't wait to try making these, sans guilt 🙂

Vanita Hegde
Vanita Hegde
11 years ago

Can't stop appreciating you. How amazing!!! Food, fotography and your sincere creation. Churros are close to my heart as it re kindles the best memories of my spanish life.

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

Can you make this with coconut oil?

vanillasugarblog
vanillasugarblog
11 years ago

now in baked form!
lol
oh heather i wish we lived closer, so I could hang with you.
after that horrid blizzard we just had I need to be baking & cooking with friends for a while.
xoxo!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

This is sheer BRILLIANCE!!

Heidi
Heidi
11 years ago

HEY! I didn't see that you made churros for V-Day! Great minds do think alike! 😀

Lynna
Lynna
11 years ago

Omg….love you and I love this!! Can`t wait to try it out. hehe~

Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
11 years ago

I've actually only had churros once in Disney World, which were amazing, but I'm sure not as good as homemade! 😀

Lou
Lou
11 years ago

Hi from SC Heather- beautiful photos, can't wait to try the churros. Can you tell us about the sauce you have pictured with the churros? looks like caramel?

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

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Vicki Wilde
Vicki Wilde
11 years ago

Your fur baby is super cute! I want one 🙂 Excellent recipe for baked churros. I love them, but I really dislike frying things. Thanks!

Gerry @Foodness Gracious
Gerry @Foodness Gracious
11 years ago

Love the doggy and love the name!!

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
11 years ago

Ever since I came back from Spain, I've been craving churros! So glad you dip yours in chocolate like a churro professional 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

These look great! I eat my weight in churros when I'm at an amusement park, but I don't like deep frying, so I rarely make them at home. I have to try these!
-Allison

Lokness @ The Missing Lokness
Lokness @ The Missing Lokness
11 years ago

This sounds fantastic! I always want to make churros, but I feel very lazy and don't want to fry them. This recipe is just perfect. Thanks!

claudia
claudia
10 years ago

I love churros too and I think baking them is a great idea. thanks. your site is AMAZING!

Snooky doodle
Snooky doodle
10 years ago

Am trying these . look delicious! amazing blog 🙂

Laura
Laura
10 years ago

Hi!

Can I just check with you right, what if my oven does not have a broiler setting? Does it mean I cannot use this recipe? I hope you'll reply me ASAP, thank you do much!!! 🙂

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
10 years ago

Without the broiler, the pastries won't be as crispy as regular churros. You could always fry the batter if you wish.

xo
h

Anonymous
Anonymous
10 years ago

This is awesome! I was looking for a good alternative to frying because I have a tiny place and the whole of my apartment smells like oil for DAYS when I make these bad boys. Thanks!!

vela
vela
9 years ago

hello!! this is my first recipe from your blog (which is amazing) and I think it may just have been a mistake on my part but the churros were a bit too mushy inside. I'm thinking my egg was too large. anyway I tried broiling/regular baking it for more time but the only thing that hardened was the crust. it doesnt matter though, they're great either way (I'm also looking forward to trying more recipes off of your blog)

TOP | 99999  Wonderful Quotes
TOP | 99999 Wonderful Quotes
9 years ago

These taste great and are quick and easy to make, for me. They may not be the real McCoy, but what you might call a generic. It is amazing that some people have to make noise about a recipe, but make it and think it is good, but want to complain about its name. I rate a recipe as to my family and friends tasting and how hard or easy it was to prepare….Not its name. Would these taste any different if they were called a knock off of Churros? Remember also they are baked, not fried and better for… Read more »

Unknown
Unknown
8 years ago

Beautiful photos – Thanks for the recipe – I will surely try them 🙂