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Baked Churro Bites: All the Fun Without the Fryer Let’s be honest—traditional churros are amazing, but frying? Not so much. Between the hot oil, the cleanup, and the lingering "fried food" aroma in your kitchen for the next 72 hours... yeah, no thanks. That’s exactly why baked churro bites are the real MVP. Same golden cinnamon-sugar crunch, same fluffy interior, but without the grease bomb. If you’ve been craving that churro fix without setting off your smoke detector, you’re in the right place. So grab your muffin tin, preheat that oven, and let’s make churro magic—minus the deep fryer. What Exactly Are Baked Churro Bites? Imagine a cross between a doughnut hole, a muffin, and your favorite carnival churro. That’s the vibe here. These little guys are: Soft and airy on the inside Coated in cinnamon sugar on the outside Baked—not fried, so they’re lighter and way less messy Perfect for snacking, brunch, parties, or midnight cravings They’re bite-sized, poppable, and dangerously addictive. You’ve been warned. Why Baked Churro Bites Beat the Fried Ones I know, I know. Some churro purists will swear by the fryer. But let’s talk about why the oven version is actually a game-changer. Pros of Baking: No splattering oil (aka no grease-stained T-shirt) Healthier (well... slightly, let’s not lie to ourselves) Faster cleanup Kid- and beginner-friendly (no scary hot oil situations) And the best part? You don’t lose flavor or texture. These still come out crisp on the outside and tender inside, especially when you serve them warm. Ugh. So good. Ingredients You’ll Need (Nothing Weird, Promise) You don’t need a trip to a specialty market or a pantry that looks like a baking show set. Just regular, everyday stuff: For the dough: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup water ¼ cup unsalted butter 1 tablespoon sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the coating: ½ cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 3 tablespoons melted butter (for brushing) FYI: This dough is basically a quick pâte à choux (fancy French term, super easy in practice). How to Make Baked Churro Bites Step by Step Let me walk you through it like we’re baking in the same kitchen. Aprons on? Let’s go. 1. Make the Dough In a saucepan, combine water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, dump in the flour all at once and stir like crazy until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides. Let it cool for 5 minutes (important, or you’ll cook the egg—yikes). 2. Add the Egg + Vanilla Stir in the egg and vanilla. The dough will look weird and lumpy at first. Keep going—it’ll smooth out. Promise. 3. Pipe or Scoop Into a Mini Muffin Tin Grease a mini muffin pan. Scoop or pipe small portions into each cup. Aim for half-full. 4. Bake Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–22 minutes or until puffed and golden. Let them cool slightly so you don’t burn your fingers—or your tongue, which I definitely didn’t do... 😅 5. Cinnamon Sugar Time Brush each warm bite with melted butter. Toss in cinnamon-sugar mix until fully coated. Try not to eat five straight off the pan. Or do. I won’t judge. Pro Tips to Nail It Every Time Want your churro bites to turn out chef’s kiss perfect? Keep these in mind: Use a mini muffin tin for the best shape and puff. Don’t overbake. They should be lightly golden, not dry. Brush with butter while still warm so the cinnamon sugar sticks like a dream. Feeling extra? Drizzle with chocolate sauce or dulce de leche. You’re welcome. What to Serve with Baked Churro Bites Oh, these are good on their own, no doubt. But if you wanna elevate your snack game, try pairing them with: Warm chocolate ganache Caramel or dulce de leche dip A hot latte or iced coffee (IMO, cinnamon and coffee = magic) Fresh berries for a "balanced" plate (lol, sure) They also make a great addition to: Brunch spreads Holiday dessert boards Game day snacks (sweet tooths need love too!) Can You Make These Ahead? Yup. Honestly, they’re best fresh out of the oven. But you can prep in advance: Make the dough ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temp before baking. Store baked bites in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat at 300°F for 5 minutes to revive that warm churro feel. Freeze them (uncoated) for longer storage. When ready, bake to reheat, then coat in cinnamon sugar. Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them) Let’s keep it real—stuff goes sideways sometimes. Here's what to watch out for: Burning the dough in the saucepan? Stir constantly once the flour’s in. Don’t walk away. Dough too thick or dry? You might’ve overcooked it or skipped the egg. Too flat? Make sure your oven’s fully preheated and don’t underfill the muffin cups. Basically, treat this dough like a toddler—don’t ignore it, don’t rush it, and definitely don’t forget it in a hot oven. Flavor Variations: Let’s Get Creative Wanna switch it up? These churro bites are the perfect base for endless customization. Fun twists: Pumpkin spice churro bites – Sub pumpkin pie spice in the coating during fall vibes. Nutella-stuffed – Pipe a tiny bit of Nutella into the center before baking. Lemon sugar – Swap cinnamon with finely grated lemon zest and sugar. Churro bites with cream cheese dip – Because balance 😉 If you're the type to try every flavor of Pop-Tarts at least once, you’ll definitely enjoy experimenting here. Are These "Healthier"? Well… Look. They’re still sweet, carby, buttery bites of joy. But compared to deep-fried churros? Yeah, they’re lighter. No frying = less fat and fewer calories You control the sugar and butter amounts You can even try gluten-free flour or plant-based butter if you’re into that Just don’t ask me to make them low-carb. That’s where I draw the line 😅 TL;DR – Quick Recap for the Busy Bakers Here’s the short version in case you’re already halfway to the kitchen: Baked churro bites = churro flavor, oven simplicity Easy dough made on the stovetop, no mixer needed Pipe or scoop into mini muffin tin, bake until golden Roll in cinnamon sugar while warm for max stickiness Optional dips: chocolate, caramel, or... your fingers Make ahead-friendly and easy to customize Final Thoughts: Should You Make These? (Spoiler: YES) Let me put it this way—these baked churro bites are everything you love about churros, minus the grease and hassle. They’re fast, fun, and so dang snackable you’ll wonder why you didn’t try them sooner. Whether you're throwing a party, baking with kids, or just need a little “treat yourself” moment on a random Tuesday, these bites totally deliver. So go ahead—preheat that oven, grab the cinnamon, and get baking. You deserve some bite-sized happiness today. 😎

Baked Churro Bites

These Baked Churro Bites are fluffy on the inside, golden on the outside, and rolled in irresistible cinnamon sugar—minus the deep fryer! Perfect for snacking, parties, or “oops, I made a whole batch and ate them all” moments.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American, Mexican-Inspired
Servings 24 bites
Calories 90 kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Piping bag with a star tip (or ziplock bag)
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Small bowl (for cinnamon sugar)

Ingredients
  

For the dough (pâte à choux):

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 large eggs

For cinnamon sugar coating:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted

Instructions
 

Preheat & prep:

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the dough:

  • In a saucepan, combine water, butter, sugar, and salt. Bring it to a boil over medium heat.
  • Once boiling, reduce heat and dump in the flour. Stir hard until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides (yep, your arm workout for the day).
  • Let the dough cool for 5–10 minutes so it doesn’t cook the eggs.

Add eggs:

  • Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. The dough should look smooth, shiny, and pipeable.

Pipe onto tray:

  • Spoon the dough into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (or just use a ziplock bag with the corner snipped).
  • Pipe 1–2 inch mounds or logs onto your prepared tray.

Bake:

  • Bake for 15–17 minutes until golden brown and puffed.

Coat in cinnamon sugar:

  • While warm, brush each bite with melted butter, then roll generously in your cinnamon sugar mix.
  • (No judgment if you double-coat. It’s your life.)

Notes

If you don’t have a piping bag, two spoons work just fine. They may not be fancy, but they’ll still be tasty.
Want a dipping sauce? Try chocolate ganache or dulce de leche for extra decadence.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days—if you don’t eat them all in one sitting, that is ;)

Nutrition

Calories: 90kcalProtein: 1gFat: 5gSugar: 4g
Keyword baked churro bites, cinnamon sugar bites, easy churros
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