If you have a sweet tooth and love flaky pastries that bring a little fiesta to your taste buds, then the Churro Cruffins Recipe is about to become your new obsession. Imagine the crispy, buttery layers of a croissant mingling beautifully with the classic, cinnamony crunch of churros. This recipe transforms simple puff pastry and cinnamon sugar into a delightful treat that feels special but is surprisingly easy to whip up. Whether for a weekend breakfast, a festive brunch, or just because, these churro cruffins deliver that perfect bite of warmth, sweetness, and buttery flakiness that will have everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Everything you need to make these irresistible churro cruffins is straightforward and pantry-friendly. Each ingredient plays a crucial role: puff pastry provides the delicate layers, cinnamon sugar brings in the iconic churro flavor, and butter adds richness and helps achieve that golden crust.
- Puff pastry sheets: Your base for flaky, buttery layers that puff up beautifully in the oven.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the pastry and works with cinnamon to mimic that churro crunch.
- Ground cinnamon: The star spice that gives it the classic churro flavor everyone loves.
- Unsalted butter, melted: Adds richness and helps the cinnamon sugar stick for flavor and texture.
- Egg: For the egg wash that achieves the perfect golden shine on the cruffins.
- Whole milk: Mixed with egg for a smooth, glossy finish on top of each pastry spiral.
How to Make Churro Cruffins Recipe
Step 1: Preheat Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). It’s essential to have a hot oven to get that puff pastry to rise beautifully. While it’s warming up, grease your muffin tin or line it with paper cups to make sure your cruffins release easily when baked.
Step 2: Prepare Puff Pastry
Lay your thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Take a rolling pin and gently roll each sheet out so it’s about 1/8 inch thick. This extra thinning step makes the layers super delicate and flaky once baked, giving you that perfectly light texture.
Step 3: Mix Cinnamon Sugar
In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar with the ground cinnamon. Mixing these well ensures every bite of your churro cruffins bursts with that signature spicy-sweet churro flavor.
Step 4: Cut & Stack Pastry
Cut each pastry sheet into rectangles measuring roughly 4 by 6 inches. To pack in more flakiness, stack two of these rectangles, one on top of the other, for a total of six stacks. This layering step intensifies the buttery, flaky goodness in every bite.
Step 5: Brush with Butter & Add Flavor
Brush the top of each stacked pastry piece generously with melted butter. This not only enhances the richness but also helps the cinnamon sugar stick. Sprinkle plenty of cinnamon sugar on top, making sure every inch is covered for that authentic churro taste.
Step 6: Form & Place in Muffin Tin
Roll each stacked and sugared pastry piece into a tight spiral or log shape, then stand each one upright in the prepared muffin tin cups. This shape is essential for creating the cruffin’s iconic layers and texture.
Step 7: Egg Wash
Beat the egg together with the milk and brush this mixture over the tops of the cruffins. This simple step gives you a shiny, golden crust that’s just as stunning as it is delicious.
Step 8: Bake
Bake your churro cruffins for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they puff up and turn a gorgeous deep golden brown on the top. The smell coming from your oven at this point is almost impossible to resist!
Step 9: Coat with Extra Cinnamon Sugar (Optional)
Once the cruffins have cooled just a bit, brush them lightly with melted butter and roll them in more cinnamon sugar if you want an extra-sweet, crunchy coating reminiscent of freshly made churros.
How to Serve Churro Cruffins Recipe
Garnishes
A dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of caramel sauce can add another layer of sweetness and visual appeal. Fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream can also beautifully complement the warm, cinnamon-scented cruffins and add a refreshing contrast.
Side Dishes
Serve churro cruffins with a rich hot chocolate or a cup of strong espresso. The bitterness of the coffee or cocoa perfectly balances the sweetness of the cruffins, making your snack or breakfast feel completely indulgent but balanced.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking churro cruffins on a tiered dessert tray for a brunch party or cutting them in half and filling with dulce de leche or pastry cream for a decadent treat. You can even serve them alongside ice cream as a dessert that will wow your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover churro cruffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. This keeps the pastry flaky and the cinnamon sugar coating intact without getting soggy.
Freezing
If you want to keep them longer, wrap each cruffin individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. They freeze well for up to 1 month, allowing you to enjoy this treat anytime a craving strikes.
Reheating
To reheat, pop the churro cruffin in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5 to 7 minutes. This restores the flaky layers and warms the pastry through without making it tough or dry.
FAQs
Can I use homemade puff pastry for this churro cruffins recipe?
Absolutely! Homemade puff pastry will work beautifully and add an extra-special touch, though store-bought sheets save a lot of time and still create fantastic results.
How do I keep the cruffins from sticking to the muffin tin?
Greasing the muffin tin thoroughly or lining with paper muffin cups ensures easy removal and keeps your cruffins intact when you take them out after baking.
Can I make churro cruffins without eggs?
The egg wash is mainly for color and shine, so you can skip it or substitute with milk or cream brushed on top, but the golden finish may be slightly less vibrant.
What’s the best way to roll the puff pastry to get maximum flakiness?
Rolling the dough slightly thinner than the package instructions helps the layers puff up more during baking, making the cruffins wonderfully flaky and light.
Can I add fillings like chocolate or cream inside these cruffins?
Yes! After rolling the pastry, add a thin layer of chocolate spread or cream cheese before spiraling it up to surprise your taste buds with a gooey center.
Final Thoughts
This Churro Cruffins Recipe is a wonderfully simple yet impressive way to bring the warmth and sweetness of churros into a flaky croissant form. Once you try them, I promise you’ll want to make them again and again. So go ahead, gather your ingredients, get baking, and share this delicious treat with your favorite people — happiness guaranteed!
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Churro Cruffins Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Breakfast Pastry
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Churro Cruffins are a delightful hybrid pastry that combines the flaky layers of a croissant with the cinnamon-sugar coating of a classic churro. These cruffins are made by layering puff pastry with cinnamon sugar and butter, rolled and baked to golden perfection, resulting in a tender, crispy, and irresistibly sweet treat perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Pastry
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Butter and Wash
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin or line it with muffin papers to ensure easy removal of the cruffins after baking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Place the thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, gently roll each sheet until it’s about 1/8 inch thick to create a thinner, crispier texture.
- Mix Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. This mixture will give the cruffins their signature churro sweetness and flavor.
- Cut & Stack Pastry: Cut each rolled pastry sheet into 4×6-inch rectangles. Stack two rectangles on top of each other to create 6 stacks in total, enhancing the layers and flakiness.
- Brush with Butter & Add Flavor: Brush the top of each stacked pastry rectangle generously with melted butter. Evenly sprinkle a hearty amount of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the buttered surface for maximum flavor.
- Form & Place in Muffin Tin: Roll each stack into a tight spiral or log shape. Stand the rolled cruffins upright and place each one into a separate cup of the greased muffin tin.
- Egg Wash: In a small bowl, beat together the egg and whole milk. Brush this egg wash onto the top of each cruffin to ensure a shiny, golden crust once baked.
- Bake: Bake the cruffins in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes or until they puff up and reach a deep golden brown color on top, indicating they are fully cooked and flaky.
- Coat with Extra Cinnamon Sugar (Optional): Once slightly cooled, brush the cruffins lightly with additional melted butter and roll them in more cinnamon sugar for an extra sweet and authentic churro finish.
Notes
- Make sure the puff pastry is fully thawed before rolling to avoid cracking.
- The cinnamon sugar mixture can be adjusted to your preferred sweetness and spice levels.
- You can substitute whole milk with any other milk or cream for a richer or lighter egg wash.
- For best results, serve warm to enjoy the crispy outer layers and soft inside.
- Store leftover cruffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, then reheat before serving.
