Sweet Churro Donut Bites

Finding the perfect dessert that’s both fun to make and impossible to mess up can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Between juggling after-school activities and trying to put a decent dinner on the table, most of us don’t have time for complicated baking projects that require special equipment or hard-to-find ingredients.

That’s where these churro donut bites come to the rescue: they’re quick to whip up, use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and bring that warm, cinnamon-sugar goodness we all love without the hassle of deep frying or fancy pastry techniques.

What Kind of Flour Should I Use?

For these churro donut bites, plain flour (also known as all-purpose flour) is your best bet. While cake flour might make them too delicate and bread flour could make them too chewy, plain flour hits that sweet spot for the perfect churro texture. If you’re measuring by cups instead of weight, make sure to spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife – don’t scoop directly from the flour bag, as this can pack too much flour into your cup. For the best results, use fresh flour that hasn’t been sitting in your pantry for more than 6-8 months, as older flour can affect the final texture of your donuts.

Options for Substitutions

Need to make some swaps? Here are some helpful substitutions for this recipe:

• Plain flour: You can use self-raising flour instead of plain flour, but if you do, skip the baking powder. All-purpose flour works perfectly too.
• Milk: Any milk will work here – whole, 2%, or plant-based options like almond or oat milk. Just keep in mind that full-fat milk will give you the richest taste.
• Vanilla essence: Vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste, or even vanilla powder will work. If you’re out of vanilla, you could use almond extract for a different but nice flavor.
• Butter: For the batter, you can use neutral-flavored oil instead of melted butter. For the topping, stick with butter as it helps the cinnamon sugar mixture stick better.
• Cream: For the chocolate drizzle, you can swap cream with full-fat milk, coconut cream, or even condensed milk (use a bit less if using condensed milk as it’s sweeter).
• Chocolate: Any type of chocolate works – milk, dark, or even white chocolate. You can also use chocolate chips instead of chopped chocolate.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making churro donut bites is getting the batter consistency right – if it’s too thick, your donuts will be dense and heavy, while too thin batter will result in flat, pancake-like treats. For perfect consistency, add the milk gradually while mixing and stop when the batter drops slowly from a spoon, similar to cake batter thickness. Another common mistake is overfilling your donut pan – fill each cavity only about 2/3 full, as these little treats will rise quite a bit during baking. To ensure your churro coating sticks properly, brush the melted butter on the donuts while they’re still warm (but not hot), then immediately roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. For the chocolate drizzle, avoid overheating the chocolate when melting – use short bursts in the microwave or a double boiler method, stirring frequently to prevent the chocolate from becoming grainy or seizing up.

What to Serve With Churro Donut Bites?

These sweet little bites are perfect for serving alongside your favorite hot drinks! A cup of rich hot chocolate makes an amazing partner for churro donut bites, especially when you want to recreate that authentic Spanish café experience. If you’re more of a coffee person, try serving these with a creamy café con leche or a simple espresso to balance out the sweetness. For the kids (or kids at heart), a cold glass of milk works perfectly for dunking these cinnamon-sugar coated treats. You could also add some fresh berries on the side to bring a bit of tartness to the plate.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These churro donut bites are best enjoyed fresh and warm, but you can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Just place a paper towel in the container to absorb any excess moisture and keep them from getting too soft.

Make Ahead: If you want to prep ahead, you can mix the dry ingredients and store them in a sealed container for up to a week. When you’re ready to make the donuts, just add the wet ingredients and continue with the recipe. The cinnamon-sugar coating is best added right after cooking for that perfect churro crunch!

Warm Up: To bring back that fresh-made taste, pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. They might need a quick roll in some fresh cinnamon-sugar mixture afterward to restore that classic churro coating. Keep in mind that the chocolate drizzle might get a bit melty when warmed up!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	20-25 minutes
Total Time	35-45 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2400-2600
• Protein: 40-50 g
• Fat: 150-170 g
• Carbohydrates: 280-300 g

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain flour (300g)
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar (75g)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/3 cups milk (320ml)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled (120g)
• 1/4 cup butter, melted (for the churro topping)
• 1/2 cup sugar (120g)
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon spice
• 1/2 cup chopped chocolate (90g, for the chocolate drizzle)
• 2 tablespoons cream

Step 1: Prepare the Dry and Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and melted cooled butter until well combined.

Step 2: Create the Batter

Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients.

Stir until the mixture is evenly combined and smooth, with no lumps, resulting in a pourable batter.

Step 3: Bake the Donuts

Spoon or pipe the batter into your DIY doughnut tin.

Place the tin in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the donuts are a light golden color.

Once done, remove the donuts from the oven and allow them to cool in the tin for about 5 minutes.

Then, turn them out onto a wire rack and carefully remove the tin foil.

Step 4: Prepare the Topping

As the donuts cool, make the topping.

In a small bowl, melt 1/4 cup of butter.

In another small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon, then set aside.

Step 5: Make the Chocolate Ganache

Melt the chocolate either in the microwave or over a bain-marie.

Once melted, stir in the cream until you achieve a shiny, thick ganache.

This will serve as a decadent topping for the donuts.

Step 6: Assemble the Donuts

To assemble, brush each cooled donut with the melted butter, then roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture, ensuring all sides are coated.

Finally, dip the top half of each donut in the chocolate ganache, generously coating with chocolate.

Enjoy your delicious homemade donuts!