Baked Churro Donuts are soft inside and have a generous coating of butter, cinnamon, and sugar on the outside. Made in a donut pan, this baked donut recipe is so easy and so good!
There’s just something about the combination of the cinnamon sugar with the crisp exterior and tender center of a churro that’s so hard to beat. Frying churros can be messy.
So, when the craving for a churro strikes, I make something that tastes like a churro – like these Baked Churro Donuts. These baked donuts are soft on the inside and have the flavors of a churro from a coating of butter, cinnamon, and sugar.
Since they’re baked and not fried, they’re easy to make and come together quickly, which makes them the perfect, easy way to satisfy those cinnamon sugar cravings.
Ingredient notes
- Butter – I use salted butter in this recipe. If you’re using unsalted butter, increase the salt by 1/4 teaspoon (to 3/4 teaspoon total).
- Vegetable oil – Or another neutral oil like canola oil.
- Brown sugar – I use light brown sugar in this recipe, but dark brown sugar will also work.
- Milk – Any milk from skim milk to whole milk will work. Nondairy milk like almond milk will also work.
How to make churro donuts
Preheat oven to 425 F. Grease 15 donut tins in donut pans with butter or nonstick baking spray.
In a large bowl, beat butter, oil, and sugars together until well-combined.
Mix in eggs and vanilla. Beat in milk until combined.
Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined.
Spoon or pipe the batter into prepared donut molds. Bake for 9-15 minutes, or until donuts spring back when lightly touched.
Let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Brush lightly with melted butter.
Combine cinnamon and sugar in a plastic bag. Add donut, and gently shake to coat in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Top tip >> If you would prefer, you can stir together the cinnamon sugar in a small bowl. Dip both sides of the donut in the bowl to coat.
Serving suggestions
The donuts are delicious served with a drizzle of caramel sauce or cajeta. They are also fantastic served with chocolate sauce.
Storage
The donuts are best eaten when warm. If you have leftover donuts, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
More baked donut recipes!
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Baked Churro Donuts
Equipment
- Donut pan
Ingredients
Donuts
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Grease 15 donut tins in donut pans.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, oil, and sugars together until well-combined.
- Mix in eggs and vanilla.
- Beat in milk until combined.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined.
- Spoon or pipe batter into prepared pans.
- Bake for 9-15 minutes, or until donuts spring back when lightly touched.
- Let cool in pan for 5 minutes.
- Brush lightly with melted butter.
- Combine cinnamon and sugar in a plastic bag.
- Add donut, and gently shake to coat in cinnamon sugar.
Notes
- The topping amounts will make lightly coated donuts. If you’d like a heavier coating, like the donuts pictured, double or triple the topping amounts.
- I drizzle the donuts with cajeta, which is similar to dulce de leche. It’s optional but definitely delicious.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Originally published April 19, 2017.
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Comments & Reviews
Nanny says
Excellent donut! Have made many many times and never get tired of them.
Butter makes them moist and delicious.
A must!
Kate says
Thank you!
Diana Nicholette Jeon says
I’m wondering what part of the recipe, for you, makes it churro donuts? When I compare this to a normal churro recipe, this seems more like a classic baked donut or muffin recipe.
Kate says
That’s because it is a baked donut recipe. =) Since it is a baked donut recipe, it will end up more like a baked donut than a traditional fried churro.
Kathleen says
Really, Diana??!! Do you have nothing better to do than shade this recipe? Obviously it’s the flavor profile that makes this a churro donut recipe. Thank you Kate. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Kate says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it!
Margarita Onevathana says
I was wondering if you can make this recipe, put in doughnut mold with non stick and freeze them raw, than pull out and fry or bake?
Kate says
Hi! I haven’t tried that. I’d love to hear how it works out if you try it.
Alejandra says
These look amazing! Do you know how long they keep??
Kate says
Thanks! I think they are best the day that they are made, but they will keep for a day or so.
Clarisa says
Can I still make this if I don’t have donut pan?
Kate says
You could try baking them as donut muffins in a muffin tin instead of using a donut pan.
chicook13 says
These are amazing!! I used buttermilk but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. So tender and delicious, plus easy on a Sunday morning.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked them! =D