Quick Easy Puff Pastry Churro Sticks Recipe

I absolutely love this recipe because it’s the perfect blend of my two favorite things: the simplicity of puff pastry and the nostalgic flavors of churros, with a hint of cinnamon sugar bliss. Plus, the optional chocolate sauce takes it to the next level, making it an irresistible treat for a cozy night in or impressing friends with minimal effort!

I adore how uncomplicated these Quick Easy Puff Pastry Churro Sticks are to prepare. A delicious take on a traditional treat, they use just one sheet of puff pastry—a dough so much lower in calories than churro dough, I’m shocked.

And a half cup of granulated sugar and a tablespoon of ground cinnamon make them taste just as sweet and spicy as any churro ever could. For a sauce to dip them in, I melted semi-sweet chocolate with some heavy cream.

The large bowl of thick, luscious sauce before me was so tempting that I ladled a small amount of it onto the plate where I had set the churro sticks, just so that the picture would look tempting enough to make you want to make these yourself.

Ingredients

• Puff Pastry: High in carbohydrates, gives a light, flaky texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and caramelized crust.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm spice, rich in antioxidants.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides richness, essential for flavor depth.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Optional indulgence, adds a sweet, rich flavor.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, for dipping)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional, for making chocolate sauce)

Instructions

1. Heat your oven to 400 °F (200 °C) and set a baking sheet with parchment paper ready.

2. In a little dish, blend the sugar and the cinnamon together until they are well mixed.

3. The puff pastry sheet that has been thawed should be unrolled on a surface that has been lightly floured. The melted butter should then be brushed on the pastry.

4. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture generously over the puff pastry, which has been buttered on one side.

5. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the puff pastry into strips approximately 1 inch wide and 4 to 5 inches long.

6. Gently twist each strip to create a spiral shape and lay them out on the baking sheet, spacing them apart.

7. Oven bake the churro sticks for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed up.

8. As the churro sticks bake, if you’re using the chocolate sauce, warm the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it starts to simmer.

9. Take the saucepan off the heat and mix in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, stirring until they are completely melted and the sauce is smooth.

10. Accompany the optional chocolate sauce with the warm churro sticks so that diners may dip and enjoy them as soon as possible.

Equipment Needed

1. Oven
2. Baking sheet
3. Parchment paper
4. Small dish
5. Whisk or fork
6. Flat surface for rolling
7. Flour (for dusting)
8. Pastry brush
9. Sharp knife or pizza cutter
10. Small saucepan (optional, for chocolate sauce)
11. Spoon or spatula (for stirring)

FAQ

• Can I use frozen puff pastry directly from the freezer?Puff pastry is best thawed in the refrigerator, which gives you equal working time to ensure that it is cool and relaxed when you are rolling it out, trimming it, and shaping it to achieve the desired texture. If not done properly, thawing too quickly or not thawing fully can lead to a texture that is not flaky but rather dense.
• Is there a substitute for granulated sugar?Brown sugar or coconut sugar can be used for a subtly different flavor, but for the classic churro taste and texture, you can’t beat using granulated sugar.
• Can I skip the cinnamon?It is possible to skip the cinnamon if you don’t like it, but it is key to achieving the flavor that makes a churro a churro.
• What if I don’t have a pastry brush for the butter?A spoon can serve to drizzle the melted butter over the puff pastry and, using the back of the spoon, spread it.
• How do I make the chocolate sauce for dipping?Warm the heavy cream until just below a simmer and pour it over the chocolate chips. Stir them together until they form a smooth mixture.
• Is it necessary to make the chocolate sauce?Adding a chocolate sauce dip is optional, but it sends the flavor of these churro sticks over the top.
• How should I store leftovers?Keep any leftover churro sticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 48 hours. They’re best eaten fresh, but if you have any lying around, it’s still a good bet to enjoy them two days later!

Substitutions and Variations

Crescent roll dough can be used instead of puff pastry for a slightly different texture.
You can swap out granulated sugar for coconut sugar, and make your sugar-baking a bit healthier.
Nutmeg can be used instead of ground cinnamon for a different spice profile.
You can use margarine or coconut oil instead of butter if you prefer not to consume dairy.
Dark chocolate chips can be used instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips to provide a richer flavor.
For a dairy-free alternative, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream.

Pro Tips

1. Ensure Even Puff Pastry Thawing For the best results, make sure the puff pastry is fully and evenly thawed before you start. This will make it easier to handle and ensure it puffs up uniformly in the oven. Plan ahead by transferring it from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before.

2. Use a Pastry Brush for Butter When brushing melted butter onto the puff pastry, use a pastry brush for even distribution. This will help the cinnamon sugar mixture stick better and provide a consistent flavor and texture.

3. Precision Cutting Use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter to slice the puff pastry strips. Accurate, even cuts will ensure the churro sticks bake evenly and have a uniform appearance.

4. Twist with Care When twisting the pastry strips into spirals, be gentle to avoid tearing the dough. A loose spiral allows them to puff nicely and maintain their shape during baking.

5. Monitor Baking Time Keep an eye on the baking time, as oven temperatures can vary. Check the churro sticks a minute or two before the minimum baking time to prevent over-browning, ensuring they are just right—crisp and golden.