Pin it
My Churro Cruffins combine everything wonderful about buttery croissants and cinnamon sugar churros. The outside gets perfectly crispy while the inside stays tender and flaky. Best part? They start with store bought puff pastry making them so simple to create.
What Makes These Special
Every bite of these cruffins gives you that perfect mix of textures flaky layers with sweet crunchy cinnamon sugar coating. They look fancy but they're actually so easy to make. Even my beginner baker friends have great success with these.
What You'll Need
- Puff Pastry: Store bought, kept cold for easy handling.
- Butter: Good quality for brushing.
- Sugar: White sugar for the cinnamon sugar coating.
- Cinnamon: Ground, as fresh as possible.
Let's Make These
- Prepare the Pastry
- Roll out the chilled puff pastry and cut it into strips. Roll each strip into tight spirals and place them in a greased muffin tin.
- Bake to Perfection
- Bake at 375°F for about 20 minutes until golden brown.
- Add the Coating
- While still warm, brush with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar until well coated.
Pin it
My Best Tips
Keep that puff pastry cold until you're ready it's key for flaky layers. Roll the strips nice and tight for beautiful swirls. Watch them closely while baking they can brown fast. Let them cool just 5 minutes before coating with cinnamon sugar.
Mix It Up
Try filling them with Nutella or dulce de leche before baking. Add cardamom or nutmeg to your cinnamon sugar. Drizzle with chocolate for extra indulgence. Want savory? Skip the sweet coating add cheese and herbs instead.
Perfect Partners
Serve these warm with coffee or rich hot chocolate. Add caramel sauce for dipping. They're stunning on a brunch table alongside savory dishes makes everything feel special.
Keep Them Fresh
Store in an airtight container 2 days at room temp or a week in the fridge. They freeze beautifully up to 3 months. To reheat pop them in a 300°F oven for 5-10 minutes they'll crisp right back up.
Perfect Times to Serve
These shine at weekend brunch holiday gatherings or afternoon tea. Pack them in pretty boxes for homemade gifts. They make regular weekend breakfasts feel extra special.
Quick Answers
Homemade puff pastry works great but store bought is perfect for easy baking. Prep them the night before keep in the fridge then bake fresh. Cool slightly before sugar coating prevents melting. Yes you can use gluten free puff pastry. Double the recipe easily for bigger batches.
Easy Fixes
Keep your pastry chilled for flaky layers. Rotate the pan halfway through baking for even color. Mix cinnamon sugar well no clumps. Keep an eye on them in those last few minutes they brown quickly.
Make Them Look Amazing
Dust with powdered sugar for an elegant touch. Add a chocolate drizzle on top. Serve in pretty cupcake liners. I love arranging them on my tiered stand for parties makes such a beautiful display.
Pin it
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why chill the dough?
- Chilling helps butter firm up between layers, creating flaky texture when baked. Essential for proper lamination.
- → Can I skip the filling?
- Cruffins are delicious plain with just cinnamon sugar coating. Filling is optional but adds extra richness.
- → How do I store these?
- Best eaten same day. Store leftovers in airtight container up to 2 days, reheat briefly before serving.
- → Why use instant yeast?
- Instant yeast doesn't need proofing and works faster than active dry yeast for quicker rise time.
- → Can I make these ahead?
- Prepare dough and shape day before, refrigerate overnight for final rise and bake fresh in morning.