Name: Churro Cruffins – Sweet Easy Recipes That Taste Like Magic
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted; Pastry cream or Nutella (optional, for filling)

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Ever had one of those mornings where you crave a cinnamon roll, but also want a croissant? That’s where churro cruffins come in. Imagine golden, flaky layers baked up into a muffin tin, rolled in cinnamon sugar while still warm, and filled with silky pastry cream. Yep, that’s the kind of breakfast fantasy I’m talking about. I made a batch last Sunday and nearly missed brunch because I couldn’t stop eating them straight off the cooling rack. They’re that good. Plus, the ingredients are super easy to find, and the process? Way less complicated than you’d think. Whether you’re baking for brunch, dessert, or a late-night craving, these cruffins are the answer. These sweet treats also happen to check a lot of boxes for flavor and texture. They’ve got that perfect crunch on the outside, fluffy softness on the inside, and a cinnamon sugar coating that melts just slightly as it hits the warm dough. If your kitchen smells like a bakery by the end, you’ve done it right.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Churro Cruffins Recipe
3) Ingredients for Churro Cruffins
4) How to Make Churro Cruffins
5) Tips for Making Churro Cruffins
6) Making Churro Cruffins Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Churro Cruffins
8) Try these desserts next!
9) Churro Cruffins Recipe
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Churro Cruffins are flaky pastries rolled in cinnamon sugar and optionally filled with cream or Nutella.
They’re quick to make and taste like a cross between a croissant and a cinnamon roll.
You can use puff pastry sheets from the store for convenience.
Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack when sweet easy recipes are what you need most.
Best served warm but can be prepped ahead and stored easily.

2) Easy Churro Cruffins Recipe

If you’re craving something sweet that doesn’t ask for a hundred ingredients or a pastry chef degree, churro cruffins might be your answer. They’re part croissant, part muffin, and totally covered in cinnamon sugar. I like to make them on slow weekends when I’m not rushing, but also don’t want to fuss too much. Sweet easy recipes like this let me cheat the look of a fancy bakery without leaving the house. Twice.

The real joy? Puff pastry. You roll it, bake it, then watch it puff up with layers of golden flakiness. And the second it comes out of the oven, that buttery smell makes it tough to wait even five minutes. I usually don’t. I’ve learned that a burn on the tongue is sometimes the price of delicious choices.

These churro cruffins are easy to prep and look beautiful with almost no effort. Plus, if you’re the type who loves dessert in the morning, they double as breakfast. You can even fill them with Nutella, pastry cream, or caramel for extra flair. That’s what makes sweet easy recipes like this so fun—you can always mix things up and make them your own.

3) Ingredients for Churro Cruffins

1 sheet of puff pastry: I use store-bought puff pastry. It’s usually in the frozen section and comes folded. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight or let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.

1/4 cup granulated sugar: This is what gives our cruffins that classic churro sweetness. You’ll mix this with cinnamon and roll the pastries in it. That crust is everything.

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon: Cinnamon gives the cruffins their cozy warmth. Make sure it’s fresh. Old cinnamon loses its punch.

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted: You’ll brush this over the puff pastry before adding the cinnamon sugar. It also helps the sugar stick after baking.

Pastry cream or Nutella (optional): These are great for filling the cruffins. After baking, use a piping bag to add the filling in the center.

4) How to Make Churro Cruffins

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 12-cup muffin tin. This will help the cruffins release easily once they’re baked.

Step 2. Roll out the puff pastry on a clean surface. Brush it generously with the melted butter.

Step 3. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over the buttered pastry evenly.

Step 4. Cut the pastry into strips about one inch wide. Roll each strip like a pinwheel and stand it up inside the muffin tin.

Step 5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until the cruffins puff and turn golden brown. Keep an eye on them during the last few minutes—they brown quickly.

Step 6. Remove from the oven and let cool for five minutes. Then brush each one with more melted butter and roll it in more cinnamon sugar.

Step 7. If you’re using filling, poke a hole in the center with a knife and pipe in the pastry cream or Nutella. Serve warm and try not to eat them all.

5) Tips for Making Churro Cruffins

Start with cold puff pastry. If it’s too warm, it gets sticky and tough to work with. Cold dough means cleaner layers and less frustration.

Don’t skimp on the cinnamon sugar. I once tried to go “light” on the coating. It wasn’t the same. The crunch, the flavor—it’s all in that sugar mix.

Use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter for clean strips. A dull blade pulls the pastry instead of slicing it. That small step makes them puff evenly as they bake.

6) Making Churro Cruffins Ahead of Time

You can prep churro cruffins the night before. Just roll, slice, and arrange them in the muffin tin. Then cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge overnight.

The next morning, preheat the oven and bake as normal. It’s a great way to save time if you’ve got guests or just want to impress your future self.

If you’re making a big batch for a party, bake them in advance and warm them in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes. They’ll taste just as fresh.

7) Storing Leftover Churro Cruffins

Store leftover cruffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If they last that long. I rarely have leftovers.

To reheat, place them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This helps bring back that crispy edge. Microwaving makes them soggy, so avoid it if you can.

If you plan to keep them longer, freeze them instead. Wrap each in foil and store in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight and warm before serving.

8) Try these desserts next!

9) Churro Cruffins Recipe