There’s something magical about the holiday season—the twinkling lights, the scent of cinnamon in the air, and the joy of creating something special for loved ones. For me, the kitchen becomes my happy place during this time of year. This year, I decided to take a beloved classic—crispy, golden churros—and give them a festive twist by shaping them into adorable Christmas trees churros.
Shaping them into little trees felt like decorating edible ornaments, and the results were just as delightful as they sound. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a heavenly cinnamon-sugar dusting, these churros are the perfect mix of playful and indulgent.
But what really sets these Christmas Tree Churros apart is how they turn a simple dessert into a joyful holiday project. Piping out tiny tree shapes feels like a blend of baking and crafting. I hope you have fun making these treats for your loved ones !
WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT THIS RECIPE
- Festive
- No-oven
- Fun to make
- Basic ingredients
INGREDIENTS USED IN CHRISTMAS TREE CHURROS
Water
Water is the main liquid component that hydrates the dry ingredients in the churro dough. When the churros are fried, the water content in the dough turns into steam due to the high heat of the oil. The steam helps to puff up the churros, giving them a light and airy texture on the inside while maintaining a crispy exterior.
Butter
Butter is a source of fat, and it imparts a rich, buttery flavor to the churro dough. This enhances the overall taste of the churros, making them more enjoyable and indulgent. The fat content in butter contributes to the tender texture of the churros. Butter acts as a binding agent, helping to hold the churro dough together and maintaining its shape when piped. This is especially important during the frying process, as it prevents the churros from falling apart in the hot oil.
Sugar
Sugar is the primary sweetening agent in churros, providing the delightful sweetness that makes them so enjoyable to eat. It balances the flavors of the dough and complements the cinnamon sugar coating that is often added after frying. During the frying process, the sugar caramelizes, giving the churros their characteristic rich and appetizing color. The sugar in the churro dough also aids in achieving a crispy exterior during frying.
All-purpose flour
Flour is the primary dry ingredient in churros, and when combined with water, it forms the churro dough. As water is added to the flour, gluten proteins in the flour hydrate and create a sticky, elastic dough. Flour acts as a binding agent in churros, helping to hold all the ingredients together and maintain the dough’s shape and structure during frying. The right amount of flour is essential for achieving the correct consistency of the churro dough. The dough needs to be thick enough to hold its shape when piped, but not too dry, as this could result in stiff churros.
Egg
The egg helps bind the ingredients together, ensuring the dough holds its shape during piping and frying. It provides stability to the dough, especially important for delicate Christmas tree shapes. The egg introduces fat and moisture, which contribute to the light and tender interior of the churros. The proteins in the egg help emulsify the butter and water in the dough, creating a smooth, uniform consistency.
Cinnamon sugar
After frying, churros are often rolled in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. The sugar in the coating not only adds extra sweetness but also helps the cinnamon adhere to the churros, providing a burst of aromatic flavor.
EQUIPMENTS USED FOR MAKING CHRISTMAS TREE CHURROS
A correct proportion of all the ingredients will guarantee the best taste, so you will need measuring spoons and measuring cups to measure quantities of water, sugar, butter, flour, etc.
You will need a saucepan to bring the batter together. I have used Stahl saucepan to make the churro batter.
An induction or gas stove will obviously be required as well.
For frying, I have used Stahl kadhai (frying pan).
A few other things that are required for making the Christmas tree churros are a wooden spoon, piping bag and a nozzle.
TIPS TO MAKE CHRISTMAS TREE CHURROS
- Add the flour all at once and mix vigorously. A wooden spoon works best for this step to avoid lumps.
- Let the dough cool completely before adding the egg, or the egg might cook and form lumps. Spread the dough out slightly to speed up the cooling process.
- Add the egg gradually if you notice difficulty in mixing. It may seem like the egg won’t combine initially, but keep mixing—it will come together.
- The dough should be smooth and pipeable but not runny. If it’s too stiff, add a tiny splash of water or milk.
- Freeze for at least 30 minutes, but longer is better for easy handling. Make sure the shapes are firm before frying.
- Maintain an oil temperature of around 180–190°C (350–375°F). Use a thermometer for accuracy.
- Experiment with flavors by adding a pinch of nutmeg, orange zest, or vanilla extract to the dough. Serve with a side of chocolate ganache or caramel sauce for a decadent touch.
OTHER RELATED RECIPES FROM THE BLOG
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup butter (55g)
- 3 tbsp sugar
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Oil, for frying
- Cinnamon sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 5 tbsp sugar
- Pour water into a saucepan set over medium heat. Add in the butter and sugar.
- When the mixture comes to a boil and butter and sugar have completely dissolved then add all the flour at once.
- Mix well until the flour is incorporated and there are no lumps. Allow the dough to cool at room temperature.
- When the dough has cooled down, add the egg and vanilla and mix well until everything comes together.
- Transfer the dough into a piping bag fitted with star nozzle.
- Pipe the dough onto parchment paper in a Christmas tree shape. Freeze the dough for atleast 30 mins.
- Now, in a kadhai, add the oil and let it come to optimum frying temperature. Carefully fry the churros until they’re golden brown.
- Coat the churros in cinnamon sugar and insert a skewer in each churro to complete the Christmas tree look.
If you like my easy Christmas Tree Churros recipe and happen to make them in your kitchen, do tag me on Instagram and share pictures with me using #Bakewithshivesh. Happy Baking!
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