There’s something magical about the aroma of cinnamon and chocolate mingling in your kitchen, especially during the holidays. This Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe brings those flavors to life with crispy, crunchy churros dressed up like Christmas trees—it’s the kind of treat that turns ordinary moments into celebrations.

Three Christmas tree shaped desserts made of four layers each, stacked in a small cone form. Each layer is a golden brown cinnamon sugar-coated doughnut or pastry with a rough texture. The top three layers of each tree are covered in glossy dark chocolate sauce that drips down the sides. The whole dessert is decorated with red, white, and green round sprinkles and a light dusting of powdered sugar. They are set on a white marbled surface with a green blurry background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

When I first made this recipe, the festive vibe it brought to my kitchen was unbeatable. It’s more than just churros; it’s a holiday experience you create bite by bite—fun to make, irresistible to eat.

Holiday Flair: These churros are shaped like mini Christmas trees, making them perfect for festive gatherings or cozy family nights.
Decadent Flavor Pairing: The combination of warm cinnamon sugar and silky chocolate ganache is comfort food at its finest.
Simple Yet Impressive: Even if you’re new to frying or piping dough, these churros have a surprisingly easy method that delivers bakery-quality results.
Customizable Decorations: Add your favorite sprinkles or toppings to make your churros uniquely yours each holiday season.

Three churros stacked in a tower shape on a white marbled surface with a green wall in the background. Each churro tower has three layers of twisted, golden-brown dough coated in sugar, with the top layer pointed like a small peak. The churro on the right is being covered with thick dark chocolate sauce flowing slowly from a glass pitcher down its golden layers. A small green pine sprig is next to the churro with chocolate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe has a specific role in creating that perfect balance of texture and flavor. From buttery dough to silky ganache, here’s why these ingredients shine together—and a few tips on picking the right ones for the best taste.

Flat lay of unsalted butter in a small solid block, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with clear water, a small white bowl containing granulated sugar sparkling under natural light, a fresh vanilla bean pod next to a small white bowl of pure vanilla extract, a mound of all-purpose flour on a clean white ceramic plate, a small white bowl with coarse kosher salt, two large uncracked brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl holding semisweet chocolate chips, another small white bowl with thick heavy cream, a small white bowl of ground cinnamon, and a small white bowl with red and green sprinkles alongside white nonpareils, all ingredients fresh and natural arranged in perfect symmetry in balanced proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level in your churros so the sweetness and cinnamon stand out simply.
Water: This hydrates the dough and creates steam during frying, which makes the inside light and fluffy.
Sugar: Divided sugar ensures some sweetness in the dough itself and plenty to coat the churros after frying.
Pure vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla adds warmth and depth to the dough—don’t skip it!
All-purpose flour: The foundation for that tender but sturdy churro texture.
Kosher salt: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness beautifully.
Large eggs: Eggs bind the dough and give churros their characteristic structure and moisture.
Vegetable oil (for frying): Neutral-flavored oil lets the cinnamon and chocolate shine without overpowering them.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Melts smoothly into a rich ganache that pairs perfectly with cinnamon sugar.
Heavy cream: Creates silky, smooth chocolate ganache—feel free to adjust richness to taste.
Ground cinnamon: This classic spice makes these churros festive and irresistibly aromatic.
Red and green sprinkles / white nonpareils: These fun toppings turn your churros into holiday showstoppers and add texture contrast.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I’ve found the fun really starts when you personalize this Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe. I love switching up the decorations depending on who I’m making them for or adding a little chili powder into the cinnamon sugar to surprise guests. Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on it—you’ll enjoy the process even more!

Variation: One year, I swapped the semisweet chocolate ganache for white chocolate dipped in peppermint extract—such a festive twist that everyone went nuts for!
Dietary tweak: You can make a dairy-free ganache using coconut cream and dairy-free chocolate chips, perfect if you want to cater to vegan friends during holiday parties.
Seasonal touch: Adding a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the cinnamon sugar mix brings extra Christmas vibes that your family will love.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe

Step 1: Create the Perfect Dough

Start by bringing butter, water, and 2 tablespoons of sugar to a boil over medium heat. Once it’s bubbling, stir in vanilla extract, then quickly add flour and salt. Stir vigorously until the mixture thickens—about 30 seconds. This cooks the flour just enough to give you that doughy churro structure. Let it cool for 10 minutes so the eggs don’t scramble in the next step.

Step 2: Blend in the Eggs

Using a handheld mixer on medium speed, beat in the eggs one at a time. Adding them slowly gives the dough time to incorporate each egg fully, so your churros come out light and airy. Mixing by hand is doable but a mixer saves time and effort here.

Step 3: Shape Your Churros With Care

Lay out parchment on a baking sheet and lightly grease it. Then use cookie cutters or a ruler to trace circles of varying sizes—this is how you build your little churro Christmas trees. I like to arrange 3 circles each at 2 ½ inch, 2 inch, 1 ½ inch, and 1 inch. This way, each tree feels perfectly tiered and festive.

Step 4: Pipe and Freeze the Dough

Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe the dough carefully over your circles. Leave a small space in the center for the larger and middle circles so you can stack them later without it getting too dense. Add a few small dollops of dough shaped like Hershey’s Kisses on the side. Freeze everything for a couple hours until firm—this step is what helps these delicate shapes hold up when fried.

Step 5: Heat Your Oil to the Right Temperature

Pour vegetable oil into a deep Dutch oven to a depth of about 3 inches and heat it on medium-high until it reaches 375°F (190°C). A thermometer really helps here—too cool and the churros get greasy; too hot and they burn fast.

Step 6: Whip Up Your Rich Chocolate Ganache

While the dough chills, pop the semisweet chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl. Heat the heavy cream in the microwave until small bubbles form, then pour it over the chocolate. Let it rest for about 30 seconds, then stir gently until smooth and glossy. You’ll have a dreamy ganache ready to drizzle over those golden churros.

Step 7: Fry and Coat Your Churros

Fry the churro circles in batches at 375°F, starting with the largest. Each side will take about 2 to 2 ½ minutes to turn that perfect golden brown. Drain on a wire rack and immediately toss them in your cinnamon sugar mixture for sweet, spicy coating. Smaller kiss-shaped dollops fry quicker — roughly one minute.

Step 8: Assemble and Decorate Your Festive Tree

On a platter, stack churros from largest to smallest to form charming Christmas trees. Spoon a few tablespoons of warm ganache over each tree to act like edible “glue,” then sprinkle liberally with red and green sprinkles or white nonpareils. This is the part where they truly come to life and sparkle!

Top Tip

From my experience making this festive treat, a few things have made all the difference—and I want you to nail them too! These tips helped me get consistent results, even when juggling holiday chaos.

Temperature Control: Keep that oil steady at 375°F with a thermometer; lower temps mean oily churros, and hotter will burn the outside before the center cooks.
Freezing Is Key: Don’t skip the freezing step—it’s what keeps the delicate shapes crisp and prevents deformation during frying.
Pipe with Confidence: Use a large star tip and steady pressure for those signature churro ridges—they not only look fun but catch more cinnamon sugar!
Serve Warm: Churros are best enjoyed freshly fried and warm—if reheating, use an oven or toaster oven instead of microwave to maintain crispness.

How to Serve Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe

Festive Cinnamon Churros - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love topping these churros with a mix of red and green holiday sprinkles—it’s simple but festive. White nonpareils add a snowy sparkle that kids adore. Sometimes I add edible glitter if I want to get really fancy for parties. These little touches make your churros photo-ready and party-perfect.

Side Dishes

Pair your Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros with warm drinks like hot cocoa or mulled cider. For a savory contrast, a plate of spiced nuts or a charcuterie board works beautifully to balance sweetness and keep guests’ palates active.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I’ve arranged churro trees on large platters lined with faux snow or holiday greenery. Using wooden trays or festive cake stands adds a cozy vibe. You can even serve each churro tree in a clear treat bag tied with ribbon for adorable edible gifts!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have any churros left after your feast, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. They’ll lose some crispness but still taste great. I recommend reheating gently to revive their crunch.

Freezing

These churros freeze surprisingly well! Freeze the fried and cooled churros in a single layer on a sheet pan, then transfer to a freezer bag. When ready, reheat in the oven from frozen for 8-10 minutes to refresh their texture and flavor.

Reheating

To reheat, pop the churros in a preheated 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes until warm and crispy. Avoid microwaves—they make churros soggy and less enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I bake the churros instead of frying them?

This recipe is crafted for frying to get the signature crisp exterior. Baking might work for a lighter version but you won’t get the same crunchy texture. If you try baking, set your oven to 425°F and bake them on a greased pan until golden, but expect a softer result.

How do I know when the oil is at the right temperature?

A deep-fry or instant-read thermometer gives you the most accurate answer—aim for 375°F. If you don’t have one, drop a small bit of batter in the oil; it should sizzle and rise to the surface quickly without burning in seconds. Too slow means oil is too cool, too fast or smoke means too hot.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

You can prepare the dough a day ahead and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. Bring it back to room temperature before piping. For best texture, pipe and freeze as instructed before frying.

What other toppings or dipping sauces can I serve with these churros?

Besides cinnamon sugar, you can dust churros with powdered sugar or cocoa powder. For dips, try caramel sauce, dulce de leche, or a spicy chocolate sauce. Fresh fruit compotes also complement the warm spices nicely.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Chocolate Cinnamon Churros Recipe holds a special place on my holiday dessert table—not just for the flavors but for the joy of making and sharing it. I hope these warm, crispy churros become a beloved tradition in your home too. Trust me, once you try piping, frying, and decorating them, you’ll be as hooked as I am—there’s something magical about a treat that’s as fun to create as it is to eat!