Imagine biting into a warm, crispy treat that’s sweet, golden brown, and delightfully airy inside — all without a trace of gluten. That’s the magic of Gluten-Free Churros! These churros are every bit as irresistible as their classic counterparts, featuring a pillowy interior, a crisp shell, and that signature dusting of cinnamon sugar. Whether you’re celiac, gluten-intolerant, or just looking to explore new dessert options, you’re about to fall in love with this naturally gluten-free twist on a beloved street food favorite.

Gluten-Free Churros Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of Gluten-Free Churros lies in their handful of simple yet essential ingredients. Each one plays a crucial role in flavor, texture, or color, coming together to create that classic churro experience you crave — minus the gluten.

Water: Acts as the main hydrator for your dough, ensuring the churros are light and tender.
Unsalted Butter (½ cup, 115 grams): Adds richness and helps the dough achieve its signature soft, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Granulated Sugar (1 tablespoon + ½ cup, divided): The tablespoon sweetens the dough, while the half-cup creates the sweet cinnamon coating.
Light Brown Sugar (1 tablespoon, packed): Brings a deeper, caramel-like note to the base, boosting flavor complexity.
Salt (¼ teaspoon): Just a touch brings balance and enhances all the other flavors.
Gluten Free Flour (1 cup, 140 grams): Provides structure while keeping everything safe for gluten-free eaters; blends like Cup4Cup work particularly well.
Cornstarch (1 tablespoon): Makes the churros extra tender and crisp by lightening the flour blend.
Xanthan Gum (¼ teaspoon, optional): Necessary only if your gluten free flour blend doesn’t have it; binds the dough together for chewy perfection.
Vanilla Extract (½ teaspoon): Adds that little whiff of bakery warmth that makes each bite special.
Large Eggs (3, room temperature): Bind ingredients together and give the churros their signature airy texture.
Ground Cinnamon (2 teaspoons): Essential for the classic churro dusting — don’t skimp here!
Non-Stick Baking Spray: Ensures easy release and helps the churros achieve their signature golden exterior.
Melted Unsalted Butter (optional for coating): Helps the cinnamon sugar adhere more if needed (and adds even more flavor).

How to Make Gluten-Free Churros

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Pan

Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. Grab a large baking sheet, line it with parchment paper, and give it a generous coat of non-stick baking spray. This step ensures you’ll have zero issues with sticking, and gets you ready for piping later on — trust me, easy release is key!

Step 2: Boil the Wet Ingredients

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine your water, unsalted butter, both sugars, and salt. Whisk until the butter melts and everything comes to a gentle boil. This bubbling mixture is the foundation of your Gluten-Free Churros, providing both moisture and depth.

Step 3: Form the Dough

Dial the heat to low and whisk in your gluten-free flour, cornstarch, and xanthan gum (if needed for your blend). Switch to a wooden spoon and stir until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the pan and forms a soft, cohesive mass. Remove from the heat and let it cool for about 5 minutes — this helps the eggs blend in smoothly.

Step 4: Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla

Add your vanilla extract and then beat in the eggs one by one. It’s tempting to rush, but adding them individually is crucial: each egg transforms the dough, making it silky and pipeable for classic Gluten-Free Churros. The result will be a thick, gushy paste.

Step 5: Pipe the Churros

Fit a large piping bag with a Wilton 1M star tip (or any large star tip). Fill the bag with your fresh dough. Pipe out straight lines of dough on your prepped tray, each about 5–6 inches long and spaced at least an inch apart. The star tip gives each churro its gorgeously ridged surface for that iconic crunch.

Step 6: Spray and Bake

Give just the tops of your piped churros a light spray of non-stick baking spray. Pop the tray into your preheated oven — but only bake one sheet at a time for even results. Bake for 17 to 18 minutes, keeping an eye out; once they’re lightly golden, they’re done. Overbaking leads to dryness, so trust your instincts!

Step 7: Cool Before Coating

Let your Gluten-Free Churros cool right on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes. They’ll be too tender to handle at first; cooling makes them sturdy enough for their cinnamon sugar bath.

Step 8: Roll in Cinnamon Sugar

Mix your half-cup sugar and cinnamon together on a plate. Carefully roll each cooled churro until fully coated. If the sugar doesn’t stick as much as you’d like, feel free to brush them with a little melted unsalted butter before rolling — this makes every bite extra luscious.

How to Serve Gluten-Free Churros

Garnishes

The absolute classic garnish for Gluten-Free Churros is a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar, but why stop there? Drizzle with melted chocolate, white chocolate, or even a silky salted caramel sauce for a bit of decadence. A light dusting of powdered sugar can also make them feel extra special for a celebration!

Side Dishes

These churros are perfect alongside a small cup of thick chocolate for dipping, Spanish-style! Or, serve them with fresh berries, whipped cream, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a dessert that balances crispy, sweet, and creamy in every bite. They’re also lovely with coffee or a sweet, cinnamon-spiced hot chocolate.

Creative Ways to Present

If you want to make your Gluten-Free Churros really stand out, arrange them in a spiral shape or crisscrossed into heart shapes before baking. For parties, serve them in mini cups with a shot of chocolate sauce at the bottom, or thread mini churros onto skewers for a playful presentation that’s perfect for sharing.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you happen to have extras (which is rare!), let your Gluten-Free Churros cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day. They’re best when fresh, but you can refresh them if needed.

Freezing

You can freeze Gluten-Free Churros before or after baking. For unbaked dough, pipe out shapes on a parchment-lined tray, freeze until solid, and then transfer to a zip-top bag for up to 2 months. Bake directly from frozen, just adding an extra few minutes. Baked churros freeze well too — just cool them completely, freeze in a single layer, and then bag once fully frozen.

Reheating

To bring back the just-baked magic, pop churros in a 350 degrees F oven for 5–7 minutes until warmed and crisp. For single servings, a quick zap in the toaster oven does the trick. If they’ve lost their crunch, a light mist of water before reheating helps revive the texture.

FAQs

Can I use any gluten-free flour blend?

Most cup-for-cup or measure-for-measure gluten-free blends work well for Gluten-Free Churros, but the results might vary by brand. Look for blends that contain xanthan gum for the best chew and hold. If your flour mix doesn’t include it, add xanthan gum as specified in the recipe.

Do I have to use a piping bag and star tip?

While a large piping bag with a star tip gives churros their signature shape and crispy ridges, you can use a sturdy zip-top bag with a snipped tip in a pinch. Your churros might look a bit different but they’ll taste just as good!

Can I make Gluten-Free Churros dairy-free?

Absolutely! Swap the butter for a high-quality dairy-free margarine or coconut oil. The churros will still be wonderfully crisp outside and tender on the inside, so everyone can enjoy them.

Why do churros sometimes turn out eggy or doughy?

If your churros have an eggy taste or seem dense, it could be from underbaking or adding the eggs before the dough is cool enough. Let the dough cool before adding eggs, and always bake until lightly golden for the perfect texture.

Can I fry these instead of baking?

Definitely! While this recipe is designed for baking, you can pipe the dough into hot oil (about 350 degrees F) for 2–3 minutes until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels, then toss in cinnamon sugar as usual for a traditional churro experience.

Final Thoughts

Baking a fresh batch of Gluten-Free Churros brings a little bit of joy straight to your kitchen — and to everyone lucky enough to share them with you. I hope you dive in and treat yourself to these golden, cinnamon-sugar-dusted beauties. Once you taste how easy and delicious homemade gluten-free desserts can be, you’ll want to make them again and again!