Churro Sundae Recipe

This Churro Sundae is the ultimate dessert mashup—classic crispy churro rings fried to golden perfection, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and crowned with creamy vanilla ice cream, fluffy whipped cream, and toasted pecans. Every spoonful is warm, cold, crunchy, and creamy all at once. This is one treat guaranteed to wow your taste buds!

Ingredients You’ll Need

This Churro Sundae comes together with everyday essentials, but each ingredient has a starring role in delivering that iconic crispy-edged churro and a creamy, cool finish. Here’s what you’ll need and why it matters:

• Water: The base for your churro dough, giving it just the right moisture and steam for puffiness when fried.
• Butter: Adds richness and flavor, helping the churros brown beautifully.
• Salt: Enhances all the flavors—don’t skip it!
• Sugar (for dough and cinnamon sugar): Brings sweetness to the dough and creates the classic cinnamon-sugar crust for that signature crunch.
• Flour: The backbone of your churro rings, giving structure and bite.
• Cinnamon: Infuses every layer from dough to topping with cozy, warming spice.
• Baking Powder: Lifts the churro dough so you get a delightfully airy inside.
• Eggs: Bind the dough and make the churros pillowy-soft.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds irresistible aroma and depth to both dough and whipped cream.
• Heavy Cream & Powdered Sugar: For plush, billowy homemade whipped cream.
• Vanilla Ice Cream: The perfect creamy canvas for your warm churro disks.
• Pecans: Toasted and sprinkled for a nutty, buttery crunch that’s total magic on top.

Variations

The Churro Sundae is pure comfort as written, but don’t be shy about making it your own! Whether you’re adjusting for allergies or just following your cravings, there are so many delicious ways to riff on this showstopper.

• Chocolate-Lover’s Churro Sundae: Drizzle warm chocolate sauce over the ice cream or swirl a little cocoa powder into the churro dough.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap in coconut oil for the butter and use plant-based cream and ice cream for a completely dairy-free treat.
• Mini Churro Bites Sundae: Pipe tiny churro rings instead of large ones for bite-sized, party-friendly sundaes everyone can assemble themselves.
• Fruity Fiesta: Add a generous scoop of macerated strawberries or roasted pineapple for a burst of color and tang.

How to Make Churro Sundae

Step 1: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients

Begin by whisking your flour, cinnamon, and baking powder together in a medium bowl—this ensures the dry ingredients are evenly distributed. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with vanilla extract, which will add gorgeous richness when folded into your dough later.

Step 2: Make the Churro Dough

In a large saucepan, combine water, butter, salt, and sugar and bring the mixture to a boil. As soon as the butter has melted and the sugar dissolves, add all your dry ingredients at once, stirring with a sturdy wooden spoon until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides. Remove the pan from heat and let the mixture cool to avoid scrambling the eggs—just a few minutes does the trick!

Step 3: Add Eggs and Pipe the Rings

Once cool, quickly beat in your egg and vanilla mixture. The dough will look messy for a moment, but keep mixing—soon you’ll get a glossy, thick batter. Scoop it into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, then pipe 8 generous circles (about 3 rings each) onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Step 4: Freeze the Churro Dough

This step is key: freeze the piped churro rings for at least 2 hours. Freezing guarantees your churro disks will hold their shape and fry up into beautiful, crisp spirals without falling apart in the hot oil.

Step 5: Fry and Coat

When you’re ready to serve, heat oil in a Dutch oven to 375°F (use a candy thermometer for accuracy!). Carefully lower two frozen churro disks into the hot oil at a time, frying each until deeply golden and cooked through. Let them drain on paper towels, then shower them in cinnamon sugar while still warm for that crackly finish.

Step 6: Build the Churro Sundae Magic

To serve, nestle a crispy churro disk on a plate, crown with a scoop of silky vanilla ice cream, a swirl of homemade whipped cream, a final dusting of cinnamon, and a sprinkle of toasted pecans. Grab your spoon—dessert dreams are coming true!

How to Serve Churro Sundae

Garnishes

For the prettiest and tastiest Churro Sundae, sprinkle on extra cinnamon, a dusting of powdered sugar, a plume of whipped cream, and those irresistible toasted pecans. A drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce never hurts, and a cherry on top turns this classic into a true showstopper.

Side Dishes

While this dessert is a star on its own, consider adding sweet, seasonal fruit—think grilled peaches or fresh strawberries—on the side for a burst of freshness. If serving at a party, tiny glasses of Mexican hot chocolate make a delightful, cozy pairing.

Creative Ways to Present

Bring out your inner artist by stacking mini churro rings for a towering sundae or serve individual “sundae flights” with different ice creams and toppings. For a party, set out a DIY sundae bar with churro disks, ice cream, sauces, and all your favorite sprinkles—it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftover churro disks, let them cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day. The cinnamon sugar may dissolve a bit, but a quick warm-up brings back their signature crunch. Store whipped cream and ice cream separately in the fridge or freezer.

Freezing

Uncooked, piped churro rings can be frozen on the baking sheet, then transferred to a freezer bag for up to one month—fry them directly from frozen! Cooked churro disks can also be frozen in a single layer; gently warm in a low oven to refresh before assembling your Churro Sundae.

Reheating

For best texture, reheat leftover churro disks in a 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes until hot and crisp—they’ll taste almost as fresh as when you just fried them! Avoid the microwave, which can make churros soggy.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Your kitchen is about to fill with the sweet scent of cinnamon and sugar—every moment of making this Churro Sundae is pure fun. Whether you’re treating family, hosting friends, or just indulging in a well-deserved solo treat, this sundae is always a joyful, crowd-pleasing finale. Don’t wait—give it a try and let those churro dreams come true!

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