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Churro Ice Cream Bowls, also called Churro Cups, are the kind of treat that feeds every inner churro craving. They come out crisp on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, and taste exactly the way a classic churro should.

And here is the best part. You get that signature churro crunch without deep frying. This no fail method gives the dough a quick step before baking, and the result fools everyone into thinking it came straight from a bakery. In fact, this churro bowl recipe might taste even better than store bought. A simple, fun, and perfect dessert recipe.

Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and exactly how a Churro should be...but without deep frying!

What Makes This Recipe So Good

These Churro Ice Cream Bowls are baked instead of fried, yet they still deliver that crisp shell and soft center everyone loves. The no fail technique sets the dough before it hits the oven, which gives each bowl the same texture you would expect from a traditional churro. You get the full churro experience without the mess of deep frying.

It also helps that this churro bowl recipe is incredibly versatile. You can turn the dough into churro cups, bowls, or minis, and each one is sturdy enough to hold ice cream without collapsing. They taste even better than store bought, with warm cinnamon sugar coating every bite.

What Goes Into Churro Ice Cream Bowls

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Flat lay photo of ingredient shot of butter, water, pure vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, salt, all purpose flour, eggs, sugar, ground cinnamon

You only need a handful of simple pantry staples to shape, bake, and coat these Churro Ice Cream Bowls.

  • Butter: Gives the dough richness and helps it firm up when heated, which is essential for creating bowls that keep their shape.
  • All Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the churro dough and creates the classic chewy structure once mixed with the hot liquid.
  • Eggs: Add stability and elasticity, allowing the dough to pipe easily while staying light and tender after baking.
  • Cinnamon Sugar Coating: A simple mix of granulated sugar and cinnamon that gives every churro cup its signature sweetness and warm flavor.

Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

How To Make Churro Ice Cream Bowls

Preheat the oven to 225°C or 440°F and turn a muffin tin upside down, then butter the cups
  1. Prep the Tin: Preheat the oven to 225°C or 440°F and turn a muffin tin upside down, then butter the cups and surrounding surface thoroughly.
Melt butter in saucepan, add water, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt, then simmer before stirring in flour until it forms a smooth ball.
  1. Make Base: Melt butter in saucepan, add water, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt, then simmer before stirring in flour until it forms a smooth ball.
Let the dough cool slightly, then beat in the first egg until fully combined and repeat with the second egg until the mixture is thick and smooth.
  1. Incorporate Eggs: Let the dough cool slightly, then beat in the first egg until fully combined and repeat with the second egg until the mixture is thick and smooth.
Transfer the dough to a piping bag with a large star tip and pipe circles around every second muffin cup
  1. Pipe the Bowls: Transfer the dough to a piping bag with a large star tip and pipe circles around every second muffin cup, pressing lightly to seal any gaps.
Lightly spray the piped bowls with oil, then bake for 35 to 40 minutes for standard bowls or about 35 minutes for mini bowls
  1. Bake Until Crisp: Lightly spray the piped bowls with oil, then bake for 35 to 40 minutes for standard bowls or about 35 minutes for mini bowls until golden and crisp.
Let the churro cups cool, roll them in cinnamon sugar while warm, and fill with ice cream, fruit, or any topping
  1. Coat and Serve: Let the churro cups cool, roll them in cinnamon sugar while warm, and fill with ice cream, fruit, or any topping you love.

These Churro Ice Cream Bowls are sweet and fun on their own, but pairing them with something surprising makes the whole spread unforgettable. Try them alongside Steak Fajita Grilled Cheese for a bold, savory contrast that somehow works in the best way. Or bring in Huevos Rancheros Tortizza, which adds a crunchy, smoky, eggy bite that balances the sweetness beautifully.

If you want something heartier but still unexpected, Black Beans and Rice creates an earthy, comforting backdrop that lets the churro cups shine as the playful finale. These pairings turn dessert into a full experience, not just a finishing touch.

Tips For Making Churro Ice Cream Bowls

  • Use real butter when greasing the muffin tin. I have tested sprays and oils, and butter gives the churro cups the crispest, most even browning.
  • Let the dough cool just enough before adding the eggs. If it is too hot, the eggs scramble, and if it is too cold, the dough becomes tough to mix.
  • Pipe slowly and press lightly as you go. This helps seal gaps so the bowls hold their shape once baked.
  • If the cinnamon sugar is not sticking well, give the baked bowls a quick mist of cooking spray. It acts like glue without making them greasy.

Recipe FAQ’s

Why Did My Churro Cups Lose Their Shape?

This usually happens when gaps are left while piping. Press each layer gently together as you pipe so the dough fuses and stays stable during baking.

How Do I Keep the Cups Crispy?

Bake until the edges feel firm to the touch and let them cool on the muffin tin for a few minutes. Coat them in cinnamon sugar just before serving to avoid them absorbing excess moisture.

What If I Only Have Cooking Spray Instead of Butter?

It will work, but butter gives the most reliable crisp crust and prevents sticking better. If using spray, give the tin a little extra coating to avoid tearing.

Watch Me Make Churro Ice Cream Bowls

Side view of Churro Ice Cream Bowls (Cups)

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4.88 from 8 votes

Churro Ice Cream Bowls (Cups)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6 Standard Size Bowls or 8 MINI Bowls
Churro Ice Cream Bowls! Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and exactly how a Churro should be… but without deep frying!
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Ingredients 
 

CHURRO CUPS

  • 4 oz butter
  • 1 cup water + 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature

COATING

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 225°C | 440°F. Turn your muffin tin (standard-sized muffin tin or mini muffin tin) upside down with the open holes facing down and the cups facing up. Lightly grease cups and the area around the cups thoroughly with butter. (I find butter works better than cooking oil spray.) Set aside.
  • Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan. Add in the water, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt; bring to a simmer for 5 minutes while mixing occasionally. Add in the flour, stirring with a large wooden spoon until well blended and forms a ball.
  • Take off heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes, or until just warm to the touch. Add one egg, quickly beating until completely incorporated (it will look like it’s not coming together, but keep beating)! Add in the second egg and repeat the process until a dough forms.
  • Scoop dough into a strong double lined pastry bag with a large open star tip nozzle (I used Wilton 1M). Starting from the bottom, pipe the dough around every second cup to form bowls (leave one empty cup between each bowl to allow the churro pastry to expand). Lightly press each layer together to close up any gaps.
  • Spray each bowl lightly with cooking oil spray for CRISPY CHURROS! Don’t skip this part.

For the STANDARD BOWLS:

  • Bake for 35-40 minutes OR until golden and crispy to the touch.

For the MINI BOWLS:

  • Bake for 35 minutes OR until golden and crispy to the touch. Allow to cool slightly before removing.
  • Fill a shallow bowl with cinnamon sugar; coat each bowl evenly (they may need a light spray of oil to allow the sugar to stick) and serve with ice cream, fruit salad, fudge sauce or whatever else you can think of.

Notes

*White, granulated sugar works best and yields crispier Churro Bowls
*You must use a good quality double sided piping bag! When piping, divide the dough in half inside the piping bag with your fingers and pipe a little at a time. The dough is quite thick so you will need to be careful with this part to ensure you don’t burst the piping bag.
*Make sure you use a non-stick pan OR they WILL stick!

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 342mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 564IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this? Leave a comment below!
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Hey Good Food Lovers! It’s nice to see you! My name is Karina. Welcome to Cafe Delites, my beloved space for the last 10 years where my passion for food has flourished and connected millions!

4.88 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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32 Comments

  1. Olivia says:

    Hi. How many large bowls does this recipe make? Can’t wait to try them. They look amazing.

    1. Karina says:

      Hi Olivia. I made 6 large bowls!

  2. Rochelle says:

    Looks beyond amazing! Can’t wait to try! Can I substitute margarine instead of butter?

    1. Karina says:

      Hi Rochelle! Yes that should be fine!

  3. Yinnce says:

    Hi Karina did you see my picture on Instagram? I tagged you and I hope you did. I’m so happy with this recipe. My boyfriend loves them! He said they’re better than the ones we usually go out for. And He told me to look through your page to choose more things to make! That’s a big thing since he’s so picky. So far I made these and your chicken picatta with the parmesan cheese and oh my god I love your recipes!!!!!! I just had to tell you! I’m making your crepes next for Mother’s Day and we can’t wait!

  4. Keith @ How's it Lookin? says:

    They look so good. Churros are always tasty, thanks for the idea

  5. Helna says:

    These just came out of the oven and I couldn’t wait to try them. I’m happy to say that without the sugar coating they are so good and crispy just like you said! I saw the fried version but liked your version better in the oven. They taste fried, just like you said. You really mean what you say. Well done. My favourites recipe site by far! Thanks for this!

  6. Bethany @ athletic avocado says:

    Churro ice cream bowls? WHAT? You’ve outdone yourself again! This is incredible! You are a recipe GENIUS!

  7. Mary says:

    What a genius you are to create this delectable recipe! Love this idea and your video! Pinned. Thanks for sharing!

  8. Selina says:

    Oh. Em. Gee. These look amazing!
    How long do they stay crispy for? Wondering if i can make them ahead of time…

    1. Karina says:

      Hi Selina! They lasted crisp all day, but softened over night. You could make them ahead of time on the ‘moulds’ and freeze them in their bowl shape. When ready to bake, put them straight into a hot oven and bake fast with a spray of cooking oil! That should work better than baking and storing a few days 🙂

  9. nicole (thespicetrain.com) says:

    5 stars
    WHAT an idea, I love these! And, as usual, your photos make me lick the screen!

    1. Karina says:

      Nicole! Omg it’s so good to hear from you!! And thank you so much! THAT always means a lot coming from YOU!

  10. Roxana says:

    These are adorable! My family would love them!

    1. Karina says:

      Roxana they are incredible! I’m sure they would too!