Whether your looking for a Cinco de Mayo dessert recipe or just want to enjoy a sweet cinnamon-y dessert these easy churro bars will be the perfect fit. They are baked not fried but still have the crispy crust just alot healthier.
What is a churro bar?
Having lived in Texas, churros are a staple at many parties and bbq’s. These Spanish-Portuguese inspired dessert is a combination of pastry dough, cinnamon and sugar that is usually deep fried. It is crunchy on the outside and sweet on the inside. These easy churro bars take all that goodness and instead of frying bake them in a pan. Not only are they healthier but the flavors bake together just as well. Also, there is no mess to clean up.
I guarantee you will be coming back for more! They end up being one of the best tasting cookie bars EVER!
Ingredients you will need
- 1 for 1 Gluten Free Flour is the type of flour to use to make these bars gluten free. You must use a brand that includes xanthum gum, if not add 1/4 tsp xanthum gum to your flour. I am using Bob Red Mills 1 for 1 gluten free flour.
- Butter mixes well with sugar and other dry ingredients. It is best to use unsalted softened butter. You could substitute with vegan butter or coconut oil but that might slightly alter flavor.
- Brown sugar gives it the rich toffee flavor but can easily swapped for coconut sugar to make the bars healthier.
- Egg holds the dough mixture together. You can use a flax egg if eggs are not tolerated.
- Cinnamon is a MUST ingredient! You can also add in nutmeg or clove especially if making around the holidays.
- Granulated sugar adds to the sweetness.
How to make easy churro bars
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9 X 9 baking pan
In a large mixing bowl, combine brown sugar and butter
Add in the egg to the mixture
Then add in flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon until all incorporated
Press the dough into an even layer in the bottom of the baking dish
In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar
Sprinkle topping over the bars
Bake for 25 minutes or until center is cooked
Let cool then serve as you like
What I love about this recipe
- Pantry staple ingredients yet combined tastes delicious making a fantastic easy dessert. No need for fancy ingredients to make these.
- Easy to make as in under 30 minutes. You mix everything into a bowl then bake in a dish. Super easy and ready to enjoy.
- Kid friendly even your most pickiest eaters will love this sweet treat. The crunchy outside combined with the buttery cinnamon sugar will not disappoint. My 4 year old daughter loves helping to make these too.
- Allergy friendly as these bars are gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free and can be made dairy free or egg free. (See FAQ’s on how)
FAQ’s
1.) Can these bars be made dairy free? Yes, you can substitute butter for vegan butter or coconut oil to make dairy free.
2.) What can I use to substitute an egg? You can do a flax egg or use 1/2 cup of apple sauce or mashed banana. It will change the taste slightly but not the texture of the bars.
3.) Can these bars be made ahead of time? Yes, they can be made in advance. Just keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 5 days.
4.) My churro bars seem so dry, what went wrong with them? I would first wonder if they baked too long or at too high temperature. They should be chewy not dry. I’d check my oven to make sure the temperature is not off or timing on the bars.
5.) When can I serve these bars? These bars make a great Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) dessert treat. They are also so easy to whip up during the year for a holiday gathering, potluck, baby shower, bbq or birthday party.
How to serve
These easy cinnamon churro bars can be best served with the following:
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate syrup
- Ice Cream- this Creamy Paleo Vanilla Honey Ice Cream would go perfect!
- Whipped cream
Storage
Refrigerator: Place in an airtight sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Ideally, with wax paper in between so they don’t stick together.
Freezer: Place in a freezer friendly container or bag for up to 3 months.
Cinco De Mayo Recipes
How To Make The Best Homemade Salsa
Print
Easy Churro Bars (Gluten Free)
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Whether your looking for a Cinco de Mayo dessert recipe or just want to enjoy a sweet cinnamon-y dessert these easy churro bars will be the perfect fit. They are baked not fried but still have the crispy crust just alot healthier.
Ingredients
- 1/2 c butter, softened
- 1 c brown sugar
- 1 c 1 for 1 gluten free flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Cinnamon Topping
- 1/2 c granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9×9 baking dish, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and brown sugar. Then add egg to mixture and combine.
- Add flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon until all are incorporated.
- Press the dough into an even layer in the bottom of the baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar.
- Sprinkle over the bars as a topping.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until center is cooked.
- Let cool then serve!
Notes
- Timing my vary by oven so check to make sure center is not too dry or too moist.
- See FAQ’s on all the variations to make these allergy friendly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Spanish
Keywords: easy churro bars, easy cinnamon churro bars, gluten free churro bars
Leave a Reply