Nothing quite says cozy holiday magic like the crunchy sweetness of churros shaped like a Christmas tree, right? This Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe brings that warm, crispy joy to your kitchen with a twist that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat. Trust me, making these is a festive adventure worth every bite!

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 Christmas Tree Churros Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I've been making churros for parties and casual get-togethers for years, but shaping them into a Christmas tree? Absolute game changer. This recipe isn’t just about taste; it’s about the joy of creating something festive that can double as charming décor — and yes, everyone wants seconds.

Visual delight: The Christmas tree shape adds a fun, festive twist that impresses your guests and family alike.
Perfect texture: Crispy outside meets tender inside — just as churros should be, every single time.
Get creative: Customizable toppings and presentation make this recipe your new holiday favorite.
Make ahead friendly: Prep the dough and shapes early to save stress on the big day, then fry fresh whenever you're ready.

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

Every ingredient here plays a role in building that perfect churro bite — crispy texture, balanced sweetness, and that classic cinnamon sugar kiss. Here’s the scoop on why I stick with these:

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: Adds rich flavor and helps create a smooth dough without extra salt.
Water: The base that helps cook the flour, giving that light, airy texture.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and creates that lovely coating with cinnamon.
Pure vanilla extract: A depth booster — trust me, it makes a subtle but noticeable difference.
All-purpose flour: The heart of churros, creating structure and chewiness.
Kosher salt: Balances flavor and enhances sweetness.
Large eggs: Adds moisture and helps bind ingredients for the perfect piping consistency.
Cooking spray: Keeps the parchment paper non-stick for shaping the churros.
Vegetable oil: For frying — use a neutral oil with a high smoke point to get that golden crust.
Semisweet chocolate chips: The base for a luscious ganache that drapes perfectly over your churros.
Heavy cream: Blends with chocolate for smooth ganache.
Ground cinnamon: Essential churro flavor partner, combined with sugar for the classic dusting.
Red and green sprinkles and/or white nonpareils: Adds that festive sparkle that makes these churros party-ready.

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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

This recipe is a fantastic canvas for your creativity. I love swapping out traditional sprinkles for crushed peppermint or adding a pinch of cayenne for a little heat in the cinnamon sugar. Feel free to make these with gluten-free flour blends or swap the chocolate ganache for caramel sauce — your tree, your rules.

Variation: One year, I mixed in orange zest to the dough, and the bright citrus note was a lovely surprise under all that cinnamon sugar.
Dietary tweaks: Use dairy-free butter and cream alternatives for a vegan-friendly version with equally indulgent results.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe

Step 1: Cook the Dough with Patience

Start by bringing the butter, water, and sugar to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the vanilla, then stir in the flour and salt all at once. Keep stirring vigorously for about 30 seconds — this step thickens the dough and sizzles out any lumps. Let it rest 10 minutes; this cooling is crucial so the eggs can be added without scrambling.

Step 2: Beat in Eggs Like a Pro

Using a handheld mixer, add eggs one at a time on medium speed. This slow addition helps the dough absorb the eggs fully, resulting in a smooth, pipeable batter. I always ensure each egg is well blended before adding the next — impatience here can lead to a runny batter.

Step 3: Trace and Pipe Your Tree Shapes

Line a baking sheet with parchment and spritz with cooking spray. Using circular cookie cutters or a ruler, draw and trace circles of various sizes representing the tree layers. Then, pipe the batter carefully over these circles — the largest circles leave a center space, the smaller fill completely. Add three dollops about the size of Hershey’s Kisses for the star-topping effect. Freeze this sheet for at least 2 hours; this step makes frying much easier and keeps your shapes intact.

Step 4: Fry to Golden Perfection

Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven to 375°F (190°C). Fry the churros in batches, turning halfway so they crisp evenly — I usually fry 2-3 circles at a time to avoid overcrowding, about 2 to 2½ minutes per side. These come out golden and beautifully puffed, the smell filling my kitchen with instant holiday feels.

Step 5: Finish with Cinnamon Sugar & Ganache

As each batch fries, toss them in cinnamon sugar — the warm churros soak up the coating just right. For the ganache, microwave cream until it bubbles, pour over chocolate chips, wait 30 seconds, and stir until velvety smooth. Drizzle or dollop this magic over your stacked churro tree, then sprinkle with festive decorations.

Top Tip

Making festive shaped churros isn't as tricky as it sounds once you get the hang of it. Here’s what I’ve learned through several holiday seasons that really helps keep your process smooth and your churros picture-perfect.

Freeze before frying: This is a game changer. The firm dough holds its shape in hot oil and fries evenly without drooping.
Don’t overcrowd the pan: It keeps your oil temperature steady and ensures crispy, golden churros instead of greasy ones.
Piping technique matters: Use a sturdy star tip and steady pressure; practice piping a few test rounds before you commit to the shapes on parchment.
Drain well: Place fried churros on a wire rack instead of paper towels to keep them crisp all around.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe

Christmas Tree Churros - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I often go for a sprinkle mix of classic red and green sugar and tiny white nonpareils — they evoke that nostalgic Christmas vibe perfectly. You can also try crushed peppermint, edible gold dust, or even mini marshmallows for the littlest holiday crowds.

Side Dishes

Pair these churros with a rich hot chocolate or a simple café con leche to balance the sweetness. Sometimes I serve them alongside a fresh fruit salad with citrus notes to cut through the richness — surprise your guests with that contrast!

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I’ve arranged these churro trees on a large serving platter, draped ganache cascading down like snow, then set edible glitter sparingly around the base to mimic frost. Wrapping the platter with twinkle lights adds that extra holiday sparkle and makes your dessert table the centerpiece of the night.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Any leftover churros are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. They start to lose their crunch after that, but you can revive them with my reheating tips below.

Freezing

I freeze the shaped, piped dough on the parchment sheet before frying – store the sheet wrapped tightly in cling film in the freezer up to a week. When you’re ready, fry frozen as per usual. It’s like fresh churros whenever you want!

Reheating

To get that freshly fried crunch back, pop leftover churros in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5-7 minutes instead of microwaving, which makes them soggy. This little trick brings back the crisp exterior perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the churro dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough a day early and keep it covered in the fridge. Just bring it back to room temperature before piping and freezing. This helps save lots of time on the day you want to serve them.

What’s the best oil for frying these churros?

I prefer vegetable oil because of its neutral flavor and high smoke point. Canola or peanut oil work well too. Avoid olive oil for deep frying since it has a lower smoke point and distinct taste that can overwhelm the churros.

Can I skip the ganache and just use cinnamon sugar?

Definitely! If you want to keep things simple, just coat the churros in cinnamon sugar and skip the chocolate. They’re delicious that way as well — ganache is a luxurious bonus, but not a must.

How do I keep my churros crisp after frying?

The trick is to place them on a wire rack instead of paper towels to avoid sogginess, and serve them as soon as possible. If you need to store them, reheat them briefly in the oven before serving to bring back the crunch.

Final Thoughts

The Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe has become one of my absolute favorite ways to bring smiles during the holidays. It’s a fun project, a brilliant centerpiece, and a sweet treat that’s easy to share and customize. So roll up your sleeves, grab that piping bag, and create your sweetest holiday tradition — I promise, your kitchen will smell like Christmas, and your heart will savor every crunchy, sugary bite.