Baked Vegan Churros Recipe (Gluten Free) (2024)

These vegan gluten-free churros are baked, not fried, but have that same incredible flavor with my secret trick!

You don't want to miss this easy to make recipe, the perfect alternative to the classic without all the frying mess!

This post was originally published on February 26, 2021.

Cinnamon and sugar is one of my favorite sweet combos, as you can see by my obsession with my vegan apple cobbler. So I knew I needed another recipe that I could drool over daily!

The perfect crunchy outer crust, soft doughy center, and a decadent cinnamon and sugar coating, what more could you ask for from a churro? Oh, completely plant based and gluten free? Even better!

Ingredients

For the base of these vegan churros you'll need:

• Tapioca starch
• Brown rice flour
• Almond Flour
• Sugar
• Sea salt
• Cinnamon
• Apple sauce
• Milk or water (I tried both and each worked well)

You'll also need a few items for the coating:

• Butter
• Sugar
• Cinnamon

How To Make Baked Vegan Churros

1. Mix the dry ingredients.
2. Stir in the wet ingredients. Then chill the dough.
3. Fill a pastry bag with a large tip and squeeze pieces onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
4. Bake until golden.
5. Once cooled, roll in butter then in cinnamon and sugar mix.

Tips for shaping churros

• A pastry bag with a metal tip will give you those classic outer ridges and texture, but a plastic bag with the edge cut off works as well.
• You want at least a 1 inch tip or hole, but any size will work as long as you remember you will get less or more depending on the size.
• Use a knife to cut off the batter in between pieces.
• I made my churros about 3 inches long, you can make them longer if you want.
• Chill the dough, this will help them to stay more round.
• Baking the churros can result in one flat side, to try to avoid this you can flip them while baking.
• Baked churros won't look exactly like the fried variety. The shape is simply aesthetic, they'll taste great no matter what! But, if you really want that perfect round shape, frying them is your best option.

Serving suggestions

Serve these tasty baked churros either on their own, or include a dipping sauce:

• Chocolate Sauce
• Vegan Caramel
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• Homemade Vegan Nutella

Preparation Tips

• Almond flour is what brings fat into this gluten free churros recipe, and makes the inside soft just like traditional churros, definitely don't sub this ingredient out!
• If you do not want to use any oil or butter you can simply brush the baked churro pieces with lite coconut milk (or other milk of choice) and then roll in the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Keep in mind this will give less of a “fried” feel to the final product.
• Make the dough in advance and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake to save some time.
• If you choose to fry instead of bake:
  • Heat a few inches of oil in a pan over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F.
  • Pipe the dough directly into the hot oil.
  • Cook for about 5 minutes or until they are golden brown.
  • It is best to use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil. Too hot the outside will burn while the inside won't cook, and too cool the churros will absorb the oil and won't get crispy.

Storage Tips

• These vegan churros are best enjoyed fresh, but they will keep for 2-3 days if stored in an airtight container.
• You can also freeze the churros in an airtight freezer safe container for up to three months, just make sure you defrost before reheating.
• Reheat the churros in your oven or air fryer for the crispiest results.
• If you freeze, I suggest rolling in butter and sugar once you are ready to eat them.

Common Questions

More Vegan Dessert Recipes

Once you devour all of these vegan and gluten free churros, continue to satisfy your sweet tooth with any of these plant based recipes:

• Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas
• 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Nice Cream
• Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates
• The Best Vegan Peanut Brittle
• Healthy Vegan Peanut Butter Cups
• Gluten Free Vegan Brownies
• Carrot Cake
• Gluten Free Snickerdoodles
• Chocolate Lava Cake
• Easy Vegan Chocolate Truffles