There’s something magical about crunchy, cinnamon-dusted churros that just scream holiday cheer. This Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe brings that cozy feeling to life with a fun twist—stacked like a Christmas tree, dripping with chocolate ganache, and adorned with colorful sprinkles. It’s more than just a treat; it’s a festive centerpiece you’ll want to show off.

The image shows three tower-shaped desserts made of three stacked, golden-brown cinnamon sugar-coated rings each. The rings are round and have a slightly rough texture from the sugar. Each tower is covered with thick, dark chocolate sauce dripping down the sides, topped with red, green, and white small round sprinkles, and a dusting of white powdered sugar. The towers are placed on a white marbled surface, with a greenish blurred background. There are some sprinkles falling from above over the towers. 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

This recipe isn’t just cute—it's truly delicious and fun to make. I remember the first time I made these with my kids; their eyes lit up when we piped the dough into perfectly sized circles and then stacked them like little trees. It’s a recipe that brings together joy, flavor, and a bit of holiday magic all in one.

Festive Presentation: The churros are shaped and stacked to look like tiny Christmas trees—perfect for holiday parties or family gatherings.
Crisp and Tender Texture: The outside is perfectly crisp while the inside stays tender, just how churros should be.
Rich Chocolate Ganache: The luscious ganache adds a decadent finishing touch that’s guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Customizable and Fun: Decorations like sprinkles make each tree unique, letting you get creative or involve the whole family.

There are three tall stacks of cinnamon sugar-coated funnel cake pieces arranged like Christmas trees on a white marbled surface. Each stack has four rings that get smaller toward the top, with a pointed top piece shaped like a small swirl. The stack on the right is being covered with thick, dark chocolate sauce flowing down from a glass pitcher, adding a glossy layer on top. The background is a textured green color with some small green plant leaves near the right stack. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here plays a role in making these Festive Christmas Tree Churros sing with flavor and texture. I always make sure to use fresh butter and good-quality vanilla extract since these really make a difference in the dough. Plus, the cinnamon sugar blend is a classic combo that enhances the simple sweetness beautifully.

Flat lay of unsalted butter in a small white ceramic bowl, a small white ceramic bowl of water, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of pure vanilla extract, a mound of all-purpose flour on a white ceramic plate, a small white ceramic bowl of kosher salt, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl of semisweet chocolate chips, a small white ceramic bowl of heavy cream, a small white ceramic bowl of ground cinnamon, and a small white ceramic bowl filled with red, green sprinkles and white nonpareils, all 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 richness and a silky texture to the dough; unsalted lets you control the salt level.
Water: The base liquid that combines with butter to create that light but sturdy churro dough.
Granulated sugar: Divided use for dough and coating, adding just the right sweetness and crunch.
Pure vanilla extract: A subtle aromatic flavor that elevates the churro base.
All-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the churros; the right flour weight keeps them tender but firm.
Kosher salt: Balances sweetness with a pinch of seasoning.
Large eggs: Bind the dough and add moisture for tenderness.
Vegetable oil: For frying—neutral flavor and high smoke point make it ideal.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Melts into a smooth ganache for dipping or drizzling.
Heavy cream: Combines with chocolate to create a luscious ganache.
Ground cinnamon: Mixed with sugar to coat the churros and give that classic warm flavor.
Sprinkles and white nonpareils: For festive decoration that adds a pop of color and texture.

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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

I love making this recipe my own by swapping out sprinkles for crushed peppermint or even adding a little orange zest to the dough for a citrusy twist. Feel free to experiment or adjust according to your taste buds and holiday traditions!

Variation: One year, I tried adding a dash of cayenne to the cinnamon sugar for a subtle kick—it was surprisingly good and added a fun layer of flavor.
Gluten-Free Option: Use a gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour, but be mindful that texture may vary slightly.
Dairy-Free Substitution: Swap butter for coconut oil and use a non-dairy cream for the ganache to keep this festive for everyone.

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

Step 1: Making the Churro Dough

First, melt your butter with water and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Once it boils, remove from heat and stir in vanilla, then dump in the flour and salt all at once. Stir vigorously until the mixture forms a thick ball of dough, about 30 seconds. Let it cool for 10 minutes—cooling is key here because adding eggs too soon can scramble them!

Step 2: Incorporating Eggs for the Perfect Texture

Using a handheld mixer, beat in the eggs one at a time at medium speed. This might look a bit shaggy at first, but keep mixing until smooth. The eggs add moisture and help the dough puff beautifully when fried.

Step 3: Shaping Your Christmas Tree Circles

Line a baking sheet with parchment and spritz with cooking spray. I like to trace circles of various sizes—3 large, 3 medium, 3 small, and 3 tiniest—on the parchment as a guide. This helps keep your trees consistent and neat. The spaces you leave in the center of each ring matter for stacking later, so pay close attention to those details!

Step 4: Piping & Freezing the Dough

Fit a star piping tip to your piping bag and pipe dough over the circles you traced. The largest circles get a ring with space in the middle, the medium circles get smaller, and the smallest ones are fully filled in. Add three dollops that look like Hershey’s Kisses to the sheet as little extras. This part requires patience! Freeze the piped dough for at least 2 hours—this helps them hold their shape when frying.

Step 5: Preparing Oil & Chocolate Ganache

Fill a Dutch oven with 3 inches of vegetable oil and heat it to 375°F. While that’s warming up, make the ganache by microwaving the cream until it bubbles, pouring it over the chocolate chips, and stirring until silky smooth. Don’t skip this step—ganache makes these churros feel extra special.

Step 6: Frying Your Churros to Golden Perfection

Fry your largest churros first, about 2 to 2½ minutes per side, until golden. Drain excess oil on a wire rack and immediately toss them in cinnamon sugar. Repeat with the medium and small pieces—you’ll see how crispy and flavorful these get! Those Hershey’s Kiss-sized dollops cook faster—about a minute each.

Step 7: Assembling the Christmas Tree Churros

Arrange the churros on a platter, stacking largest to smallest to create the tree shape. Drizzle ganache generously over each tree and finish with festive sprinkles or white nonpareils. It’s such a joyful way to end the process—and trust me, everyone loves eating them right off the ‘tree’!

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that really help when making this Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe. These helped me get the perfect crisp texture and keep the frying process safe and smooth—sharing them with you so you don’t have to guess!

Temperature Control: Use a candy or deep-fry thermometer to keep the oil right at 375°F—too hot and churros burn quickly, too cool and they get oily.
Freezing Patience: Never skip the freezing step before frying; it prevents your churros from losing shape in the hot oil.
Star Tip Piping: Using a large star piping tip isn’t just for looks—it creates those signature ridges that hold cinnamon sugar better.
Cinnamon Sugar Toss: Toss your churros right after frying while still hot for the best sugar adhesion and flavor.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe

Christmas Tree Churros - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple yet festive by sprinkling red and green nonpareils alongside white sugar pearls. For a grown-up twist, a dusting of edible gold powder adds a bit of sparkle. It’s all about making these churros as cheerful as they are tasty.

Side Dishes

Pair these churros with a warm cup of spiced hot chocolate or mulled wine. I also enjoy serving them alongside fresh fruit like sliced pears or oranges to balance the sweetness. They really steal the show and don’t need much else to impress!

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I’ve arranged these churro trees on wooden platters topped with pine sprigs for a rustic vibe. Another time, I used a tall cake stand, draping fairy lights around the base to make these festive treats glow. It’s a great way to make dessert the centerpiece of your celebrations.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers—and it’s rare—store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’re best eaten the same day, but if you need, place parchment between layers to prevent sticking.

Freezing

I’ve frozen the piped churro dough (pre-frying) successfully. Just flash freeze them on the lined sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you’re ready, fry them straight from frozen—just add an extra minute or two to the cooking time.

Reheating

To reheat fried churros and keep that crisp exterior, pop them in a 350°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep them crispy—they’ll turn soggy fast.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different shape instead of circles for the churros?

Absolutely! The circles are key to forming the Christmas tree stack, but you could get creative with other festive shapes if you’d like. Just keep in mind how they’ll stack and fry.

Is there a way to make these churros less sweet?

Yes! You can reduce the sugar used in the dough slightly or go light on the cinnamon sugar coating. Just remember that churros are meant to be a sweet treat, so keep balance in mind.

Can I bake these instead of frying?

While traditional churros are fried for that crisp texture, you can bake them at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes until golden. They'll be less crispy but still delicious and perfect for a lighter version.

How long can I keep these churros after frying?

For best taste and texture, enjoy your churros within a few hours of frying. If stored at room temperature in an airtight container, they should be good for up to a day, but they may lose some crispness.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Tree Churros Recipe holds a special place in my holiday heart. It’s one of those recipes that turns cooking into a festive event, fills the house with incredible smells, and results in a dessert that feels both indulgent and playful. I genuinely hope you try making these at home—whether for a family party or a cozy night in—and enjoy every crispy, chocolatey bite as much as I do.