Ultimate Easy No-Fry Churro Bars: A Quick Cake Mix Dessert Recipe
Prepare to delight your taste buds with these incredibly soft and chewy churro bars! They capture all the beloved cinnamon and sugar goodness of traditional churros, but in a brilliantly simple, no-fry cookie bar form. This isn’t just a quicker way to enjoy that iconic flavor; it’s a game-changer for anyone who loves homemade desserts without the fuss. What makes these bars even more convenient is their secret ingredient: a common pantry staple you likely already have at home – yellow cake mix! This humble ingredient transforms into a luscious, tender dough with minimal effort, making this recipe a true baking hack for busy individuals and dessert enthusiasts alike.
Whether you’re hosting a gathering, celebrating a special occasion, or simply craving a delightful treat, these churro bars are designed to impress with their flavor and convenience. In many parts of the world, especially places like the Midwest where I’m from, taco nights and Mexican-themed parties are incredibly popular. From birthday celebrations to graduation festivities, a taco bar is almost a guaranteed hit. But what about dessert? These easy churro bars are the perfect sweet ending to any Mexican night, providing that authentic, festive flavor in an incredibly easy-to-make format that’s ideal for feeding a crowd. They offer a comforting, familiar taste that pairs wonderfully with savory dishes, making them a versatile choice for any party menu.
Why You’ll Love These No-Fry Churro Bars
You’re undoubtedly here because you share a deep love for churros! And who can blame you? The irresistible combination of crisp, golden edges, wonderfully chewy centers, and a generous coating of warm cinnamon sugar makes them notoriously hard to resist. The classic churro experience is undeniably fantastic, but let’s be honest about one thing: the frying. The mere thought of heating up a large pot of oil, dealing with splatters, and carefully frying individual pieces can be daunting. It’s often a messy, time-consuming process that many home bakers prefer to avoid.
This dessert bar version eliminates all that hassle entirely. Imagine savoring all the exquisite flavor of traditional churros – the comforting warmth of cinnamon, the sweet crunch of sugar, and that perfect chewy texture – but without the extra mess, the greasy cleanup, or the labor-intensive frying process. These no-fry churro bars are baked to perfection, achieving a similar delightful texture and taste with significantly less effort. They provide a stress-free way to enjoy a beloved dessert, transforming a typically complex treat into an accessible, everyday indulgence. This makes them a superior choice for busy weeknights, last-minute cravings, or when you need a reliable crowd-pleaser for your next potluck.
Serving Suggestions and Delicious Variations
While these churro bars are absolutely delightful eaten straight from the pan, just like your favorite cookie bar, their versatility truly shines when you get creative with serving them! One of our absolute favorite ways to enjoy them is by transforming them into spectacular churro sundaes. Imagine taking a warm, freshly baked churro bar, topping it with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, and then drizzling it all with a luscious caramel sauce. The combination of warm, cinnamon-spiced cake, cold, melting ice cream, and rich caramel creates an out-of-this-world dessert experience that will have everyone asking for more!
But don’t stop there! Consider these additional serving ideas and variations:
- Chocolate Drizzle: Instead of or in addition to caramel, a drizzle of warm chocolate sauce (milk, dark, or white chocolate) would be incredible.
- Whipped Cream & Berries: A dollop of fresh whipped cream and some sliced fresh strawberries or raspberries can add a beautiful contrasting freshness.
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Style: Serve with a dusting of cocoa powder and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper for a subtle kick, mimicking Mexican hot chocolate.
- Dulce de Leche: A classic pairing with churros, a generous swirl of dulce de leche takes these bars to the next level of indulgence.
- Ice Cream Flavors: Experiment with different ice cream flavors like coffee, cinnamon, or even a spicier Mexican chocolate ice cream.
- Mini Bites: Cut the bars into smaller, bite-sized pieces for easy serving at parties, perfect for dipping into various sauces.
No matter how you choose to enjoy them, these easy cake mix churro bars are guaranteed to be a hit. Their simple preparation belies their incredibly decadent flavor, making them a staple in any dessert repertoire.
Here’s what you’ll need to make these Easy Churro Bars:
- 1 box of yellow or golden butter cake mix: This is the superstar ingredient that makes this recipe incredibly simple and yields a wonderfully tender, moist bar. Yellow or golden butter cake mix provides the perfect foundation.
- 1/3 cup of vegetable oil: The oil contributes to the bar’s moistness and helps create that soft, chewy texture. Any neutral oil will work.
- 2 large eggs: Eggs act as a binder, adding structure and richness to the dough, ensuring your bars hold together beautifully.
- 1 Tablespoon of ground cinnamon, divided: Cinnamon is key to the authentic churro flavor. Dividing it allows for some to be mixed into the dough and the rest for the iconic cinnamon-sugar topping.
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar: Used in conjunction with the remaining cinnamon for the classic sweet, crunchy coating that makes churros so irresistible.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Churro Bars
Making these churro bars is incredibly straightforward, even for novice bakers. Follow these simple steps for perfectly delicious, no-fry churro goodness every time:
Step 1: Prepare the Dough Base. In a large mixing bowl, combine your box of yellow or golden butter cake mix, the vegetable oil, two large eggs, and exactly half of the ground cinnamon (approximately 1/2 tablespoon). Using an electric mixer (a hand mixer or stand mixer works best for efficiency), blend these ingredients together on medium speed until a thick, cohesive dough forms. Ensure there are no dry pockets of cake mix remaining. The dough will be quite thick, which is exactly what you want for a chewy bar.
Step 2: Press into the Pan. Lightly grease your hands with a bit of nonstick baking spray or a small amount of vegetable oil. This will prevent the sticky dough from adhering to your fingers as you work. Take the dough and evenly press it into the bottom of your prepared 9×9 inch baking pan. Make sure to spread it from edge to edge, creating an even layer so that your bars bake uniformly. A slight pressure is all that’s needed to create a flat, consistent base.
Step 3: Add the Signature Cinnamon Sugar Topping. In a small separate bowl, combine the remaining half tablespoon of ground cinnamon with the 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Stir them together until well mixed. Then, evenly pour this delicious cinnamon sugar mixture over the pressed dough in the baking pan. Once sprinkled, gently press the cinnamon sugar down onto the dough using your hands or the back of a spoon. This crucial step ensures the topping adheres beautifully during baking, giving you that delightful, crunchy, and aromatic churro crust.
Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection. Place your pan into a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) and bake for approximately 14 to 18 minutes. Keep a close eye on them; you’ll know they’re ready when the edges have slightly puffed up and turned a beautiful golden brown. The center might still appear slightly soft, but it will set as it cools. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool slightly in the pan before cutting them into squares. This cooling period helps them firm up and makes them easier to cut cleanly. Serve warm for a truly comforting treat, or enjoy them cold – they’re delicious either way!
Tips for Churro Bar Success
- Don’t Overmix: Once the dough comes together, stop mixing. Overmixing can lead to tougher bars.
- Evenly Press: Ensure the dough is pressed evenly into the pan for consistent baking. Uneven thickness can result in some parts being undercooked and others overcooked.
- Press the Topping: Gently pressing the cinnamon sugar topping into the dough is key to making sure it sticks and creates that lovely churro crust.
- Watch Your Oven: Baking times can vary. Start checking at 14 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden and slightly puffed.
- Cool Before Cutting: While tempting to cut immediately, allowing the bars to cool slightly will make for cleaner cuts and prevent them from crumbling.
If you love quick and easy desserts that start with cake mix and make enough for a crowd, try these recipes next! You’ll be amazed at the variety and deliciousness you can achieve with a simple box of cake mix.
- Cherry Almond Squares: A delightful combination of sweet cherries and nutty almond flavor in a convenient bar.
- Tiramisu Sheet Cake: Get the classic Italian dessert flavors in an easy-to-share sheet cake format.
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Squares: Tangy raspberries and creamy cheese create a heavenly balance in these simple squares.
Pin this easy churro bar recipe or click the ❤️ to save it for later! You won’t want to forget this simple, delicious dessert hack!
Churro Bars
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Ingredients
- 1 box of yellow or golden butter cake mix
- 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tablespoon of ground cinnamon (divided)
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) and prepare a 9×9 inch baking pan by lightly spraying it with nonstick baking spray. This ensures your churro bars won’t stick and will come out easily.
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In a large bowl, combine the entire box of yellow or golden butter cake mix, the 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, the 2 large eggs, and half of the ground cinnamon. Use an electric mixer to thoroughly combine these ingredients until a thick, uniform dough forms. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well incorporated.
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Lightly spray your hands with nonstick baking spray or oil to prevent the dough from sticking. Press the thick dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared 9×9 inch baking pan, spreading it all the way to the edges for a consistent layer.
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In a small separate bowl, combine the 1/4 cup of granulated sugar with the remaining half of the ground cinnamon. Stir well to create your cinnamon sugar topping. Evenly sprinkle this aromatic mixture over the entire surface of the pressed dough. Then, gently press the cinnamon sugar down into the bars with either your hands or the back of a spoon. This crucial step helps the topping adhere and creates that signature churro texture and flavor.
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Bake the churro bars in the preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) for 14-18 minutes, or until the edges of the bars have slightly puffed up and turned a light golden brown. The center might still look a little soft, but it will firm up as it cools. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool slightly in the pan before carefully cutting them into squares. These bars are delicious served warm, allowing the cinnamon sugar to truly shine, or enjoyed cold for a chewy treat.
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