Spanish churro-inspired pancakes (Printable)

Fluffy, cinnamon-sugared pancakes with crispy edges inspired by Spanish churros for a delightful breakfast.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - 1 cup whole milk
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Topping

09 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
02 - In a separate bowl, whisk milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.
03 - Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined, leaving some small lumps intact to maintain fluffy texture.
04 - Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease with butter or oil.
05 - Pour approximately 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot skillet for each pancake.
06 - Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until bubbles form on the surface and edges appear set.
07 - Flip pancakes carefully and cook for an additional 2 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked through.
08 - Remove pancakes from skillet and immediately sprinkle both sides with cinnamon sugar mixture while still warm.
09 - Continue cooking remaining batter in batches, re-greasing skillet as needed between batches. Stack pancakes and serve warm with additional cinnamon sugar if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They taste like a dessert breakfast without any of the guilt or fussiness that usually comes with it.
  • The cinnamon sugar coating creates this crispy shell that contrasts perfectly with the fluffy interior, and honestly, it's a textural game-changer.
  • You can have these ready in under 30 minutes, which means even on rushed mornings you're eating something that feels indulgent and special.
02 -
  • The moment you flip is crucial; if you flip too early, the pancake falls apart, but flip too late and you miss that perfect golden color on the first side, so watch for those bubbles breaking through the surface.
  • Cinnamon sugar only sticks to warm pancakes, and the warmth actually caramelizes it slightly, creating that crispy churro-like shell that makes these special.
  • Overmixing the batter is the fastest way to rubbery, flat pancakes, so embrace the lumps and resist the urge to whisk everything into smooth submission.
03 -
  • For extra crispy edges, cook your pancakes slightly longer over medium heat or use a little more butter in the pan, which creates that golden, almost-burnished exterior that's pure churro magic.
  • The batter actually improves slightly if you let it rest for five minutes before cooking, which gives the baking powder time to activate and results in even fluffier pancakes.
  • Keep your finished pancakes warm under a loose tent of foil while you finish cooking, and they'll stay soft and steaming without drying out.
Go Back